The Middle Island Longbeards chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be hosting their 16th Annual Hunting Heritage / Superfund Banquet on March 8 at the Matthew Barker Memorial Complex in Paden City at 261 North Fourth Ave., State Rt. 2 in Paden City.

The doors will open at 5 p.m. with a social hour, followed by dinner, catered by The Fort at 6:30 p.m. Also, a silent and live auction will be held along with many different raffles and games to generate superfund dollars for wildlife conservation.

All donations are tax-deductible and social friendly for businesses.

Superfund dollars raised in West Virginia are spent in West Virginia and with support from West Virginia communities since 1985 the NWTF has exceeded the one million dollar mark. Many accomplishments have been realized here locally such as: Wildlife Habitat improvements (benefiting both game and non-game species), conservation scholarships, eduction boxes in the schools, Women in the Outdoors events, land purchases, improvements on Wildlife Management areas (including accessibility for disabled persons and investments in the area’s local youth, through award-winning J.A.K.E.S. / XTREME J.A.K.E.S. events).

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the most effective wildlife habitat conservation organization in North America. Since 1973, our volunteers, staff and partners have worked to restore wild turkey populations to historic highs, created hunting opportunities for millions of people and conserved more than 17 million acres of essential habitat for hundred of wildlife species.

The NWTF is a leading authority on uplands conservation and an expert source for private landowners who want to be part of our success story. We are a trusted partner of state and federal agencies and have worked together on behalf of North America’s wildlife and hunting heritage.

“To Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.” initiative is a bold new effort from the NWTF that will conserve or enhance four million acres of critical upland wildlife habitat, create 1.5 million new hunters and create access to 500,000 new acres for public hunting over the next decade.

This initiative comes at a crucial time, as the sporting community is faced with a number of daunting challenges: national wild turkey populations have declined 15 percent with much more dramatic declines in some historically important areas; 6,000 acres of upland wildlife habitat are lost every day; hunter numbers are not keeping pace with population growth, endangering the funds available for conservation North America.

“Our mission is no less urgent today than when we started in 1973,” said NWTF CEO George Thornton.

“What we do in the coming years will be instrumental in not only enhancing wild turkey populations, but in the continuation of hunting and quality wildlife habitat for countless species.”

The NWTF is ready for the challenge and willing to lead for the next 40 years, standing as one team with one mission. Your support is essential to the future of conservation and hunting.

The 2014 merchandise at the Superfund banquet will include the Gun of the Year, a Weatherby Vanguard w/scope .270 win; 2014 Silver Stag Damascus Blad NWTF Knife of the Year; 2014 NWTF Sculptures; 2014 Henry GoldenBoy .22 cal. Grand Slam Series, Goulds; and more.

For more information or tickets contact Bob Leasure at 304-758-4374 or email at wildwvjakes@ hotmail. com.