Turkey Season Summary - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

T U R K E Y C O N S E R V A T I O N I N A R K A N S A S*More than 17,000acres of wildlifeopenings havebeen maintainedand more than41,000 acres havebeen burned toimprove habitatfor turkeys andother wildlife.members support 64 local chapters across thestate. Local chapters started contributing to theArkansas Hunting Heritage Super Fund in 1985.During the last 22 years, local NWTF chaptershave raised and spent more than $1.9 million onhabitat improvement projects in Arkansas. Theseprojects have improved habitat for turkeys andmany other wildlife species on 125,271 acres.Projects span 17 wildlife management areas,three national forests and many lakes, rivers andnational wildlife refuges.More than 17,000 acres of wildlife openingshave been maintained and more than 41,000acres have been burned to improve habitat forturkeys and other wildlife. Beyond conservation,the Arkansas chapter has spent $254,636on education programs and literature and morethan $74,900 to introduce the state’s youth tooutdoor activities, conservation and hunting.In 2007, local chapters contributed more than$120,000 to the Arkansas Super Fund. Fromthese contributions, $93,076 was spent onhabitat improvements, scholarships, educationalmaterials, outreach programs and local wildlifelaw enforcement support. Super Fund projectsimproved habitat for wild turkeys on morethan 2,500 acres of public and private lands.Local chapters awarded 44 scholarships, hosted17 Jakes events, hosted seven Women in theOutdoors events, provided educational materialsto public schools, supported hunting heritageprograms such as 4-H shooting sports teams,and supported local law enforcement throughreward payments.For more information on the NWTFand how you can help the future of turkeyhunting in America, visit www.nwtf.org. Tolearn more about local NWTF chapters andevents in Arkansas, visit www.nwtfchapter.org/arkansasstatechapter.Stewardship contracts in ArkansasThe National Wild Turkey Federation supports theuse of stewardship contracts to improve wildlifehabitat on national forests and grasslands throughoutthe nation. These contracts combine natural resourcemanagement work with timber sales, and enable federalland managers to exchange goods for services. Perhapsthe most meaningful aspect of stewardship contractingis the opportunity for collaboration between land andresource management professionals, private business interestsand individuals concerned with improving wildlifehabitat on public lands. To learn more about stewardshipcontracting, visit www.forestsandrangelands.gov/stewardship/index.shtml.Raspberry timber saleIn 2005, the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest BigPiney Ranger District developed the first stewardshipcontract in Arkansas. The Raspberry timber sale was developedas part of the Middle Fork Ecosystem RestorationProject. This project was designed to restore and maintainfire-dependent ecosystems on a portion of the nationalforest. The NWTF purchased the Raspberry timber sale asa stewardship contract. As primary contractor, the NWTFwas responsible for timber harvest and all connectedresource management activities with the sale. Treatmentsincluded thinning 141 acres of oak/hickory forest, 141acres of understory removal, 117 acres of wildlife standimprovement and 46 acres of timber stand improvement.These treatments resulted in improved forest health andimproved habitat for wild turkey and other wildlife. Thestewardship contract indirectly supported prescribedburning planned for the area through construction of 2.3miles of permanent fire lanes. Hazardous snags near thefire lanes were removed as well.Shotgun timber saleThe second stewardship contract developed as part ofthe Middle Fork Ecosystem Restoration Project was theshotgun timber sale purchased by Bibler Brothers LumberCompany of Russellville, Ark. The NWTF continuedits collaborative work with the USDA Forest Service asa sub-contractor, implementing 212 acres of understoryremoval and 34 acres of wildlife stand improvementplanned as resource management treatments. This treatmentresulted in improved habitat for turkeys on theOzark/St. Francis National Forest.3 0 2 0 0 6 - 0 7 T U R K E Y S E A S O N S U M M A R Y