National Wild Turkey Federation

What National Wild Turkey Federation does

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization founded in 1973 and headquartered in Edgefield, South Carolina, with a stated mission of conserving the wild turkey and preserving hunting heritage. The organization operates as a federated membership body with chapters in all 50 states, supported by 120+ regional and headquarters staff, 10,000+ volunteers delivering 100,000+ hours of service annually, and a 200,000+ member base. Since founding, NWTF reports investing more than $500 million in wildlife conservation, conserving or enhancing 22-23 million acres of habitat, and contributing to the recovery of wild turkey populations from approximately 1.3 million birds in 1973 to roughly 7 million at their peak.

NWTF's core "products" are programmatic rather than technological: two member publications (Turkey Call, a bimonthly flagship magazine, and JAKES Country for youth), an annual Convention and Sport Show drawing 94,000+ attendees and 500+ exhibitors in Nashville, a 2026 NWTF Research Grants Program funding academic wild turkey science, and three R3 (Recruiting, Retaining, Reactivating) outreach programs—JAKES (youth), Women in the Outdoors, and Wheelin' Sportsmen (people with disabilities). The organization also conducts federal policy advocacy, partnering with USDA Forest Service and NRCS on landscape-scale conservation and the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program funded under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across tiered annual memberships ($10 youth to $1,000 Gold), tax-deductible charitable donations, corporate partnerships and sponsorships through a Corporate Conservation Circle (Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Mossy Oak, Benelli, Federal Premium, Realtree, Primos, and others), Convention exhibitor/auction revenue, and branded merchandise and licensing. Distribution is omnichannel via a nationwide chapter network, online membership and shop portals, and large in-person events. The organization reports 89% of expenses directed to mission-related activities and a 5-to-1 average match rate on conservation projects.

Name

National Wild Turkey Federation

Legal name

National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc.

Website

https://nwtf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The National Wild Turkey Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1973 that conserves wild turkey habitat and preserves hunting heritage through a 200,000+-member federation with chapters in all 50 states, funded by memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Hunting and Trapping (114210), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC), Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD), Wildlife, Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation Administration (BPAIAMAG)

Keywords

• Wild turkey conservation
• Wildlife habitat preservation
• Hunting heritage programs
• Conservation education
• Wildlife research grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Edgefield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $10 (youth) to $1,000 (Gold), providing magazine subscriptions, decals, and member benefits. This represents the primary recurring revenue stream for the organization.
2. Charitable Donations: Tax-deductible donations from members and supporters to support conservation mission delivery. The NWTF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Corporate partners advertise with NWTF through magazine ads, event sponsorships, licensing programs, and the Corporate Conservation Circle. Partners include major outdoor industry brands.
4. Convention and Event Revenue: Revenue from the annual Convention and Sport Show including exhibitor fees, ticket sales, auction and raffle proceeds, and event sponsorships.
5. Merchandise and Licensing: NWTF branded merchandise through the online shop including apparel, calls, and accessories. Also includes licensing royalties from approved partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

National Wild Turkey Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization that protects the wild turkey and preserves North America's hunting heritage through habitat conservation, hunter education, and wildlife research. It sustains its mission via individual memberships, donations, sponsorships, an annual convention and sport show, conservation magazines, and youth education programs.

Product overview

The National Wild Turkey Federation operates as a conservation organization rather than a technology product company. Its offerings center on print and digital publications (Turkey Call Magazine and JAKES Country Magazine for youth), annual events (the NWTF Convention and Sport Show), youth outreach programs (JAKES Program), and a research grants program funding wild turkey science. The NWTF also provides digital content through its Content Hub covering conservation, hunting heritage, and outdoor lifestyle topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Turkey Call Magazine: Official publication of the NWTF focused on habitat management, wild turkey research, hunting, food, and outdoor pursuits. Previously published as Turkey Country magazine.
• JAKES Country Magazine
• JAKES Program
• Women in the Outdoors (WITO)
• Wheelin' Sportsmen

Products and services

• NWTF Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 23+ million acres of wildlife habitat conserved or enhanced since 1973
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and standard.

• Mississippi State University College of Forest ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026NWTF announced a $500,000 investment creating a new Distinguished Endowed Professorship at Mississippi State University's College of Forest Resources during its 50th annual Convention and Sport Show. This is NWTF's second endowed professorship supporting research benefiting wild turkey populations and addressing challenges facing natural resource agencies and private landowners.
• University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024First-ever wild turkey professorship established at UGA with renowned researcher Dr. Mike Chamberlain as chair. This represents NWTF's commitment to increasing wild turkey ecology and management education in academia.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner30+ year partnership delivering conservation on federal lands. NWTF works with Forest Service on landscape-scale initiatives, forest management, and hazardous fuels transportation programs.
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowing partnership for private land conservation delivery. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance for habitat projects on private lands benefiting wild turkeys.
• USDA Forest Service (Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWTF collaborated with Forest Service to launch the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance program in 2024, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. NWTF provides outreach, webinars, application assistance, and project evaluation. In 2024, $20 million was awarded for 66 projects across 13 states.
• State Wildlife AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWTF's National Wild Turkey Technical Committee includes state agency representatives from every state. These agencies guide research priorities and collaborate on wild turkey management decisions.
• Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor FundmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKey funding partner for NWTF's Research Grants Program. The Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's Outdoor Fund contributes to wild turkey research initiatives.
• Mossy OakmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Convention Sponsor and sponsor of youth Grand National Turkey Calling Championships. Mossy Oak provides branding and marketing support for NWTF events.
• Primos Hunting (Revelyst Inc.)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of GNCC Gobbling Championship and GNCC Owl Championship at Convention. Primos and NWTF share a 50th anniversary year (both founded in 1976/1973) with longstanding conservation partnership.
• ALPS OutdoorZstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner displayed on NWTF partners page, participating in Corporate Conservation Circle program.
• Bass Pro ShopsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerGrand Slam Sponsor of NWTF Convention and Sport Show. Major supporter of NWTF conservation initiatives and hunting heritage programs.
• BenellistandardGTM or Marketing PartnerFull Strut Sponsor of Convention and Sport Show, and sponsor of JAKES Program.
• Federal PremiumstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerGobbler Sponsor of Convention and Sport Show and sponsor of JAKES Program.
• Cabela'sstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of JAKES Program and host of Jerry Zimmerman memorial dedication planned for 2027.
• RealtreestandardGTM or Marketing PartnerFull Strut Sponsor of Convention and Sport Show.
• Redneck BlindsstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Grand National Callmaking Competition at Convention.
• HuntStandstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Taxidermy Competition at Convention.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Quality Deer Management Association: QDMA is a membership nonprofit promoting science-based deer herd and habitat management, with state branches, certified forester/biologist programs, and similar convention and banquet models.
• Safari Club International: SCI is a hunting-heritage nonprofit advocating for hunters' rights and funding wildlife conservation worldwide; comparable mission overlap with NWTF on hunting heritage, though broader in geographic scope.
• Boone and Crockett Club: Boone and Crockett is a hunting-heritage and wildlife conservation organization with a similar dual mission of species conservation and hunting tradition preservation, including a scoring/records program analogous to NWTF's calling championships.
• Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever: Pheasants Forever operates the same federated chapter model focused on upland bird (pheasant, quail) habitat conservation, with local fundraising banquets and federal agency partnerships (NRCS, USFWS).
• Trout Unlimited: Trout Unlimited is a federally structured 501(c)(3) with state and local councils focused on coldwater habitat conservation; it uses a comparable grassroots chapter network, membership model, and federal agency partnerships.
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: RMEF is a mission-aligned big-game conservation nonprofit using a similar federation/chapter model, habitat delivery, and banquet-based fundraising to conserve elk habitat and preserve hunting heritage.
• Ducks Unlimited: Ducks Unlimited is the closest comparable — a federated, membership-based 501(c)(3) conservation organization dedicated to waterfowl habitat. Operates with state chapters, holds a major annual convention, and runs a similar fundraising banquet model across all U.S. states.
• Whitetails Unlimited: Whitetails Unlimited is a deer-conservation nonprofit that mirrors NWTF's banquet-driven fundraising model and habitat delivery focus, with a national footprint of state chapters.

Broad incumbents

• National Wildlife Federation: NWF is a larger, broader conservation nonprofit with national policy advocacy and wildlife habitat programs. Overlaps with NWTF on wildlife and habitat conservation but is not hunting-specific and operates at much greater scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation NGO with comparable habitat-delivery scale and federal/state agency partnerships. Adjacent mission (broader biodiversity vs. wild turkey-specific) but operates with a much larger endowment and program footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/THENWTF
• Xx.com/NWTF_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Wild Turkey Federation