Are you a member of the NWTF?

[Ruger M77]

I just wonderd how many on here were members of the NWTF. And if not why? In the past I've noticed some hate on here towards the NWTF. How come?

[bamagtrdude]

I joined when I first started turkey hunting years ago; same thing with the USGA when I started golfing.  Have let both memberships lapse, tho.

[Gooserbat]

I'll post up.  Yes I'm a member, and no I don't agree with all they do but the truth is they have done a lot of good, but they have forgotten their roots imho.

[guesswho]

Nope!  Short version of why not.  Them taking credit for something they had little involvement in.  Plus taking advantage of good, hard working, dedicated volunteers.

[renegade19]

No.  Not really any reason.

[Ruger M77]

I should have mentioned I am a member the chapter in my area does a good amount of work on the public lands around here

[GobbleNut]

Although I think the NWTF has done a lot of good for wild turkeys and wild turkey hunters, the organization of late has dropped into survival mode due to the economy.  They have recently been making poor decisions based on dollars rather than good sense, and that has alienated a lot of good volunteers that have been staunch supporters in the past.  I am one of those.  Until they show me that they value their volunteers more than the dollar bill, they will have a hard time regaining my respect.

Here in New Mexico, we had a situation where they had to make a choice between "money" or "ethics" related to the leadership here,...and they chose "money".  Hence, much of our state leadership,...some of which had been the backbone of the state organization for decades,...said "adios".

[jakesdad]

Yes

[captin_hook]

Yepper, I'm a member, they've done a lot for the bird population here in PA, so therefore they get my dues every year.

[hotrod3h]

YES

[mudhen]

Yes.

I have never heard a valid discussion that shows the NWTF does more harm than good for the wild turkey population....

Pretty simple though, without Missouri, states like Pennsylvania, and the NWTF, the wild turkey population would not be what it is today...

$35 per year - $25 gift card to Bass Pro = no brainer for me....

mudhen

[darn2ten]

I'll post up.  Yes I'm a member, and no I don't agree with all they do but the truth is they have done a lot of good, but they have forgotten their roots imho.

^^This^^ 

[silvestris]

Unfortunately, yes.  I coughed up $300 for a life membership in the 70s.  I soon lost interest as (1) I realized that there was little they could do for the non-migratory Wild Turkey; (2) I saw them taking credit for the work of the state game agencies (God bless them).  A guy on the recent Turkey Thugs NWTF praising video was bragging about the NWTF trapping and transporting Wild Turkeys in Mississippi in the 50s when the NWTF was not created until 1973.  The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks did a marvelous job of trapping and transporting turkeys in the 50s.  We have far fewer turkeys today than we did in 1973.

I don't give the NWTF credit for what we have today, nor do I blame them for the decline either.  I do blame them for the fact that I have to have a reservation to be able to sit to a turkey because of the huge increase in the number of turkey hunters.  As far as habitat goes, I blame the clear cutting practices of the timber industry and CRP which caused many a bugging area to be converted to pine trees at taxpayer expense.

For the most part, I have forgotten about the NWTF and it seems that they have forgotten about me, too, since I haven't received their girley magazine for quite a while.

[kiltman]

yes

[Flydown]

Nope.