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HabitatDo you
have questions about wildlife and habitat managing?
Ask
our Regional Biologist!
E-mail your
questions to: Randy Showalters at
rshow@ctlnet.com
Conservation Seed Program
The NWTF’s Conservation Seed program provides year old
seed to chapters and it’s members for food plots and habitat projects on
private land with a minimal cost. Annual seeds like corn, sunflower, oats and
soybeans plus 2 Michigan
Mixes (a special blend including corn or soybeans, sunflower, buckwheat and Japanese millet prepared
specially for the Michigan climate) are available. Seed is ordered through the NWTF who obtains the seed from Resource Management Inc. (RMI). RMI
obtains the seed from seed dealers who have seed that can no longer be sold
commercially due to age and possible decreased germination.
All
seed obtained must be planted for wildlife and landowner much agree that it will
not be harvested. Seed cost for this program are minimal and
run between $7.00 to $21.00/bag of seed depending on type of seed ordered. The state chapter has agreed, in the past, to pay for
50% of the seed cost through the states Wild Turkey Super Fund which was generated
through our banquet program. Contact you chapter president if you are interested
in receiving habitat seed through the Conservation Seed Program. To insure your
order is filled, your chapter’s seed order must be placed by December 1st
of
each year.
Click Here
for Conservation Seed Order Form
Seed Subsidy Program
The NWTF's seed subsidy program is another
great program to help with private land management. This program should not be,
but often is, confused with the Conservation Seed Program. The Conservation Seed
Program provides annual agricultural crops like corn, sunflower, oats, soybeans
and Michigan Mixes used for food plots while the Seed Subsidy Program provides
perennial mixes good for brood habitat and meadow improvement. Openings seeded
with a perennial mix make excellent bugging areas for turkeys. This cost share
program is only available to NWTF members and is administered through the
National NWTF's conservation seed department. Regular members may purchase one
bag of seed and Sponsor members two bags of seed at half price. Half the cost of
the seed and shipping is paid for through the state's Wild Turkey Super Fund.
The Michigan state chapter offers two perennial mixes, a Northeast/Midwest Strut
& Rut Mix and a BioLogic Premium Perennial Mix. The Northeast/Midwest Strut &
Rut Mix contains a mixture of alfalfa, annual ryegrass, medium red clover,
Persian and white clover. The BioLogic Premium Perennial Mix contains several
varieties of New Zealand Brassicas with several varieties of clover and chicory.
Operation SOS
Operation SOS (Set Out Seedlings) provides seedlings
to NWTF chapters in Northern states were turkeys have to contend with sever
winter conditions. The purpose of the program is to improve winter habitat
conditions in wild turkey range by providing tree and shrub species that hold
their fruits through the winter or that provide thermal cover.
Once again the NWTF will be offering free seedlings through
our Operation SOS program. 2007 was a huge success with over
72,000 seedlings planted throughout the upper Midwest. We want
to encourage all chapters to participate again this year.
This year's (2008) seedlings are well-adapted to the upper
Midwest and will provide excellent wildlife food and cover.
The seedlings package this year will include Northern red oak,
bur oak, Red Splendor crabapple, black cherry, Arrowwood,
American highbush, chokecherry, and Nannyberry. These species
have been selected for their ability to provide food sources
for wild turkeys, provide cover from heavy snow and to
re-establish riparian zones. Each chapter will receive 200
seedlings. Each chapter will also receive a sign to post near
the plantings to identify the program as an NWTF project.
These seedlings are free of charge to
Michigan chapters and are funded through National Project funds, and through
project sponsors, Miller Friends of the Field and Cynergy
Our target date to mail out
seedlings is April 15, 2008. We encourage all chapters to
participate. In order to participate in the program, make sure
you fill out and mail the
required
form back to:
NWTF
Attn: Kay Morris, Regional Programs
PO Box 560
Edgefield, SC 29824
before March 15, 2008
If you have any questions,
please contact: Kay Morris at 803-637-7536
Project HELP
The NWTF’s Project HELP (Habitat Enhancement Land
Program) is available to members and non-members alike. The program assist
landowners and managers with their wildlife programs by providing seeds,
seedlings, tree protectors and other related products. The NWTF has agreements
with several seed wholesalers and tree nurseries throughout the US to provide
products especially suited for Michigan. For a catalog or to place an order call
toll free 1-800-THE-NWTF.
For Land Management Products
Click Here
Wild Turkey Woodlands
In recognition of the importance the private landowner
plays in the conservation of our wildlife, the NWTF has implemented a new
private lands program called Wild Turkey Woodlands. This program recognizes the
landowner for their efforts to provide good habitat for the wild turkey and
other wildlife on their property. Participating landowners receive a large,
full-color sign to post on their property and a certificate suitable for
framing. However, this program just doesn’t provide recognition, it also
provides direct benefits: special rates on seed and seedlings, periodic updates
on current wildlife management techniques, and a newsletter packed with how-to
information to help the private landowner with their management. The program is FREE
to members and non-members.
Northern Michigan Winter Habitat Enhancement Project
Since 1997, volunteers for the National Wild Turkey federation
have dedicated time and financial resources to improve winter habitat for the
wild turkey in Michigan. Volunteers from local chapter have taken
part in Operation SOS (Set Out Seedlings), which is an NWTF tree-planting
program that involves chapter volunteers in several Great Lakes States. In 2000,
in addition to Operation SOS, the NWTF initiated another winter habitat
improvement project that is unique to northern Michigan.
The Northern Michigan Winter Habitat
Enhancement Project is an initiative aimed at providing short and
long-term improvements, via planting corn plots and fruit-bearing seedlings, to
help wild turkeys deal with the brutal winters that frequent northern Michigan.
Last spring, NWTF volunteers planted 600 acres of food plots and several
thousand Sargent crabapple trees. "It will be several years before the
crabapple trees start bearing fruit, but the corn plots are paying dividends
now. I visited some of the plots recently and they’ve been used heavily by
wild turkeys. I flushed over 100 turkeys from one of the corn plots," said
David Neu, an NWTF regional biologist.
Last year, NWTF volunteers planted nearly 600 acres of food
plots, spread over an 11-county area in the northern lower peninsula, in addition to 500 acres of corn plots
they generally plant every year. Also, chapter volunteers, along with the
seedlings planted through Operation SOS, are aiming to put between 15,000 to
20,000 crabapple trees in the ground. The combination of corn and fruit trees
will provide immediate and long-term winter habitat improvements. More
importantly, the project will lesson the cold-weather burden if the birds and
the people who try to help them through the winter.
The Northern Michigan Winter Habitat
Enhancement Project has enjoyed the support of present and past partners: Monsanto, Mead, Weyerhaeuser,
Nettie Bay Lodge, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the NWTF
local and state chapters in Michigan.
For more information about the Michigan
project, contact Randy Showalters
at (260)
982-7935
See Winter
Survival Page
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