For generations, funding for wildlife conservation, research, and habitat protection has come from the sale of licenses and permits at the state and federal levels. A majority of these licenses stem from hunter pursuits of game species such as deer, waterfowl, and, of course, the wild turkey. These mechanisms of funding were pioneered in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as state and federal agencies sought to improve regulatory structure for game species and, at the same time, create a means of funding for the management and conservation programs we know today. The sale of hunting licenses and other necessary permits goes into funding a myriad of things. Such as funding for state game agencies, habitat restoration projects, research projects, and conservation programs.
The First Turkey Stamp
As managers began to create license structures in the late 1800s, it wouldn’t be until 1934 that hunters saw their first dedicated hunting stamp with the introduction of the Federal Duck Stamp. This model would see immense success, and shortly after, in 1938, Ohio would become the first state to introduce a stamp at the state level for waterfowl hunting. Modeled after the success of these stamps, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) became the first organization to dedicate and release a stamp for the wild turkey in 1976. This came just three years after the federation launched, and, unlike other state and federal hunting permits, the first NWTF turkey stamp was a voluntary purchase that helped support and fund NWTF and its early programs.
Interestingly enough, the NWTF stamp was technically not the first-ever turkey stamp. It was the first turkey stamp that directly helped fund conservation work through the NWTF, but when it comes to recognizing the importance of wildlife conservation, the US Postal Service beat everyone to the punch. According to the National Postal Museum, in 1956, the US Postal Service unveiled a wildlife-inspired stamp series, one that would run for the next 22 years. This series called attention to the importance of wildlife conservation and highlighted successful conservation work that had been done across North America.
The very first stamp in this series featured the wild turkey. The stamp was issued on May 5th, 1956, and debuted at the convention of the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The sale of this stamp did not directly help fund conservation work for the wild turkey or other wildlife, but it is widely known as the first stamp to popularize the wild turkey in this way.
In 1981, the first “state” turkey stamp would be released, although it would come from the Louisiana Wild Turkey Foundation and not the state’s game agency. Funds generated from the sale of this state-chapter stamp would be earmarked for research, habitat management, restoration work, and, of course, education. After the launch of the Louisiana state stamp, many NWTF state chapters would follow suit, introducing collectible stamps of their own as a means of funding the work they set out to do. In total, there are only 17 states that actually require turkey hunters to buy a dedicated turkey stamp. However, the desire by hunters and managers to have dedicated funding for the wild turkey continues to increase. Recently, Mississippi joined the turkey stamp program with the passing of Senate Bill 2280 in March of 2025. Which means hunters for the 2026 season will be required to buy one. At the state level, turkey stamp dollars are most commonly earmarked for habitat restoration projects, management, and research.
Turkey Stamps Today
It seems that now, more than ever, we have seen a popularity spike in the collectability and eagerness of hunters to support turkey stamp initiatives. Two of the largest turkey stamp programs that hunters can support right now are through NWTF and Mossy Oak, which launched their inaugural turkey stamp back in 2022. The National Wild Turkey Federation’s most recent stamps include the 2025 Habitat For The Hatch Conservation Stamp and this year’s Forests and Flocks Stamp. Similarly, turkey hunters are awaiting the arrival of Mossy Oak’s 2026 Wild Turkey Conservation Stamp.
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) such as NWTF & Mossy Oak focus their stamp dollars on a variety of conservation projects. These organizations often have more diverse funding resources than just the turkey stamps compared to state/federal agencies. How do these dollars go to work for wild turkeys, you might ask? For the National Wild Turkey Federation, a large portion of their resources go into conserving or enhancing wild turkey habitat, funding research projects, and advocating for policy that moves the needle forward for conservation on Capitol Hill and at state capitols across the country. In Mossy Oak’s case, they dedicate 100% of the proceeds from stamp sales towards their Game Keepers Grant initiative. A program that helps strategically fund conservation and research projects, such as Dr. Mike Chamberland’s study on lymphoproliferative disease (LPDV) in wild turkeys.
Whether you’re invested in supporting wild turkey conservation, an avid collector of stamps, or a little bit of both, purchasing a few turkey stamps this spring can do a world of good for the future of wild turkeys and the places they call home. So grab a turkey stamp from our friends at Mossy Oak, NWTF, or go buy a wild turkey stamp from a state that mandates them for hunting. Even if you don’t plan on hunting that state for turkeys, there’s nothing stopping you from supporting wild turkeys across state lines.