New Turkey Hunting Opportunities in Iowa

Source: National Wild Turkey Federation Press Release

IOWA — The National Wild Turkey Federation's Iowa State Chapter continues to make public hunting access a priority, having donated a total of $150,000 toward the purchase of 2,296 acres of land in the Hawkeye State in 2007.

Most recently, NWTF volunteers donated $15,000 from the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to help purchase 76 acres of land, which will be used for public hunting as part of the existing McCoy Wildlife Management Area in central Iowa's Boone County.
"Public access to hunting is a major concern for many hunters, especially in Iowa where only about two percent of land is publicly owned," said Dave Whittlesey, NWTF regional biologist for Iowa. "Investing Super Fund dollars into hunting areas that are open to the public will benefit all wildlife and everyone who enjoys the public lands."

Since 1985, NWTF volunteers have spent more than $4.5 million on NWTF projects in Iowa. In addition to purchasing land for public hunting, NWTF state chapters have enhanced wild turkey habitat, conducted education seminars and held events to introduce women, youth and people with disabilities to hunting, conservation and the outdoors.

"Hunters were the first, and are still the best, conservationists," said Dr. James Earl Kennamer, NWTF senior vice president for conservation programs. "Hunters started wildlife management with their license dollars and the Pittman/Robertson Act, which raises money through excise taxes to continue to support wildlife management. The NWTF is proud to partner with our state wildlife agencies to ensure the future of conservation."

Administered jointly by the NWTF, its state and provincial chapters and wildlife agencies, the Super Fund supports conservation and education programs. Since 1985, NWTF chapters and cooperating partners have raised and spent more than $258 million upholding hunting traditions and conserving more than 13.1 million acres of wildlife habitat across North America.

The NWTF already has spent nearly $9 million and obtained more than 400,000 acres nationwide for hunting since 1987, and continues to increase access with its More Places to Hunt initiative, which is designed to help provide more hunting land on both public and private property nationwide.

National Wild Turkey Federation, Turkey Hunting, Iowa