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Bishop earns
Inaugural Joe Kurz Award
Mark Bishop, a wildlife
technician for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, received the
inaugural Joe Kurz Excellence in Wildlife Management Award. The National Wild
Turkey Federation presented the award during its 26th Annual Convention and
Sport Show in Charlotte, N.C.
Bishop has worked with the DNR for 30 years and has
played a key role in wild turkey restoration in Michigan and has been
influential in educating the public about wild turkey and wildlife conservation
in the Wolverine State. He has also worked to improve habitat on various
game lands throughout the state.
One of Bishop’s favorite things about his job is
working with children. Through a "shadowing" program, he allows
high school students to spend a half-day with him while he is managing a
wildlife management area. "Children are at the age when we can make a
lasting impression on how they will, as future adults, view natural resource
management," said Bishop. "Any chance I get to interact with
kids is a definite reward."
The excellence in wildlife management award is given to
state natural resource agency employees. The award is named after Joe Kurz,
former Georgia DNR, wildlife chief, for his leadership and the vital role he
played in improving wildlife management. Kurz was also a principal figure
in the wild turkey trap and transfer program across North America.
"If you have turkeys to hunt in your area that were
transferred from another area since 1987, you have Joe to thank," said NWTF
Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs Dr. James Earl Kennamer.
"Turkey populations have been restored and state management land
using restoration dollars have been bought for public hunting because of Joe’s
hard work and leadership. I can’t think of anyone in the wildlife
profession that I respected more than Joe."
"I never had the pleasure of meeting Joe Kurz, but
he sounded like a ‘roll up your sleeves, whatever it takes to get the job done’
kind of guy. And I can relate to that
approach to life," said Bishop. "He was a very dedicated,
focused man with a passion for his career."
For more information about the NWTF or about the Joe
Kurz Excellence in Wildlife Management Award, contact the NWTF at 1-800-THE-NWTF
or visit the website at www.nwtf.org
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 an estimated 5.6 million wild turkeys
and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Since 1985, more than $150 million
NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 18,000 projects benefiting
wild turkeys throughout North America.
The NWTF is a 390,000-member grassroots, nonprofit
organization with members in 50 states, Canada and 11 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 .
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