Wild turkey populations have increased from a low of 1.3 million birds in 1973 to nearly 7 million birds across North America today. The number of turkey hunters has increased along with the number of turkeys. America’s three million turkey hunters spend an estimated $2 billion annually, much of it boosting local economies and bene. ting conservation through license fees and Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration excise taxes.

With the support of its corporate partners, NWTF has given wildlife agencies more than 135,000 wild turkey transport boxes, which have been used to transport more than 186,000 birds. The NWTF and its cooperators have spent more than $202 million on restoration and habitat improvement projects, bene. ting the wild turkey as well as many non-game, threatened and endangered species. The NWTF, state wildlife agencies, and the USDA Forest Service have completed 1,100 projects on National Forests since 1986. The NWTF provided seed money for the USDA Forest Service’s Challenge Cost Share Program, providing matching dollars through the Hunting Heritage Super Fund, corporate sponsors, and other donors.