Other objectives of the wild turkey management plan are to improve and minimize the loss of turkey habitat, to improve public knowledge and appreciation of turkeys and turkey management, to improve hunter safety and ethics, to reduce problems caused by the release of game farm turkeys, and to provide wild turkeys to other states and Canadian provinces for restoration and range expansion.

That latter objective has caused complaints from some uninformed hunters who do not like having "their" turkeys being moved to other states or countries. But similar wildlife trades between states have benefited all hunters, including Pennsylvanians. The number of turkeys removed from any area through trap-and-transfer programs has been trivial, yet it has facilitated the expansion of the wild turkey's range throughout Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

In addition, no more than 246 turkeys were trapped from any individual county from 1958 through 1996. And no turkeys were trapped and transferred from 1997 through 2000.

Trap and transfer has proven to be the only way to establish truly wild turkey populations. Pennsylvania attempted a farm-raised turkey propagation program in 1930; however, farm-raised turkeys were not as wild as turkeys hatched in the wild. Although turkeys did expand their range during the period when farm-raised turkeys were stocked, the expansion was due to habitat improvement and the expansion of natural turkeys.

Turkey management has certainly played a big role in Pennsylvania's success story. Trap-and-transfer projects hastened expansion. Hunting regulations and cooperation by hunters along with habitat management and improvement by the Pennsylvania Game Commission has helped tremendously. Our state game lands provide some of the best turkey habitat in the region.

Contributions by the Pennsylvania Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation should not be overlooked. At least 72 individual chapters have raised and spent nearly $3.5 million since 1985 in this state. Some of this money has been used to purchase habitat management equipment including a trailer, a tractor, eight grain drills, four sprayers, three culti-packers, three planters, three spreaders and a dock harrow.

Habitat improvement projects affecting more than 264,899 acres have included maintenance and improvement of brood habitat, prescribed burns, tree planting, riparian restoration, water development projects, wildlife openings, control of invasive plant species, support for seed subsidy and conservation seed programs. Last year, the Pennsylvania Chapter's board of directors approved more than $190,000 for habitat projects on many state and national parks and forests.

Projects at Allegheny National Forest demonstrate the deep commitment of Pennsylvania Chapter members to wild turkeys.

"We appreciate the efforts of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation," said an Allegheny National Forest spokesman. "They have been an excellent partner on Allegheny National Forest for many years, and without their financial support the amount of quality turkey habitat on the forest would not be what it is today. We look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with the organization."

Since 1988, the Pennsylvania Chapter of NWTF has spent nearly $15,000 per year on Allegheny National Forest habitat improvement, affecting more than 3,200 acres. Projects have included planting warm-season grasses to provide summer brood habitat, planting conifers and shrubs to provide wintertime thermal habitat, and planting fruit and hard-mast-producing trees to provide food. Last year, the Pennsylvania Chapter pledged $15,000 for improving a winter habitat project on a unique 150-acre savannah in the Little Hunter Run watershed near the Elk County-Forest County border.

Pennsylvania Chapter money has also gone to education, hunter safety, youth programs, opportunities for disabled hunters, promoting the hunting tradition, research and land purchases.