Clubs, landowners can create natural food for wild turkeys, other game
The National Wild Turkey Federation announced Dec. 11 the continued expansion of its Operation Oak Program.
A partnership between the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the NWTF has made 15,000 oak seedlings available free to private landowners in North Carolina. These native seedlings are grown under a specialized nursery protocol at the Flint River Nursery in Georgia. The result of this nursery protocol is a large, vigorous seedling with high survivability, high growth potential, and the potential to produce mast in approximately 10 years.
This tree-planting program provides long-term habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife.
Private landowners interested in participating in the free program must be or become a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation ($30 annual fee).
NWTF staff will review all applications and provide seedlings to as many interested landowners as possible.
These bare-root seedlings have extensive root systems and will require post-hole diggers or an auger for planting.
Participants will be required to pick up their seedlings from a centralized location in the state. These sites and dates will be determined and announced before trees are available in January or February. Most seedling loads will fit in a truck bed.
NWTF members or those interested in joining NWTF to receive free seedlings must complete an application form and mail, e-mail or fax it back to the attention of: Kay Morris, Operation Oak, P.O. Box 530, Edgefield, SC 29824, kmorris@nwtf.net, fax (803) 637-9180.
Applications must be received in Edgefield on or before Dec. 15, 2008.
To receive application forms or for more information call Kay Morris at 803-637-7536 or 800-637-3106 Ext. 7536.
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