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Talking Turkey at the Annual NWTF Convention in Nashville
The National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sport Show was held at the Gaylord Opryland Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee from February 12th thru 16th, 2025. This event was an enormous celebration of the organization's on-going efforts to bring people together through the love and life changing powers of the outdoors.
A record-setting crowd of over 75,000 attended the NWTF in 2025. For over 50 years, NWTF has upheld their three-part mission which is 1) to conserve the bird (turkey) that they love 2) support people in the field and 3) protect the habitats both need to thrive. NWTF is commitment to both preserving the heritage of hunting and wild turkeys. At first this statement may seem counterintuitive, however NWTF has proven that protecting birds and natural habitats increases turkey populations even with hunting. Afterall, the sport is generally managed by quotas and seasons. Thus, like birds of a feather huge crowds of fans of the sport and the environment flocked together to generate a substantial gathering the likes of which we have never seen before in this part of town. The record-setting turnout for the turkey fest was announced to be in excess of 75,000 over the course of the event. The biggest draw was the Sport Show. The connected ballrooms were packed with various vendors ready to educate and enthusiastically discuss their products. Many were selling turkey callers and we were surprised by the different types and in many cases the artistry. Folks were encouraged to give them a try so the hall echoed of bird sounds.
The Rooted Podcast, duck calls and spiriutal matters all converged in Nashville. We enjoyed talking to turkey expert John Weismuller of the Rooted Podcast who explained the possible contradictions between the concepts of conservation and hunting the bird they profess to protect. Later, the signage at the NWFT historical display further clarified just how the wild turkey population has increased from 1.3 million in 1973 when the organization began to over 6 million today all while a thriving movement has been created and sustained. A diverse variety of items are needed for the sport so there were gun companies on hand and those selling accessories such as safes. One of our favorites was an app. The rep from Strikeman Marksman Kit showed us a small target with a gun that recorded our shots on their portable screen so we could analyze our hits. This product safely brings the shooting range to the home. Other popular finds were booths showcasing blinds, boots, camo, clothes, decoys, hats and tick repellent. If you are going on a camping or hunting trip you may need food so there were some folks selling coffee, jerky, soup mixes and outdoor cookware. As you would expect there were a number of companies offering excursions. God's County Outfitters based out of Florida was an example of a family-owned business providing trophy hunts and lodging.
Fashion, firearms and first run copies were all on display at the Gaylord. Conservation and land management were also important components of the Sports Show. The Forest Service was on site as was a number of real estate brokers selling property. Now if you are going to buy acres of land you will need large scale equipment which was also on display. Then you have to think about landscaping and there were firms that focused on that. The folks from Heartland Seed of Missouri, LLC shared with us that they have become one of the leading providers of native grass and wildflower seed while continuing to serve those who helped build our foundation; the farmer, the hunter, the outdoor enthusiast, and even the backyard gardener. There was a lot to explore at the Sports Show but if you needed a break there was a bar area aka "The Waterin' Hole" with live entertainment. Another big part of this convention was the seminars that were scheduled Thursday thru Saturday including call making workshops and topics such as trapping for conservation. There was also the Grand National Calling Championships and Dog Demos at the Event Center. Near this spot was a few displays and food trucks along with an area with a tent and tables. This cuisine court was in addition to the cafe at the Sports Show and the restaurants at Opryland.
Land management reps are helping to making turkey hunting great again. On Friday we got to the Event Center at 11 am to check out the Dog Demo with Jordan Horak of Cato Outdoors. Jordan has trained over 100 dogs and hoped that his presentation would be educational (it was & it was entertaining). Horak talked about getting and working with his first puppy along with the mistakes that he made. Later he developed his technique of positive reinforcement by using the dog's name with whistles to teach the canine to behave the way he wanted it to and immediately rewarding it with treats. Jordan's kids were on hand to assist with some of the demos. Their presentation culminating with two dogs listening to commands such as when to sit (place) and when it was their turn to retrieve when hearing their names. This being Music City - of course live music was a big component on the NWTF. In addition to a full singer-songwriting slate over the four days at "The Waterin' Hole" there were also post dinner concerts featuring up and comers and established stars including an appearance by the appropriately named HunterGirl. We also enjoyed performances both inside the conference center and at the outdoor stage by country artists Chris Monhollen, Dylan Marlowe and Walker Wilson.
Gun training, dog training and award winners at NWTF 2025. On Wednesday, Conservation Aid - the annual benefit concert for the NWTF kicked off the proceedings at the Opry House with support from a full cast of special guests including Lauren Alaina, Lucas Hoge, Mark Wills, Styles, Girl Named Tom, Runaway June, LOCASH, The Castellows, Chuck Wicks, Lauren Mascitti Music and Alex Key. The National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sport Show was a comprehensive conference uniting people under NWTF's shared values which included 1) clean water 2) healthy habitats 3) resilient communities and 4) robust recreation opportunities. Per their website - since its inception in 1973, the NWTF has provided the foundation for wild turkey conservation throughout North America. From the first research project funded in the 1970s, to the multimillion-acre restoration initiatives going on today and everywhere in between, conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage has always been - and always will be - the backbone of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Music was a big part of the NWTF Convention in Nashville. Related Links: For more information on SUBJECT and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - National Wild Turkey Federation | Gaylord Opryland | Rooted Podcast | Strikeman | God's Country Outfitters | Heartland Seed of Missouri, LLC | Cato Outdoors | Chris Monhollen | Dylan Marlowe | Walker Wilson
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