For
more information, contact Amy Forrest or Jonathan Harling at (803) 637-3106
February 23, 2005
The National Wild Turkey Federation is flying high from its annual convention in Nashville, Tenn., where turkey fans celebrated 32 years of conservation. Record attendance—40,208 people— helped the nonprofit group raise more money for the wild turkey than ever before, representatives said.
Tourism officials also estimate that visitors to the event (Feb. 17-20)
spent nearly $4 million in four days, a figure that includes money for food,
lodging and merchandise at downtown shops. But that number doesn’t include
what participants bought at three NWTF auctions. Items included an African
safari, an Argentina dove shoot, a caribou hunt in Canada, several wild
turkey hunts, a Tracker boat, wildlife art, a New Mexico elk hunt and a
Chevy truck.
“Record attendance helped the Federation raise more money for the wild
turkey than ever before,” said CEO Rob Keck. “We are the greatest
conservation army anywhere in the world, and we are achieving great things
for conservation and our hunting heritage.”
Typical of every year, the aisles of the exhibit hall swarmed with
convention-goers. Most days, it was shoulder to shoulder as people walked
the length of two football fields for hunting gear, home decor, ATVs, boots,
turkey calls, artwork and more.
“This was my first year attending the convention and to say that I was
impressed by the level of organization by the NWTF, the number of members
who attended and the enthusiasm everyone had for the event would be a huge
understatement,” said Ben Maki of Mossy Oak Apparel. “This is one event I
recommend that every turkey hunter should attend.”
The business potential of such an event is not lost on companies that
make a living off hunters and anglers. And there is a real possibility that
their earning power could grow significantly in the next several years,
especially since more Americans hunt and fish than play golf and tennis. The
economic impact is estimated at more than $70 billion a year.
In 2003, spring turkey hunters spent almost $1.8 billion on licenses,
permits, firearms, hunting gear and travel-related expenses. That means each
of the country’s nearly 3 million turkey hunters spend roughly $800 annually
on their sport.
This was the Federation’s third visit to the Music City in five years.
The organization first visited in 1986 and has returned five times since.
The next two conventions will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, as
well.
The fun began when the NWTF and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources
released 27 wild turkeys in the hardwood forest of the J. Percy Priest
Wildlife Management Area to kick off the 29th annual Convention and Sport
Show. Some of the birds were fitted with radio transmitters so that students
at Antioch High School can study wild turkey behavior.
“The partnership between the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the
NWTF has helped make the restoration of wild turkeys in Tennessee one of the
greatest historic events,” said Ron Fox, TWRA’s assistant executive
director.
In 1959, there were only 500 wild turkeys in the Volunteer State. Today, their numbers have soared to more than 250,000. Events held at the convention helped celebrate that state’s commitment to conservation.
Recording artist Tracy Byrd, who loves to hunt and fish, entertained a
capacity crowd at Thursday’s welcome party and received three standing
ovations.
Throughout the weekend, there also were performances by bluegrass greats
Alison Krauss and Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas, Aaron Tippin,
Restless Heart, Daryle Singletary and comedian T. Bubba Bechtol.
“Our bass player, Barry Bales, is the turkey hunter of the group,” said
Krauss. “Most of the band members call the office and say, ‘I need a day off
for my anniversary, or my child’s sick, or it’s my birthday.’ “Not
Barry. He says, ‘Alison, it’s turkey season.’’’
Among the many events featured at the sports show were the Wild Turkey
Bourbon/NWTF Grand National Calling Championships. Yelps, purrs, owl hoots
and gobbles, the sounds turkey callers use to find and attract wild turkeys,
resounded throughout the convention halls.
More than 120 callers entered these contests. Matt Van Cise of Grand
Valley, Pa., finished first in the Wild Turkey Bourbon Senior Division,
defeating three-time champion Jim Pollard of Alabama. “Winning this
contest is every turkey hunter’s dream.”
When someone asked how he planned to celebrate, Van Cise said, “First,
I’m going turkey hunting, then I’m going to Disney World.”
Chris Parrish of Centralia, Mo., won the Champion of Champions
contest—open only to past winners of a Grand National Calling Contest
event—for the fourth straight year. Other contest winners included: Walter
Parrot of Smiths, Ala., and Parrish, who together captured the Team
Challenge Title; Jeremy Palmer of Harrisburg, Ill., who was voted best owl
hooter for the second year—his father finished third—and Doug Benefield of
Newnan, Ga., who won the gobbling championship.
“This is awesome.” Benefield said. “I’m sure this is nothing like Tiger
Woods winning the Master’s. But anytime you’re in the top slot, you’ve done
something.”
Preston Pittman of Petal, Miss., defended his title in the Spit, Drum and
Gobble Contest. Last year, he and several other calling champions appeared
on “The Late Show” with host David Letterman.
For the third year, Dakota Clouser of Danville, Pa., won the NWTF Junior
Division Championship (15 years older and younger). And Joel Parker, 18, of
Clarksville, Tenn., won his first Intermediate Division title (16 to 20
years old).
“This is like winning the Super Bowl. I’m pretty proud I did it,” said
Parker, whose brother, a former champion, also competed. “Judd always said
if I was going to beat him in anything, it better be at this.”
Young hunters weren’t forgotten at the convention. Hundreds of
schoolchildren learned about wildlife conservation and turkey hunting at a
special JAKES program on Thursday. JAKES—Juniors Acquiring Knowledge Ethics
and Sportsmanship— is the NWTF’s program for members 17 and younger. There
are about 213,000 JAKES members in the United States and Canada. About 8,000
live in Tennessee.
The show also offered: seminars taught by expert hunters, turkey callers
and land managers, and the Bass Pro Shops “King of Bucks” display, an
exhibit that featured 150 of the largest deer mounts in the country.
National contests for wildlife art, carving and taxidermy also were held.
For information about the NWTF, or a list of awards and contest winners,
call 1-800-THE-NWTF or logon to www.nwtf.org.
2005 NWTF National Convention and Sport
Show sponsors:
BASF, Bass Pro Shops, Browning-USRAC, Club Car, Federal
Cartridge, Georgia Forestry Commission, Henkel Harris Furniture, Leupold &
Stevens, The Lodge at Cabin Bluff, Marlin Firearms/H & R 1871, Mathews,
Inc., MBNA, O.F. Mossberg, Remington Arms Company, T. I. Industries- Frame
Moulding, Tennessee NWTF State Chapter, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency,
Tennessee Forestry Commission, The Outdoor Channel, The Outdoor Connection,
USDA-Forest Service, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, Wild Turkey Bourbon,
Winchester
About the NWTF: In 1973 when
the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded, there were an estimated 1.3
million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Thanks to the work of
wildlife agencies and the NWTF’s many volunteers and partners, today there
are 6.8 million wild turkeys and nearly three million turkey hunters. Since
1985, more than $193 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on
over 29,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys throughout North America.
The NWTF is a nearly 525,000-member grassroots, nonprofit organization
with members in 50 states and 12 foreign countries. It supports scientific
wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands as well as wild
turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.
For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, call (803)
637-3106, check out our web site at www.nwtf.org or e-mail questions to
nwtf@nwtf.net.