National Wild Turkey Federation work in Georgia
Summer 2025
Article and photos by Jimmy Jacobs
There’s nothing that can send a chill up a hunters spine like a gobbler sounding off just after dawn on a spring morning. Once alerted, it’s time to begin the game of offering some purrs and clucks to entice that male to come courting. This “dance” with a gobbler is what makes the sport so addictive. And, there’s no feeling better than when the bird ends up going home with you.
Although the turkey population has declined in the Peach State in recent years, the estimated number of birds still stands at between 250,000 and 300,000 turkeys. Hunters still have plenty of gobblers to pursue. One group helping to conserve and grow that flock is the Georgia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
With 9,247 members in 74 chapters spread around the state, the Turkey Federation is a major driving force for improving turkey numbers and hunting opportunities. The organization actively works manage the natural resources of our state for our kids and grandkids and for the future of the wild turkey and all wildlife in Georgia. In recent years those efforts have involved 34 projects, with 23 completed and 11 ongoing. Since 2018, the Georgia chapters have pitched in to conserve and enhance wildlife habitat on 152,477 acres of fields and woodlands across the state.
Those projects involve a number of activities designed to improve the land for turkeys.
They include planting food plots, cutting fire breaks and doing controlled burns. That prescribed burning activity has involved 64,274 acres. Additionally, invasive plant control and sowing native plants has improved 43,742 acres of land. Thinning of timber and planting of hardwood trees are yet another of these projects. Many of these projects are in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service or the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, while others are with private land owners. Another benefit of their work is that 7,736 acres of land have been opened to public hunting in the last seven years.
All of the money used by Turkey Federation to help pay for these improvements come from the annual fundraising banquets held by the various chapters around Georgia. To find out more about the Federation, to locate a local chapter near you or just become a member of the organization, you can visit their website.
Supporting the National Wild Turkey Federation Georgia State Chapter is a great way to ensure that you and other hunters have the opportunity to feel that chill run along your spine during future mornings in the woodlands.
Jimmy Jacobs is the editor of Georgia Outdoor Adventures, as well as being editor/publisher of On The Fly South. He also is a member of the Georgia Outdoor Writers Association. He makes his home in Marietta with his English setters, Luke and Lulu. He can be contacted at jimmyjacobs@mindspring.com.