NWTF Sponsorships

[wrcox]

I have been a member of NWTF for a number of years and have attended the local banquet as a sponsor for all of the banquets, I always felt as sponsors we should get a little deal than what I got this year, for putting up $260.00 for sponsorship I received $100.00 vouchers, now I'm thinking if I were to not be a sponsor I would have $200.00 cash to spend on raffle tickets or to spend at auction just my opinion but if the NWTF wants to entice more sponsors they might want to rethink this policy. As for me I want be doing sponsorships and not sure about attending banquets next year if they stick with current policy

 

[duckriver]

Sounds like what people are saying about the QDMA.

 

[Buccaneer]

Some of that depends on the local chapter holding the banquet. Long Hollow Long Beards banquet tonight at Hendersonville High School 5:00 PM.

 

[Roost 1]

I used to sponsor but decided I didn't agree with the direction the NWTF is taking these days, so I decided my $$$ would be better spent buying licenses, tags, ammo, and other turkey related items... I supported the NWTF whole heartedly back in early 90 to late 90s and even into early 2000s but not so much now.
The restoration efforts are mostly over now....
With all this being said, I am not against the NWTF just not as in tune as I used to be.........I am still a regular member and a charter member of the west ky long beards chapter.

 

[wrcox]

Kind of what I was thinking Seems like district manager only interested in money only thing is with policies like that they will run more off than get to join

 

[Setterman]

I stopped supporting the NWTF over a decade ago, because they were not IMO doing anything to conserve the turkey population. It turned into a good ol boys club with exclusive properties to hunt and used the majority of their profits for corporate junkits. The wheelin sportsman events are great events but are run by local folks more than the national group.

 

[deerhunter10]

I stopped supporting the NWTF over a decade ago, because they were not IMO doing anything to conserve the turkey population. It turned into a good ol boys club with exclusive properties to hunt and used the majority of their profits for corporate junkits. The wheelin sportsman events are great events but are run by local folks more than the national group.

im leaning that way to. I still go to the Nashville convention. and I still go to the local banquet because I know a lot of the guys that run it. but I agree with you.

 

[Final steps TC]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

 

[turkeyhuntr4]

wrcox, the sponsor membership is $250 plus the meal cost and does include other than the $100 in vouchers as you stated. Each sponsor also gets a Boyt gun case, sponsor cap, sponsor pin, the one year membership to NWTF that includes the magazines along with other discounts to items from corporate partners as well as a 1 in 10 chance on a sponsor gun if that many is signed up at the banquet you were at.
In the past years you would have got $200 in raffle tickets on the General Raffle that didn't include tickets on any of the guns that were on that raffle. With the vouchers you can buy tickets on the General Raffle that will include tickets on the guns, Yeti Cooler, Bighorn Gun Safe and several other things.
The raffle has been changed this year so it is BETTER for everyone attending the banquet. More guns and bigger and better raffle items. The intent of the vouchers is to give the sponsor member more flexibility to spend it on whatever games they want to spend it on.
This is a trial this year and will be evaluated before being used next year. Your comments are certainly appreciated and will be taken into consideration. However so far all that has been communicated is most everyone likes the changes and is creating more sponsor members.

Setterman, I'm not sure what you are talking about with the "Good Ole Boys Club" you mentioned but would like to have an example of exclusive properties to hunt as well as giving profits to corporate junkits????

I will certainly check into it and report back. It sounds like if these things are happening would put the 501(C)3 status in jeopardy. I don't think anyone would do that, but I will check on it.

The NWTF has undergone a major change in management over the last five years and lots has changed but the mission of the NWTF has stayed the same. Now I know NWTF isn't perfect for everyone, but there is NOT any other organization out there doing what NWTF does with the youth, women, disabled and conservation. If there is I would like to compare some numbers. Most people that disagree with things that are done typically don't know the facts!

I hope this helps.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

What about the word going around that the NWTF is being booted from Canada.... because they were taking funds from members/donors understanding the funds would be spent in Canada where in reality they were mostly being spent in the states instead?

 

[turkeyhuntr4]

I'm not sure where that talk is coming from. I of coarse am not in the head office in Edgefield but I did get a memo saying that NWTF is pulling out. Not that NWTF is getting booted out. Below is all I have heard.

On Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, the NWTF Board of Directors voted to suspend its fundraising operations in Canada indefinitely. This decision was based on a pending change in NWTF status under Canadian tax structure and a comprehensive evaluation of fundraising operations in Canada. This decision will allow the NWTF to focus on its long-term business plans and mission across North America.

The NWTF is proud of its accomplishments in Canada, including establishing wild turkey populations in Canada. The NWTF is grateful to all of its volunteers, members and staff in Canada for their support.

The NWTF is dedicated to the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of our hunting heritage.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I joined the NWTF some 35 years ago because I believed in their mission to assist in improving habitat locally and aid in the re-stocking efforts of local wildlife agencies. I even helped establish our local chapter and chaired our committee for several years. But after huntable flocks were established I realized that I was just helping pay the salary of people like Rob Keck so he could turkey hunt all over the country every spring without seeing any funding come back our way. Now the only reason I buy a membership is to get the free $25 Bass Pro card and to get into the Exhibit Hall at the convention free. So it's actually a wash. The National Wild Turkey Federation is all about raising money by selling cheap banquet and Sponsor merchandise that is made in China. Their television programs are now nothing more than reality television. Their annual convention is the only part of their organization that I enjoy anymore. They took advantage of me for several years so, in a way, I'm returning the favor.

 

[Setterman]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

People don't need the Nwtf to skim off a % of money and donate it to various groups. If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA. Again sending it to the Nwtf only ensures a portion is kept by them.

Grouse need entirely different habitat than turkeys and grouse are benefited by logging which is happening in epic amounts here. On the national forest good luck getting a timber operation going, they are basically forbidden from logging because of the environmentalists.

Literally everything the Nwtf is supposedly going to help with by using your membership dues is being done by another legitimate agency which if you took your dues and sent to them would enjoy 100% of that money rather than a portion.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If youre really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money. If your interested in going to banquets and glad handing with other turkey hunters then join the Nwtf.

It's your money so spend it how you wish, but if the goal is to help wildlife TWRA would do a thousand times more then the Nwtf could ever dream. IMO folks using the "help wildlife" excuse for supporting the Nwtf are either unaware of things or like the name association of the organization and a sticker on their truck.

Sorry to be blunt, but I spend almost all my time on public land here in tn and the work TWRA and TVA have done is outstanding. Combine that with private timber companies cutting thousands of stagnant monoculture forest and habitat on public lands is of zero concern.

 

[SKFOOTER]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

People don't need the Nwtf to skim off a % of money and donate it to various groups. If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA. Again sending it to the Nwtf only ensures a portion is kept by them.

Grouse need entirely different habitat than turkeys and grouse are benefited by logging which is happening in epic amounts here. On the national forest good luck getting a timber operation going, they are basically forbidden from logging because of the environmentalists.

Literally everything the Nwtf is supposedly going to help with by using your membership dues is being done by another legitimate agency which if you took your dues and sent to them would enjoy 100% of that money rather than a portion.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If youre really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money. If your interested in going to banquets and glad handing with other turkey hunters then join the Nwtf.

It's your money so spend it how you wish, but if the goal is to help wildlife TWRA would do a thousand times more then the Nwtf could ever dream. IMO folks using the "help wildlife" excuse for supporting the Nwtf are either unaware of things or like the name association of the organization and a sticker on their truck.

Sorry to be blunt, but I spend almost all my time on public land here in tn and the work TWRA and TVA have done is outstanding. Combine that with private timber companies cutting thousands of stagnant monoculture forest and habitat on public lands is of zero concern.

X100

 

[Final steps TC]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

People don't need the Nwtf to skim off a % of money and donate it to various

groups. If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA. Again sending it to the Nwtf only ensures a portion is kept by them.

Grouse need entirely different habitat than turkeys and grouse are benefited by logging which is happening in epic amounts here. On the national forest good luck getting a timber operation going, they are basically forbidden from logging because of the environmentalists.

Literally everything the Nwtf is supposedly going to help with by using your membership dues is being done by another legitimate agency which if you took your dues and sent to them would enjoy 100% of that money rather than a portion.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If youre really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money. If your interested in going to banquets and glad handing with other turkey hunters then join the Nwtf.

It's your money so spend it how you wish, but if the goal is to help wildlife TWRA would do a thousand times more then the Nwtf could ever dream. IMO folks using the "help wildlife" excuse for supporting the Nwtf are either unaware of things or like the name association of the organization and a sticker on their truck.

Sorry to be blunt, but I spend almost all my time on public land here in tn and the work TWRA and TVA have done is outstanding. Combine that with private timber companies cutting thousands of stagnant monoculture forest and habitat on public lands is of zero concern.

I agree that twra is an outstanding organization !! They do due a lot of work around tn .... I don't think we should be bashing any organization that has helped rebuild a population of huntable animals like the nwtf has... I promise you if it wasn't for them we would not have the populations around this country we have now.... Everyone is entitled to opinions and some people may be more vocal than others ... This is my stance on this subject and my mind won't be changed as long as Nwtf is around !!

 

[timberjack86]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

People don't need the Nwtf to skim off a % of money and donate it to various groups. If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA. Again sending it to the Nwtf only ensures a portion is kept by them.

Grouse need entirely different habitat than turkeys and grouse are benefited by logging which is happening in epic amounts here. On the national forest good luck getting a timber operation going, they are basically forbidden from logging because of the environmentalists.

Literally everything the Nwtf is supposedly going to help with by using your membership dues is being done by another legitimate agency which if you took your dues and sent to them would enjoy 100% of that money rather than a portion.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If youre really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money. If your interested in going to banquets and glad handing with other turkey hunters then join the Nwtf.

It's your money so spend it how you wish, but if the goal is to help wildlife TWRA would do a thousand times more then the Nwtf could ever dream. IMO folks using the "help wildlife" excuse for supporting the Nwtf are either unaware of things or like the name association of the organization and a sticker on their truck.

Sorry to be blunt, but I spend almost all my time on public land here in tn and the work TWRA and TVA have done is outstanding. Combine that with private timber companies cutting thousands of stagnant monoculture forest and habitat on public lands is of zero concern.

Outstanding post!

 

[Setterman]

I sponsor these guys 100%!! As far as where the funds go look into the local 4h kids shooting programs , scholarships, and the wheelin sportsmen hunts just to name a few things. There new direction is not really that new !! They are going to be doing projects to introduce new growth and better habitat on some of our public hunting areas !! Which will not only benefit turkeys but grouse, quail, deer, elk , and various other wildlife. As far a population stabilization they still are working in that direction look into the Cherokee reintroduction process where they released over 200 turkeys ...

People don't need the Nwtf to skim off a % of money and donate it to various

groups. If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA. Again sending it to the Nwtf only ensures a portion is kept by them.

Grouse need entirely different habitat than turkeys and grouse are benefited by logging which is happening in epic amounts here. On the national forest good luck getting a timber operation going, they are basically forbidden from logging because of the environmentalists.

Literally everything the Nwtf is supposedly going to help with by using your membership dues is being done by another legitimate agency which if you took your dues and sent to them would enjoy 100% of that money rather than a portion.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If youre really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money. If your interested in going to banquets and glad handing with other turkey hunters then join the Nwtf.

It's your money so spend it how you wish, but if the goal is to help wildlife TWRA would do a thousand times more then the Nwtf could ever dream. IMO folks using the "help wildlife" excuse for supporting the Nwtf are either unaware of things or like the name association of the organization and a sticker on their truck.

Sorry to be blunt, but I spend almost all my time on public land here in tn and the work TWRA and TVA have done is outstanding. Combine that with private timber companies cutting thousands of stagnant monoculture forest and habitat on public lands is of zero concern.

I agree that twra is an outstanding organization !! They do due a lot of work around tn .... I don't think we should be bashing any organization that has helped rebuild a population of huntable animals like the nwtf has... I promise you if it wasn't for them we would not have the populations around this country we have now.... Everyone is entitled to opinions and some people may be more vocal than others ... This is my stance on this subject and my mind won't be changed as long as Nwtf is around !!

TWRA had one thousand or more times to do with the rebirth of our turkeys than the Nwtf and even suggesting otherwise is offensive to the TWRA folks who put in the effort to do it.

Please post some facts as to areas and states where the Nwtf has repopulated the turkeys on the same scale as state game agencies.

If every nickel state game agencies used to bring back turkeys was cut by the Nwtf we might not have the hunting we do now.

Wes, saying that if it wasn't for the Nwtf we wouldn't have turkeys to hunt is very incorrect. The simple fact is if it wasn't for TWRA and other state agencies we wouldn't have turkeys like we do. If we only relied on the Nwtf efforts none of us would have much to hunt, and that's a fact.

Again for the record folks can make their own choices with their money and time, but if the goal is helping turkeys the state game agencies are the workhorses of this stuff.

 

[wrcox]

I'm not saying that the NWTF is not helping wildlife but district manager tells us we have to get more sponsors and get more members coming to our banquets to spend money if we want to continue to have banquets then they give BPS gift cards if you sign up online or sign up at convention then you tell them that for $250 we are going to only give you $100 worth of voulchers. Now I know they get the hat, pin and gun case but I feel that should be a gift for commiting to a sponsorship and not something the sponsor is having to buy. I could take the extra $200 for the sponsorship and have 2 times the chance on all the giveaways except the sponsor gun for the same money and most sponsors I know end spending more after they get to banquets. That being said I'm not going to quit supporting the NWTF but if the keep the same policy I just won't be doing a sponsorship any longer

 

[TheLBLman]

My comments not to be confused with any other "Wes"
----- the original Wes here.

If donating to groups is inspiring donate to the groups. Doing it through the Nwtf helps them keep a portion to pay for junkits, salaries, and other non conservation oriented expenses.

If hunters are interested in habitat improvements on wma land, cut a check to TWRA.

TWRA has the power, desire, and knowledge to do everything imaginable they just need money. If you're really interested in helping wildlife send TWRA the money.

Excellent comments, Setterman.

In addition to our TWRA,
there are a couple other groups I believe of similar worth to the sportsmen of TN:

The Tennessee Wildlife Federation (formerly known as the Tennessee Conservation League)
http://www.tnwf.org/

- and -

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation
http://www.twrf.net/

I would encourage everyone to find out more about these organizations, as they have worked hand-in-hand with the TWRA since 1946 and 1999 respectively.

 

[Roost 1]

I would guess alot of today's turkey hunters don't know who
Rob Keck was......

 

[Final steps TC]

Here is just one example of the so called inability to work with the national forest !!


http://www.nwtf.org/nwtf_newsroom/press ... p?id=13476

 

[Final steps TC]

Just an FYI the state agencies do play a big role but most every agency member will tell you it was nwtf members that are there volunteering when they are doing the work.....I don't discredit what the state agencies do either !! You may wanna look into more projects that the local chapters are funding from money raised by the banquets.... Yes some of the money may go back to pay salaries but if it didn't we wouldn't have this organization to help fund some of the current projects that are still going on today.

 

[Setterman]

140 acres? No offense, but that proves my point exactly. In north Cumberland wma they are clearing land by the thousands of acres every month.

In the grand scheme of things that amount of habitat management in that area is a drop in the bucket.

I'm glad their doing something, but if you compare the money going into the Nwtf versus what is happening on the ground, then do the same with TWRA and you will see vastly more benefits from TWRA then the Nwtf.

My real question more pertained to the reintroduction which you credit the Nwtf for, I think the quote was if not for them we wouldn't have turkeys to hunt.

I get it, you love the Nwtf and that's fine, but in the 1 million plus acres of public land in east tn about .0000001% has anything to do with Nwtf habitat management or turkey reintroduction.


For an eye opening experience go look at a tax return for the Nwtf. It will blow your mind how little goes to habitat and turkeys. I think the last time I looked it was around 25%. Their execs make around $500,000 a year according to the returns I saw a year or two ago.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

I will not support them because of their record turkey registry. It is totally bogus and you can enter what you want to as long as you and your "witness" each buy a $40 membership. There are 18" beards and 3" spurs in their record books. I asked them about it and they refused to answer. Crooks after money Anyway they can get it.

 

[Setterman]

Just an FYI the state agencies do play a big role but most every agency member will tell you it was nwtf members that are there volunteering when they are doing the work.....I don't discredit what the state agencies do either !! You may wanna look into more projects that the local chapters are funding from money raised by the banquets.... Yes some of the money may go back to pay salaries but if it didn't we wouldn't have this organization to help fund some of the current projects that are still going on today.

Imagine if all that money went to the state agencies and didn't go back to get carved up by salaries, infrastructure, advertising, banquet merchandise, swag handouts at shows etc etc etc. it's millions of dollars

Just consider this, if they raise $300,000 gets raised at a banquet here that money gets taken to corporate and prioritized all over the country. A fraction ends up here. Now imagine cutting a check to TWRA, it all gets spent here. See my point? No advertising, none of the extras a group like the Nwtf has to pay for annually

 

[SKFOOTER]

I wasn't bashing the NWTF in my earlier post. The point I was trying to make is that the NWTF seems to have changed their priorities over the years. With established turkey flocks now present in every state except Alaska their focus now appears to re-directed towards fund raising to pay their high salaried execs. And I'd really like to know the real reason they pulled out of Canada. But I feel as Setterman does; TWRA does an excellent job not to receive any funding from our state legislature.

 

[Final steps TC]

Then we should help the state agencies develop a similar program ...I don't mind helping any agency that's going to provide better habitat for the wildlife that roam tn !! This just seems to be one of the few non government funded agencies that still helps bring habitat up to snuff in the states they are in...

 

[SKFOOTER]

Then we should help the state agencies develop a similar program ...I don't mind helping any agency that's going to provide better habitat for the wildlife that roam tn !! This just seems to be one of the few non government funded agencies that still helps bring habitat up to snuff in the states they are in...

At least that's the image they portray. But the proof is in the puddin'.

 

[Final steps TC]

140 acres? No offense, but that proves my point exactly. In north Cumberland wma they are clearing land by the thousands of acres every month.

In the grand scheme of things that amount of habitat management in that area is a drop in the bucket.

I'm glad their doing something, but if you compare the money going into the Nwtf versus what is happening on the ground, then do the same with TWRA and you will see vastly more benefits from TWRA then the Nwtf.

My real question more pertained to the reintroduction which you credit the Nwtf for, I think the quote was if not for them we wouldn't have turkeys to hunt.

I get it, you love the Nwtf and that's fine, but in the 1 million plus acres of public land in east tn about .0000001% has anything to do with Nwtf habitat management or turkey reintroduction.


For an eye opening experience go look at a tax return for the Nwtf. It will blow your mind how little goes to habitat and turkeys. I think the last time I looked it was around 25%. Their execs make around $500,000 a year according to the returns I saw a year or two ago.

You 100% positive the nwtf state biologist is not helping with north Cumberland project ??

 

[Final steps TC]

Then we should help the state agencies develop a similar program ...I don't mind helping any agency that's going to provide better habitat for the wildlife that roam tn !! This just seems to be one of the few non government funded agencies that still helps bring habitat up to snuff in the states they are in...

At least that's the image they portray. But the proof is in the puddin'.

I am pretty positive the image they portray is pretty accurate !!