South Cherokee WMA Manager David Whitehead accepts donation from Forest Service, South Zone Biologist Philip Earhart and NWTF, Southern Appalachian Chapter President Keith Garren.
Five local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) have raised and donated $5,000 to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). This donation will be utilized towards the purchase of a tractor and mowing implement that will help maintain habitat along 270 linear miles in the South Cherokee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cherokee National Forest.
The South Cherokee WMA covers over 350,000 acres in southeast Tennessee.
The area offers an array of fishing and hunting opportunities as well as many other activities. The tractor and implement will help maintain early successional habitat on about 9,000 acres. “This habitat will not only greatly provide for turkeys, but many other species including pollinators, songbirds and bats,” said David Whitehead, WMA manager.
The five NWTF chapters are adjacent to the South Cherokee WMA and include the Southern Appalachian Chapter in Monroe County, the Cherokee Chapter in Chattanooga, the Hiwassee Chapter in McMinn County, the Tri-State Longbeards Chapter in Copperhill and the White Oak Longbeards Chapter in Cleveland. “We can’t forget our partnership with the Forest Service. We couldn’t do this without them. We greatly value them and the NWTF,” said Mr. Whitehead.
This donation is part of larger Partners for Wildlife program between the NWTF, TWRA and the Cherokee National Forest. The group works towards improving early successional habitat along linear roadways through the purchase of the tractor and implements, the purchase of native plant seeds for sowing in managed areas and volunteerism.
For more information on this program, contact NWTF Regional Director Tim Yates at 423 463-4260.