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2023 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 26
April 13, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives MURSAU, BEHNKE, GREEN, S.
JOHNSON, KURTZ, NOVAK, O'CONNOR, OLDENBURG, PENTERMAN, PETRYK,
PRONSCHINSKE, STEFFEN, TRANEL and SCHRAA, cosponsored by Senators
MARKLEIN, COWLES, FELZKOWSKI, FEYEN, HESSELBEIN, PFAFF, SPREITZER, TESTIN,
TOMCZYK, WANGGAARD and WIMBERGER. Referred to Committee on Rules.
1 Relating to: honoring and commending the National Wild Turkey Federation upon
2 its 50th anniversary.
3 Whereas, it is fitting that the members of the Wisconsin State Legislature
4 recognize those exemplary organizations that promote and protect the long-honored
5 outdoor traditions of our nation; and
6 Whereas, one such commendable organization is the National Wild Turkey
7 Federation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing ceaseless support
8 to science-based wildlife management, research, and habitat conservation; and
9 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc., was incorporated on
10 March 28, 1973, in Fredericksburg, Virginia; and
11 Whereas, over the course of 50 years, the National Wild Turkey Federation, its
12 chapters, and millions of members across the nation have worked with state, federal,
13 and nongovernmental partners to promote the conservation of the wild turkey and
14 the preservation of our hunting heritage, participating in one of the greatest
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1 conservation success stories in American history—the return of the wild turkey from
2 the brink of extinction; and
3 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation and its chapters and members
4 have been at the vanguard of reversing declining hunting participation through
5 nationwide investment in hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts;
6 and
7 Whereas, the organization and its chapters and members have partnered with
8 states to develop opportunities to engage people from all walks of life in the outdoors
9 tradition; and
10 Whereas, since 2012, the organization has recruited and reactivated more than
11 1.5 million hunters; and
12 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation and its chapters and members
13 have invested more than half a billion dollars to conserve or enhance more than 22
14 million acres of critical wildlife habitat, forests, and grasslands across public and
15 private lands since 1985, while also providing more than $8.5 million in research
16 throughout North America to ensure healthy wild turkey populations into the
17 future; and
18 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation is the largest and
19 longest-serving nongovernmental stewardship partner of the United States
20 Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, conserving habitat on National
21 Forest System lands for over 40 years and heavily engaging in the development and
22 implementation of the USDA's Wildfire Crisis Strategy; and
23 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation works across land-ownership
24 boundaries to increase clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife
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1 habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities across the
2 country, and for this work, the organization should be specially recognized; and
3 Whereas, the National Wild Turkey Federation, at the national level, has
4 achieved all of these aforementioned accomplishments, and local National Wild
5 Turkey Federation chapter volunteers in Wisconsin were critical partners with the
6 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in wild turkey restoration in Wisconsin;
7 and
8 Whereas, today, there are abundant populations of wild turkeys in all 72
9 Wisconsin counties, resulting in Wisconsin enjoying some of the finest turkey
10 hunting in the country; and
11 Whereas the National Wild Turkey Federation continues in its partnership
12 with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to conserve the wild turkey
13 and preserve our hunting heritage in Wisconsin and across the nation; now,
14 therefore, be it
15 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
16 Wisconsin State Legislature recognize and commemorate the 50th anniversary of
17 the National Wild Turkey Federation and salute the organization and its chapters
18 and members for their tireless and selfless work to further scientific, state-led
19 wildlife management and the conservation of America's wild turkey and its habitat;
20 and, be it further
21 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall prepare a copy of this resolution
22 with this final clause omitted to be provided to the National Wild Turkey Federation.
23 (END)