NAWEOA 2002 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

ROB KECK, CEO

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FERERATION

 By Sr. Agent Darryl Galloway

  While attending the NAWEOA 2002 conference in Columbus, Indiana this July, I had the opportunity to interview and attend a lecture by the Keynote Speaker, Mr. Rob Keck, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  As an avid turkey hunter, I was very interested in hearing what Mr. Keck had to present and after his presentation I must say, I was very impressed.  Here is a summary of what Mr. Keck had to say:

   The NWTF is a 450,000-member grassroots, nonprofit organization with members in fifty states, Canada and eleven other foreign countries. It supports scientific wildlife management on public, private and corporate lands, as well as wild turkey hunting as a traditional North American sport.

  In 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in Fredericksburg, Va. At that time, there were an estimated 1.3 million wild turkeys and 1.5 million turkey hunters. Shortly after its founding, the NWTF moved to Edgefield, S.C., where it is headquartered today. 

  Thanks to the work of federal, state and provincial wildlife agencies and the NWTF's many volunteers and partners, there are now an estimated 5.6 million wild turkeys and approximately 2.6 million turkey hunters. Turkey hunting has become the second highest participated type of hunting and is the fastest growing form of hunting.

   Since 1985, more than $150 million NWTF and cooperator dollars have been spent on over 20,000 projects benefiting wild turkeys and other game and nongame species throughout North America. Hunters have also benefited as the NWTF has worked tirelessly to support our hunting heritage and protect and promote laws that increase hunting opportunity and safety.

   Turkey hunting is now the fastest growing type of hunting as well as one of the most popular.  At the heart of this is the restoration of the wild turkey, one of the greatest success stories of all time.  It's more than a wildlife management success story said Keck, but a story about partnerships between people, federation volunteers, hunters, forestry departments and wildlife enforcement agencies all working together.   This story wouldn't be complete without you, the wildlife enforcement officers who played a big role in the comeback of the wild turkey.

   I was excited said Keck when I heard I was going to speak to you at this conference.  It gives me a chance to thank all of you for what you've done for the wild turkey restoration.  Without you, it wouldn't have happened and it was long overdue.  I can tell you from experience, your law enforcement efforts were the key to success in many areas around the country.   

  In the early day's of restoration programs, there were places where turkeys were poached as fast as they were released.  Working hand in hand with enforcement officers, the NWTF supported existing programs and helped create a way to reward people that turned in turkey poachers.  To date, the Federation's Wild Turkey Superfund has paid over $350,000.00 in rewards.  Together we're doing more to stop poachers who are out there constantly violating their limits and killing everything they can. 

  The Federation's partnership with your state's wildlife enforcement agencies has made big things happen.  We've armed you for this challenge with over a million dollars since 1985....monies that has allowed you to get hunter safety education materials, turkey decoys, surveillance equipment, ATV's and reward monies as mentioned earlier through the Wild turkey Super fund. 

  Here's a great example of partnerships that work.  In Missouri, the state chapter helped the Department of Conservation crack down on poachers with a $14,000 grant and a project called "Operation Predator".   The money was used to buy surveillance equipment, which allowed the Department to focus its funds on busting poachers in the southern part of the state.  Before and during the spring 2002 Gobbler season, the Department arrested 84 game law violators as a result of the Federation's grant. 

   In Indiana the NWTF's support of Wildlife Conservation Enforcement Officers over the past three years has totaled $50,000 for their K-9 training program, two (2) FATS machines, hunting incident investigation templates and support of professional meetings.  We must continue to work together, said Keck to stop those people who are stealing our wildlife resources as well as tainting and stealing our heritage.

   I am proud to say that wildlife enforcement officers throughout the country have always stepped forward to protect new flocks, educate landowners, teach hunter education courses, start federation chapters and serve on banquet committees.....You have always done whatever it took to ensure the successful return of the wild turkey.

   Million of turkey hunters should be thanking you, the wildlife enforcement officer each time they go into the woods for another hunt.  Not only are the turkey numbers at an all time high, over 5.6 million in North America, but turkey hunting is safer now than ever before.  Many people believe turkey hunting is dangerous, but nothing could be further from the truth.  Turkey hunting incident rates have dropped from eight incidents per 100,000 hunters in 1991 to 2.95 incidents per 100,000 hunters last spring, despite the tremendous growth in turkey hunter numbers. 

   The Federation is about people, family, friends as well as God and Country.  We are proud to stand up for this great country, a country that has given us many freedoms that are unheard of in other parts of the world.  That freedom has also allowed people to benefit from wildlife and the result is the world's best wildlife conservation legacy. 

  You as wildlife enforcement officers have all taken pledges to uphold the laws of your state and you take the time to pay honor to your fallen brothers and sisters that have gone before you, sometimes dying in the line of duty.  If the news media ever wants to tell a story about what is right in North America, they should start with stories of wildlife enforcement officers.  You are the front lines for your agency in communities across this country.  You're the face of your Department, often the only one people know.  Your role as a wildlife enforcement officer can make all the difference in the fight to preserve our hunting heritage. 

   Public involvement in managing those wildlife resources is critical to the survival of both our state and Federal wildlife resource agencies and consequently our wildlife populations.  To continue our success, we will need a new approach, one that includes open communication, creative solutions, recognition of successes and more technical and professional support, as well as relationship building.  You have already done so much and the Federation is so proud of the job all of you do to enforce wildlife regulations and hunter safety laws.  Your work makes the outdoors a richer, safer and more enjoyable place for all of us to be. 

   We believe so strongly in what I just said, the Federation developed a program four years ago to recognize top wildlife enforcement officers in the country.  Our Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer Awards program recognizes those law enforcement heroes at local / district, state and national levels.  We encourage the leadership at the wildlife agencies to work with the NWTF's state chapters to nominate a deserving wildlife enforcement officer.  State winners will be recognized at the Federation's annual convention and a national winner will be named there.

   Without your commitment to protect the wild turkey resource, restoration and management efforts would never have succeeded.  You have given so much to the Federation's fund raising efforts, conservation and outreach programs, we want to make sure you receive the thanks and recognition you deserve. 

   In closing, Mr. Keck left us with this; "Thank you for letting me come here to be a part of your event.  I'm truly glad that I finally had the opportunity to officially say; THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE CALL".