I know I have mentioned it in previous articles but I wanted to start off with the fact that I volunteer for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). I am the Genegantslet Gobblers chapter president. In addition to this, I am the 1st Vice President of the New York State Board of Directors, also called the state chapter. As a volunteer at two levels, it seems like I am always selling raffle tickets year-round. I often feel bad hitting people up so often to purchase tickets. However, all it takes is someone to ask what the money goes towards or what our organization is about to make me remember all the good that is coming from raising the money.

The current initiative of the NWTF is called Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt. This 10-year initiative established three main goals. They are to conserve or enhance 4 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, to recruit 1.5 million hunters, and to open access to 500,000 additional acres for hunting. At the end of the 6th year (2018), there had been 2.9 million acres enhanced or conserved, 1.27 million hunters recruited, and 559,000 acres opened for hunting nationwide.