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FeedTurkey season wraps up with big numbers
All in all, it was a solid turkey season for spring hunters, who topped last year’s kill by more than 800 birds.
According to DNR stats released today, 15,941 turkeys were taken during the 2012 spring season. Hunters killed 15,121 in the 2011 season. The state-record was set in 2006, when 16,605 turkeys were bagged.
Youth hunters made a giant contribution, killing a record 1,300 birds.
Mother Nature did her part, too.
“Excellent hunting weather made for a strong start to the 2012 season,” said Paul Brewer, DNR Wild Turkey Project Manager. “We are hopeful that the excellent spring weather this year will help turkeys rebound in some areas where populations have declined somewhat. The long term key in improving wild turkey populations will be habitat management, particularly for nesting and brood rearing habitat.”
Read the June 1 issue of Illinois Outdoor News for more details on the spring turkey season.
