A passion for chasing wild turkeys in the spring brings more than 250,000 men and women to the same cause each year, but their work there helps wildlife of every type, organizers say.

It all begins at local banquets held in locations nationwide, including one coming up in Fulton.

The Hill Country Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will hold its annual banquet on Thursday, March 20 at the Fulton Country Club, located at 500 Country Club Road in Fulton.

The event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets, which include a year’s membership in the NWTF and a monthly magazine subscription, are $65 for individuals, $85 for couples and $20 for youngsters aged 15 and under. They are available in advance from chapter members or at the door on the night of the event.

The meal always follows a broad, wild game theme. The night will feature a number of raffles, as well as live and silent auctions. There will be a host of guns raffled off or sold, as well as a wide variety of other items.

“We’ll have hunts to be auctioned off, plus all kinds of unique items,” Tim Weston, a lead organizer of the event, said. “It’ll be a good opportunity to win or buy lots of neat things, and it all goes to help a group that does one of the best jobs done by any organization for the outdoors.”

 

Members everywhere

Founded in 1973, the NWTF today has more than 250,000 members spread throughout chapters in all 50 states and much of Canada.

Over the years, the members have raised and spent more than $372 million acquiring or improving wildlife habitat on more than 17 million acres throughout the U.S., as well as hosting programs designed to  expand hunting’s outreach to children, women, the physically challenged and others.

 

A far-reaching impact

“I’m on the Mississippi state board of the NWTF, and one thing many people might not know is, a huge portion of the money raised at events like ours in Tupelo stays within the state,” Weston said. “The NWTF has programs to help every segment of the hunting population. They work nationwide with state wildlife agencies to improve public hunting grounds, and they have biologists available as consultants to help private landowners improve their property. Their habitat projects help deer, ducks, turkeys, squirrels, you name it. Everything outdoors benefits from the work they do.”

“Hunting ground is sacred in most of our minds,” Donnie Kisner, the chapter’s secretary and treasurer, said. “Helping all of the creatures that crawl around on it is something we’re passionate about.

 

Conservationists first

“Hunters are conservationists first. We work to make sure the game has what it needs to sustain itself and thrive, and the NWTF is all about doing just that. By preserving the habitat, they’re making sure turkey hunting is alive and well throughout the country. The money we raise helps insure and protect the future.”

“If you like the outdoors, you ought to be supporting the NWTF, whether you hunt or not,” Weston said.

For ticket or sponsorship information, contact Tim Weston at [email protected].