More than $4.4 million has been spent on conservation and supporting hunting tradition.

For the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, supporting wild turkey conservation and hunting tradition is a labor of love.

Since 1985, Pennsylvania Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Hunting Heritage Super Fund Banquets have raised and spent $4,412,700 in Pennsylvania. Local chapters participate in super fund banquets to raise dollars for many different programs and events throughout the state.

The PANWTF has built an impeccable resume when it comes to following the National Wild Turkey Federation vision statement of being dedicated to Conservation of the Wild Turkey and Preservation of the Hunting Tradition.

The PANWTF has made a huge impact with wild turkey habitat enhancement, education, hunter safety, research, management, land purchase, hunting heritage, mentored youth hunting program, JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin' Sportmen.

"Conservation and the hunting tradition go hand-in-hand in allowing us to practice good stewardship and exercise our rights in managing our natural resources while providing opportunity for all who may seek it," said Gene Alwine, Pennsylvania State Chapter President. "We strive to ensure a promising future."

The PANWTF has spent close to $2.5 million on habitat improvement projects and impacted more than 271,595 acres statewide. The funds have been dedicated to habitat improvement projects through maintenance and development of brood habitat, wildlife openings, tree planting and support for seed subsidy and conservation seed programs while creating more than 11,000 acres in wildlife openings.

"We are especially proud of the continual results we see with funding habitat and food plots across the state," Alwine said. "Many of our dedicated chapters take part in this annually."

The PANWTF wants to ensure safe hunting and access to all those interested.

The state chapter has long supported initiatives to attract more young hunters and preserve the tradition of turkey hunting. PANWTF helped to create the special youth spring gobbler-hunting season and members are dedicated to "taking a kid hunting."

The state organization has sponsored 307 JAKES conservation Field Days throughout the state. The Women in the Outdoors program is thriving with 188 events throughout the state. The state chapter conducted 16 Wheelin' Sportmen events.

"We have become an organization where there is something for everyone," Alwine said. "There is nothing more rewarding than introducing folks to something that is already a part of who we are. The smiles and offers of thanks at the end of each event is an award for us that needs no wall space, yet means very much to us.">

And while the dollar and cents total of $4.4 million spent on wild turkey is staggering, the PANWTF's passion boils down to common sense.

"Our members care enough to dedicate efforts towards this because they share the common ultimate goal of successful stewardship of our natural resources, the preservation of the hunting heritage and the willingness to pass it on to ensure a bright future . all this while enjoying each other's company," Alwine said.

"What makes this state chapter so special is how easy it is to see that we are made up of a group of people who ultimately care and are genuinely good. We are unique in a lot of ways as we have been able to accomplish so much over the years and have been viewed as a measuring stick of what can be done and how to go about it."

But Alwine assured members that the PANWTF's work isn't done. Armed with biologists, they are learning more about the wild turkey.

"We're always striving to learn more," Alwine said. "We are greatly appreciative of possessing our own biologist to aid in the evaluations and consult with our state's wildlife agency to form new studies to obtain and update the data we have on our turkey flock. We've learned some new things with the gobbler leg-band study and are anxious to continue with some hen studies."