Utah Partners Allocate over $6 Million to Conservation  

The NWTF recently joined fellow hunter-conservationist organizations to allocate sportsmen funding for WRI projects. These projects span all five Utah Division of Wildlife Resources wildlife regions of the state and are initially reviewed by regional ranking committees that are comprised of biologists, foresters, natural resource professionals, and stakeholders before being presented to the hunter-conservationist funding group.  

Chuck Carpenter, NWTF district biologist, currently serves on two of these committees, representing the interests of the NWTF and the broader hunter-conservationist community.  

"The NWTF contributed funding to 22 habitat improvement projects, in addition to supporting one new southern region habitat position, two sage-grouse biologist positions and two winter turkey trapping positions, all of which help address critical capacity needs within the UDWR," Carpenter said.  

This success of the WRI stems from a long-standing partnership between hunter-based conservation groups and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. 

The WRI is a partnership-based program administered by the state of Utah that aims to improve high-priority watersheds throughout the state. Projects accomplished through the initiative create healthier watersheds and promote biological diversity, clean and abundant water, recreational opportunities and enhance habitat for wild turkeys, mule deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, upland birds and a wide variety of other species across Utah.  

This year's funding milestone marks a new benchmark in the NWTF-WRI collaboration and reflects the growing momentum behind Utah's conservation efforts.  

Key partners — including the UDWR, the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others — play essential roles in shaping and delivering these outcomes.  

Through this collaborative model, conservation partners are maximizing every dollar's impact — producing lasting benefits for Utah's wildlife and the habitats they rely on. 

About the National Wild Turkey Federation     

Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.