National Wild Turkey Federation Announces Kansas Habitat Projects for 2009

$18,175 allocated for specific projects; another $30,000 for outreach and education

ALLEN — The Kansas State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently announced selection of the following Hunting Heritage Super Fund proposals for funding 2009 projects in the Sunflower State. These proposals had been evaluated and ranked earlier by the Kansas Super Fund Committee, as follow:

1. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), statewide, for additional acres of spring wild turkey Walk in Hunting Access — $5,000 approved.
2. KDWP, Kaw Wildlife Area, for herbaceous woodland opening restoration — $1,000 approved.
3. KDWP, Marion Wildlife Area, for native grassland restoration — $1,500 approved.
4. KDWP, Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, for herbaceous woodland opening restoration — $1,250 approved.
5. KDWP, Clinton Wildlife Area, for woodland openings and grassland restoration — $1,500 approved.
6. Smith County Conservation District, to purchase prescribed burn equipment for newly-forming burn associations — $1,100 approved.
7. Ness County Conservation District, to purchase prescribed burn equipment for newly-forming burn associations — $500 approved.
8. Hillsdale Range and Training Facility, for construction of a new shooting range at Hillsdale Reservoir — $2,500 approved.
9. NWTF/KDWP/Kansas Forest Service, to conduct a two-day forestry and wildlife workshop for natural resource professionals — $1,000 approved.
10. Archery In the Schools Program, to provide archery kits for Phillipsburg and Logan high schools through the Western Kansas Chapter — $2,000 approved.
11. KDWP/Nemaha County Sheriff, to purchase a robotic deer decoy for use in wildlife law enforcement operations — $825 approved.

These projects are in addition to more than $30,000 budgeted towards outreach and education designed to preserve the Kansas hunting heritage. These projects include 4-H Shooting Sports, JAKES (juniors), Wheelin’ Sportsmen (special needs), and Women in the Outdoors events.

Since 2002, the NWTF has funded more than $105,000 worth of habitat improvements on public land in Kansas. In addition, more than $36,000 has been spent on habitat and management equipment, and more than $20,000 has been spent on public hunting access to private lands (WIHA). Since 1985, NWTF has spent $157,000 on wild turkey research in Kansas. These project funds are generated by volunteers who organize and attend local NWTF banquets. For more information about these projects or to apply for funds, contact NWTF regional wildlife biologist Brandon Houck at 620-443-5906 or http://www.ksnwtf.org on the internet.