Check out the latest conservation numbers here!

Goals

Since 2012, the Minnesota State Chapter has been working towards the goals laid out in the “Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” Initiative. As part of this our board has directed resources to many projects with these goals in mind:

01. Conserve or enhance 4 million acres of critical wildlife habitat

We’re bringing focus to our conservation delivery by identifying areas of habitat that provide the most positive impact for wildlife. Check out the America’s Big Six page.

02. Recruit 1.5 million hunters

We’re securing the future of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation by increasing the number of hunters, who pay for 80 percent of wildlife conservation through excise taxes on guns, ammunition and more. Learn more about our Hunting Heritage Programs.

03. Open access to 500,000 additional acres for hunting

Because lack of access to hunting lands is a main reason people stop hunting, we’re ensuring there’s opportunity for everyone to find a place to go.

Learn more about our National Conservation

NWTF Clean Water Land & Legacy Project

It all started when…

In November of 2008, Minnesotan voters overwhelmingly passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to restore, preserve and enhance some of the most important elements of the state. The Legacy Amendment increased the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent, with revenue divided between four funds: 33% for the Clean Water Fund, 33% to the Outdoor Heritage Fund for wildlife habitat, 19.75% to the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and 14.25% to the Parks and Trails Fund.  This amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is often referred to as the “Legacy Amendment”. 
The Minnesota State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF-N) has successfully leveraged funds raised by volunteers at local Hunting Heritage banquets with Legacy funds to enhance habitat for wild turkeys and associated wildlife, and protect lands to provide places for future generations to recreate.

Anoka Sandplain Partnership (ASP):  NWTF-MN has been a member of the Anoka Sandplain Partnership, a coalition of 25 conservation stakeholders with a mission to bring together their collective expertise, resources and connections to advance terrestrial and freshwater resource conservation in this ecological region, since its inception.  The ASP has secured seven Legacy grants totaling over $20 million and restoring or enhancing nearly 15,300 acres.  NWTF-MN has recently received $850,000 to enhance over 1,200 acres of turkey habitat.  NWTF-MN has focused on enhancing oak woodlands and savannas in the Central Minnesota Focal Landscape by treating invasive species, re-introducing prescribed fire to woodlands, and seeding native grasses and forbs lost to succession.  We will have worked on the Sartell, Ereaux , McDougall, Sponsa, Buckhorn Lake, and Ruff-Nik Wildlife Management Areas when all work is completed on the current grants. NWTF leveraging for our dollars compared to the grant dollars we are at 255:1. If NWTF Super Funds contributed are compared to the budget NWTF has to complete the work our funds are leveraged almost 11:1.

Conservation Partner Legacy (CPL) Grants:  The Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant Program funds conservation projects that restore, enhance, or protect forests, wetlands, prairies, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife in Minnesota. Funding for the CPL grant program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, as administered by the Minnesota DNR. These are competitive matching grants from $5,000 to $400,000 for local, regional, state, and national nonprofit organizations, including government entities.
NWTF has secured many CPL grants since 2011 but the ones listed below are projects we are currently working on or recently finished.

Lamprey Pass WMA – This project was an effort to help protect oak saplings on Lamprey Pass WMA. Tree planting occurred on the site and after 5 years, little to no saplings had made it above browse height, mostly due to deer. This project helped erect a deer fence to keep deer out of the area. After the fence was installed, tree planting took place again to get the stocking density higher. The fence will be up for several years until the saplings reach a height of six feet or higher. This is the height where they are typically safe from deer browse and will likely survive if the rest of their resource needs are met. 22 acres of habitat was conserved/enhanced thanks to this project. NWTF Super Fund dollars were used as match for this project.

Aitkin County Oaks – This grant focused on tree planting and tree protection in Aitkin County. Specifically, oaks were targeted for protection on this grant as new age classes of oak have been lacking on these specific wildlife management areas. 32,500 trees were planted over the course of 2020 and 2021 across almost 170 acres of state land. A portion of the saplings planted were treated with plantskydd, an animal deterrent in an attempt to prevent deer browse without having to bud cap the trees or put cages around them. NWTF Super Fund dollars were used as match for this project.

Sherburne NWR – This project took place on the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Stearns County Minnesota. The objective was to get more prescribed burning done on the property as oak savanna habitat management. Fish and Wildlife Service staff worked with Conservation Corps crews to implement prescribed fire on the landscape. 2,671 acres were proposed over the three-year grant. In year one we had already exceeded that amount. In year two we had burned an additional 7,083 acres. Year three was impacted by Covid-19 uncertainties and staffing issues so no acres were burned in 2020. We were also granted a year extension since the 2020 field season was basically non-existent. In the spring of 2021 we burned another 2,283 acres, going way above and beyond what we had originally proposed for a total of 12,214 acres burned at the end of the grant.

Mille Lacs WMA – This project took place on Mille Lacs WMA and is similar to the Lamprey pass project. A deer exclosure fence was set up in order to promote oak regeneration in an area that is heavily browsed. 8,000 trees were planted in and some adjacent to the deer fence that was put up. 42 acres worth of habitat was conserved/enhanced by this project. NWTF Super Fund dollars were used as match for this project.

Whitewater WMA – This project is focused on native prairies establishment and the transition of habitat types that surround it. Currently a fallow ag field surrounded by brush, the site will be treated and planted with native prairie seeds. The adjacent brush will be thinned to include only the most desirable species and create a better transition between the prairie and the upland hardwoods nearby. 33 acres will be restored and enhanced when the project is completed. NWTF Super Fund dollars were used as match for this project.