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Carthage chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation to meet tonight . Carthage artist Larry Glaze isn’t a hunter himself, but he is one of the biggest supporters the National Wild Turkey Federation has.

This year, each of the federation’s 2,400 chapters in the United States and Canada will auction a copy of one of Glaze’s eagle sculptures, with the original to be auctioned at the national meeting in Nashville this February.

“Even before they did my eagle, I was a member,” said Glaze, who notes that the federation has programs that support youth and women in the outdoors, activities for the handicapped, and other programs to enrich wildlife habitat.

In fact, the National Wild Turkey Federation and Missouri Department of Conservation netted 22 turkey hens from Glaze’s Carthage property to be relocated to other areas of Missouri where the birds were needed.

“It’s a good organization,” said Glaze.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is currently organizing a chapter in Jasper County, and will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the conference room at the Southwest Missouri Bank building located at 2417 S. Grand Ave.

Meeting organizer Tim Besancenez said those on hand will be able to learn about the National Wild Turkey Federation’s many programs, the equipment available for landowners to support the wild turkey population, and discuss the upcoming banquet and auction.

“We are not just about turkeys,” said Besancenez. “We are about hunting period.”

Missouri is the number one turkey hunting state in the nation, with an estimated 650,000 birds.

The National Wild Turkey Federation has more than 525,000 members, and has awarded more than $1 million in college scholarships ($25,000 in Missouri last year) to high school seniors who hunt and support the NWTF mission. Chapters have also donated more than 22,000 turkeys to families in need of a holiday feast through the Turkey Hunters Care program.

By Ron Graber Of The Press Staff