By Adam Dodson | The Selma Times-Journal

The Alabama chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation hosted its annual reception at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center Friday night, where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate accomplishments, participate in fundraising and enjoy good food.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is an organization committed to the conservation and expansion of quality hunting land and wildlife, while promoting the proper practice of hunting. The Alabama chapter was established in 1986.

At the reception, guns, hunting tools, paintings and other memorabilia were available for viewing and for purchasing, with all funds going under the Alabama chapter’s umbrella. The event allowed for local president, and former NWTF national president, Jere Peak to discuss their accomplishments from 2017 at the national and state level, as well as what they have planned going forward.

In 2017, the Alabama chapter for NWTF spent over $400,000 on mission delivery projects, opened up over 63,500 acres to hunter access, raised almost $30,000 in scholarship funds and created 279 hunters instilled with their ideals.

Going forward, the Alabama chapter has vowed to conserve or enhance over 250,000 acres, create 20,000 hunters and create 10,000 acres of public hunting access.

With an array of food ranging from elegant dishes to classic finger foods and plenty of refreshments, the attendees of the reception conversed amongst chapter members before the speaking portion of the reception began.

This included attendee Jan Justice, who went to the event with her husband and friends after lucking into tickets for the sold-out event. The ticket prices varied from the average price of $90 to a heftier price for sponsors, which also included perks for the reception. The tickets also came with a subscription to the NWTF’s magazine.

Justice, a previous attendee of the NWTF reception, was delighted to be able to attend the event once more, knowing the high reputation the reception has.

“It was a fun and festive atmosphere. The food was really good as always, and I also thought that the men were interested in the items they had available,” said Justice. “It was something I was happy to be able to attend again.”

With a successful reception Friday night, the NWTF will look to reach their goals they have set for 2018 and going forward. However, their accomplishments to this point are well-known. This includes their technological assistance with a NWTF biologist across Alabama, sponsoring five youth hunts and the sponsorship of Alabama prescribed fire council meetings.

For more information regarding the Alabama chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, visit their website at www.nwtf.org/state/Alabama.