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Wild Turkey Archives — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wild Turkey Archives?
The Wild Turkey Archives is the largest digital collection of preserved turkey hunting history ever assembled.
For more than ten decades, turkey hunters have captured the sounds, stories, and moments that shaped the modern spring woods. Much of that history lives on aging VHS tapes,Betamax film reels, photographs, personal collections, and in the minds of the people who shaped modern turkey hunting culture.
The Wild Turkey Archives exists to preserve that history and bring it to life.
Through restored films, historic photography, and original storytelling, the Archives allow today’s hunters to experience the people, places, and traditions that built the culture of turkey hunting.
What is included with a Wild Turkey Archives membership?
A yearly membership gives you commercial-free access to the Wild Turkey Archives streaming platform, featuring:
• Classic VHS turkey hunting films
• Rare 8mm and 16mm hunting footage
• Lost films from the golden era of turkey hunting
• Behind-the-scenes clips and camp moments
• Never-before-seen content from private collections
• Original films and productions from the Wild Turkey Archives
Every video has been digitally preserved, restored, or remastered to honor the original character while making it viewable on modern screens.
No ads. No algorithms. Just the history of turkey hunting at your fingertips and on your TV.
Are there two parts of the Wild Turkey Archives?
Yes. The Wild Turkey Archives has two connected collections, each preserving a different part of turkey hunting history.
The Film Archive (Streaming Platform)
This is the video library available through your Wild Turkey Archives membership.
It includes restored VHS films, vintage hunting footage, and original productions that allow you to watch the evolution of turkey hunting exactly as it happened.
New content will be added routinely. Both preserved VHS & Films from the past and new original content, produced by the Wild Turkey Archives staff.
This is where the past comes alive on screen.
The Heritage Archive (Photo & Written Collections)
The Heritage Archive preserves the stories behind the sport.
Inside this collection you’ll find:
• Historic turkey call collections
• Photographs from influential hunters and callmakers
• Profiles of pioneering biologists and conservationists
• Articles and written histories from across the turkey hunting world
This archive focuses on the people, craftsmanship, and culture that shaped modern turkey hunting.
Why does the Wild Turkey Archives exist?
Turkey hunting history is fragile.
Old VHS tapes fade. Film reels deteriorate. Photographs disappear into boxes and attics.
The Wild Turkey Archives was created to save that history before it disappears and make it accessible to the people who care about it most.
This project exists so the next generation of hunters can experience the stories, traditions, and personalities that built the spring woods we know today.
Who powers the Wild Turkey Archives?
The Wild Turkey Archives is powered by the American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation (AWTHF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the culture and heritage of the wild turkey.
Revenue from Wild Turkey Archives memberships helps support the Foundation’s broader mission of:
• Preserving historic artifacts and collections
• Recording oral histories from important figures in turkey hunting
• Producing documentaries and storytelling projects
• Building the largest archive of wild turkey history ever assembled
When you join the Wild Turkey Archives, you’re not just watching old hunting films.
You’re helping preserve the story of the wild turkey and the people who made this tradition what it is today.
Is the American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation a conservation organization?
The Foundation is not a biology or habitat organization.
Instead, the AWTHF focuses on heritage preservation, protecting the history, culture, and stories that explain why the wild turkey matters to hunters and conservationists alike.
This work complements the efforts of conservation organizations by preserving the human story behind the wild turkey restoration and hunting tradition.
Can I contribute old films, photos, or hunting history?
Yes! And we encourage it.
The Wild Turkey Archives is actively working to preserve:
• Old hunting films
• VHS tapes and video footage
• Photographs and hunting journals
• Historic turkey calls and artifacts
• Stories from influential hunters, guides, and callmakers
If you have something that deserves to be preserved, we would love to hear from you.
Send an email to Info@awthf.org and we will be in touch.
When wil the Wild Turkey Archives launch?
The public launch of the Wild Turkey Archives streaming platform is March 14, 2026.
This marks the beginning of a long-term effort to preserve and share the most important historical media ever created about the American wild turkey.
Why should I join?
Because the past deserves to be remembered.
The Wild Turkey Archives is built for hunters who understand that turkey hunting is more than a season, it’s a tradition shaped by generations of voices, stories, and time spent in the spring woods.
When you join, you help ensure that history is never lost and always shared.
Pull up a chair.
The past is playing.
