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Old 10-18-2008, 05:02 AM
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Default "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" Tells the Restoration Story of the Wild Turkey

South Dakota has long been a popular destination for turkey hunting enthusiasts containing three of the four subspecies needed for a Grand Slam and some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the country.




"The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" authors

[ul][*]Lester D. Flake[*]Chad P. Lehman[*]Anthony P. Leif[*]Mark A. Rumble[*]Daniel J. Thompson [/ul]
Hunters are able to pursue wild turkeys through the Black Hills, and many other parts of South Dakota, thanks to restoration efforts that reintroduced populations to areas where turkeys had practically been eliminated around the turn of the 20th century.
This rise from turkey desolation to a wild turkey hunting destination has been documented in a new book. "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" tells the story of the wild turkey from the turn of the century to its amazing comeback in the Mount Rushmore State. This book, which received an award during the National Wild Turkey Federation's National Convention and Sport Show in Atlanta, covers wild turkey ecology, habitats and hunting opportunities throughout South Dakota.
"We decided to explore the wild turkey in South Dakota in every stage from its reintroduction to its expansion and all the way to its success that currently provides some great turkey hunting," said Lester Flake, "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" co-author. "This book was written for anybody with an interest in the wild turkey in South Dakota."
The Wild Turkey in South Dakota begins by explaining South Dakota's early restoration efforts in the 1930s, which consisted of releasing pen-raised birds, and how they quickly learned that pen-raised birds lacked the necessary survival skills. State agencies, including South Dakota's, quickly swapped to releasing trapped wild birds to areas of suitable habitat since wild birds were well suited for survival.
As the book continues, the authors discuss wild turkey habitat, physical characteristics, behavior habits and hunting in South Dakota, including population and harvest rates for the areas containing wild turkeys.
"The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" is about exactly that - wild turkeys in South Dakota. This book covers their history, restoration, research, management and hunting in a state where hunting is a cherished family activity.
"The specifics of this book are for South Dakota, but the story of the comeback of the wild turkey is similar across North America," said James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D., NWTF senior vice president for conservation programs. "This book puts that story in the hands of average hunters and explains how hunters stood up for wildlife, and continue to pay for wildlife management and populations through license, tag and stamp sales, and through the Pittman/Robertson excise tax on firearms and ammunition."
"The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" authors received a Making Tracks Partnership Achievement Award during the NWTF's National Convention and Sport Show in Atlanta as a testament to their book about wild turkeys in South Dakota.
The National Making Tracks awards recognize people and projects that that benefit wild turkeys and wild turkey habitat. Making Tracks is the cooperative program between the NWTF and state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies to restore wild turkeys to all suitable habitats in North America. Through Making Tracks, the NWTF provides transport boxes, trapping equipment and advice to wildlife agencies across North America.
"This award gives the book a great deal of creditability as an education tool," said Dr. Chad Lehman, "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" co-author. "It shows we did a good job in providing both in-depth biologic and hunting information on the wild turkey in South Dakota."
Purchase "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota" at the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Web site.
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NWTF's 2008 Making Tracks Award Winners:
[ul][*]Habitat Management Project Award: Mark S. Garner, Conecuh National Forest[*]Habitat Management Program Award: Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests Sumter Zone; Donna Ray, Donnie Ray, Chris Holcombe, Terry McKinney[*]Partnership Achievement Award: Dr. Mark A. Rumble, Rocky Mountain Research Station[*]Partnership Achievement Award: Authors of "The Wild Turkey in South Dakota"; Dr. Les Flake, Dr. Chad Lehman, Dr. Mark Rumble, Anthony Leif.[*]Partnership Achievement Award: Dale Bounds, Fred Salinas; National Forests, Texas
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NWTF Newsletter[*]

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