If you don’t hunt, you may not pay a whole lot of attention to the activity of the National Wild Turkey Federation locally. But the Big Sioux Chapter of the NWTF has big plans, and they are about a lot more than what the name might imply.
Local members recently held their annual fundraiser and banquet for the organization. A portion of the funds raised through that event and others will be directed toward national initiatives that include hunting and hunter safety, especially among youth and women. However, organizers are excited about another big initiative called Waterways for Wildlife — described as a comprehensive “boots-on-the-ground” effort to address urgent conservation needs in riparian ecosystems, largely situated along creeks, streams and rivers in the middle of the country.
Locally, they plan to apply to have a portion of the funds come back to Moody County for projects along the Big Sioux River.
“One of the problems we have on the Big Sioux is the erosion; erosion on the banks,” said local chapter president Tad Jacobs. Jacobs sits on the state NWTF board as well. “I have property along the river and I lose some every year on one side or the other.”

Jacobs said that they are looking at what they can do to stabilize the bank and improve the water quality. For example, the plantings of grasses which have roots that grow down 6-8 feet.
The local chapter would also like to explore working with the nearly 70 landowners along the river in Moody County. In particular, farmers may still rely on the Big Sioux to help provide water for their cattle.
“One of the things NWTF is working to do and has done in other states — is to sink wells down into the aquifer for farmers, then put big stock tanks in and pay for fencing to block off the river. If we were able to do that, one at a time up and down the river over the years, that would really help stabilize the habitat here in Moody County,” said Jacobs.
Local members are collaborating with the National Conservation Resource Service in Flandreau, and Game, Fish & Parks to decide what steps they are able to take next.
Local members say they would like to try and work with one local farmer to start with on a well, and have at least one example in the area to show others how it might work.
“There are not a lot of programs out there like this,” said Trevor Johnson, VP of the Big Sioux Chapter and the Conservation Officer for Moody County. “Our focus and goal is to improve habitat up and down streams by taking out invasive species, replacing them with native species — grasses and trees. Even though we’re a turkey conservation group, the habitat will benefit all wildlife.”
For more information or to get involved, contact Tad at southdakotafreedomhunts.com or Trevor at trevorm.johnson@state.sd.us