Fostering a Living Reverence for the Wild Turkey
Telling Your Stories
Watch as Founders Brent Rogers, Paul Campbell, and Nathaniel Maddux discuss the foundational values and mission of the AWTHF.
Preservation. Education. Celebration.
Developing a digital archive accessible worldwide, bringing the history of the wild turkey into classrooms, libraries, and homes for free.
Our Purpose
The wild turkey is more than a bird. It is a symbol of resilience, heritage, and tradition woven into the American story. From the first hunters and settlers to today’s sportsmen and conservationists, the wild turkey has inspired generations through its beauty, mystery, and challenge.
The American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation (AWTHF) was created to preserve, celebrate, and share this legacy. We exist to safeguard the culture, history, and traditions that surround the wild turkey—and to ensure that the next generation inherits not just the bird itself, but the rich stories, artifacts, and spirit that have shaped our outdoor heritage.
Our guiding purpose is simple:
Preserve the past. Celebrate the present. Inspire the future.
Why It Matters
For over a century, wild turkey hunting and conservation have united Americans across regions, backgrounds, and generations. Legendary call makers, conservation leaders, and everyday hunters have carried forward traditions that connect families, communities, and landscapes.
Yet much of this history risks being lost:
Artifacts and Collections — Thousands of hand-made turkey calls, books, photos, and memorabilia sit in attics and basements, vulnerable to time.
Oral Histories — The voices of our turkey hunting pioneers are fading, their stories untold.
Cultural Memory — Without intentional preservation, a uniquely American heritage risks slipping away.
AWTHF is stepping into this gap. We are building a digital archive (The Wild Turkey Archives), a cultural education program, and a movement dedicated to honoring the wild turkey’s place in our nation’s history.
Building Our Future.
Through Our Past.
At launch, AWTHF will focus on three pillars of impact:
1. Preservation
- Secure, digitize, and catalog the largest collection of wild turkey calls, art, literature, and artifacts ever assembled.
- Protect priceless oral histories and hunting stories through recorded interviews and transcripts.
2. Education & Storytelling
- Develop a digital archive accessible worldwide, bringing the history of the wild turkey into classrooms, libraries, and homes for free.
- Produce films, podcasts, and traveling exhibits to share this story of the Wild Turkey and Turkey hunters with the public.
3. Celebration & Community
- Inspire the current generation through events, seminars, and cultural programs that honor the heroes of wild turkey history.
- Inspire the next generation through mentorship, youth engagement, and hands-on experiences.