Madison – The DNR Turkey Committee has decided to issue the same number of permits this fall as last fall. That means 95,700 permits will be available for the 2011 fall turkey season, which runs from Sept. 17-Nov. 17 in all seven turkey zones. If approved in the Legislature, there also will be an extended season in zones 1-5 from…
Hunters planning to pursue wild turkeys in parts of western Montana this fall must apply for a special permit by July 28. The fall turkey hunting season begins Sept. 1. Prospective fall turkey hunters interested in a special permit may apply by mail using an official application; at a regional office, or online. Fall turkey hunting is by special permit…
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding hunters that the deadline to apply for fall turkey licenses is Thursday. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by regular mail before midnight on July 14 in order to be included in the drawing for limited fall turkey licenses. Instructions for applying for a license can be found on page 2…
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) proposed the season dates and regulations revisions for the 2012 turkey hunting season at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission's July 7 meeting. LDWF recommended dividing the state into two zones, north and south, in order to address public comments on a later opening date for turkey season in north Louisiana. The…
Turkey hunting used to be easy, or at least we thought so based on the numbers of birds registered and gobbler responses in the fields and forests. Not so much now, at least that's what a vocal few seem to be preaching. It's easy to attach blame onto a single reason, such as weather, not as many birds, too many…
Hunters who wish to apply for one of 186 permits for the 2011 Minnesota prairie chicken season or for a fall turkey hunting permit must do so by Friday, July 30, wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Application materials and maps of permit areas for both hunts are available on…
Weather blamed; concerns remain over nesting Albany – New York's spring gobbler hunters struggled through a May season marked by fewer birds in many areas of the state, as well as wet weather that may have limited their hunting activity. DEC officials said preliminary indications are that the gobbler harvest will be down sharply from last season – perhaps as much…
Fall season permit applications due August 1 Preliminary estimates show that Wisconsin hunters registered 40,103 turkeys during the 2011 spring turkey season. A total of 210,059 permits were issued for the spring hunt, according to licensing officials. Zone 1 produced the highest overall turkey harvest at 12,253 birds, followed by Zone 3 with 9,848 turkeys. The best hunter success appears…
Helping my son and daughter achieve "firsts" as they were growing up was one of the biggest joys of parenting, and it happened regularly. But this spring I got the rare chance to help my father add to his list of firsts, and the experience had echoes of a November day we shared more than 30 years ago – with a twist. I should…
June is here but it was a good May and full of memorable moments in the woods. The last week of a rather quiet turkey season, I was sitting in a favorite calling location when I had the good fortune to run into one of the least seen birds of the forest, a male scarlet tanager. There's no mistaking one,…
Preliminary harvest numbers for the 2011 spring gobbler season show a take of 9,216 bearded turkeys, a decline of 10 percent from the 2010 harvest of 10,209 birds. Division of Natural Resources' wildlife officials surmise a combination of inclement weather, high gas prices, and lower turkey numbers were major factors in the lower kill. "Our biologists had predicted a slightly…
For the eighth straight year, Delaware's wild turkey season has set a new harvest record – bringing more prominence to one of the state's most successful wildlife restoration programs as it coincides with DNREC's Division of Fish & Wildlife celebrating its first century of conservation service. The spring wild turkey season tallied 487 birds, surpassing last year's harvest by more…
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) today summarized the changes in the turkey hunting regulations that it expects to make when the formal season proposal is made at the July meeting of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. The department expects to propose two turkey hunting zones with different opening dates. It is expected that the season would…
Jackson, Wis. – A Washington County man has been charged with shooting a 5-year old boy he mistook for a turkey. Philip J. Brunner, 28, of Jackson, has been charged with misdemeanor endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon. The maximum penalty is up to nine months in jail and a possible fine of up to $10,000. Brunner…
CONCORD, N.H. — If you see young wild turkey broods in New Hampshire this spring and summer, the N.H. Fish and Game Department would like to hear about them. Fish and Game has created a new web-based turkey brood survey and is inviting the public to report their sightings during June, July and August, at http://www.wildnh.com/turkeybroodsurvey. Fish and Game's success…
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a public meeting on June 7 to discuss proposed changes to the waterfowl and spring turkey hunting seasons. The proposed amendments to the waterfowl rules are annual adjustments to the season dates to comply with federal regulations and to ensure the season is open on weekends. There is also a proposed change…
Yeah, the turkey I took this season was pretty big. But it came close to not happening. And not just on that morning as I sat propped up against the tree, straining to hold the shotgun still and focus on the bird through an eye that was continually scrunched by an ill-designed facemask. No, it was years ago – maybe…
Spring turkey hunters reported harvesting 15,687 birds during the 2011 season. The statewide harvest was 3% higher than last year's total of 15,190 birds. Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains increased 3% with a harvest of 10,441 birds compared to 10,130 birds last year. The harvest in counties west of the Blue Ridge (5,265) was 4% higher than last…
I was lucky to have two great teachers take me on my first turkey hunt – Kelly Alexander, of Chaseburg, and Jesse Wojtkiewicz, of Rochester, Minn. They film for an outdoor TV show as a hobby and they also love taking out new hunters. The hunting began Friday the 13th; maybe that was our first mistake. I tell myself I am…
Before the spring turkey season, there was talk of a record year. But hunters bagged 15,121 wild turkeys during the 2011 spring season, considerably fewer than the 16,565 taken during the spring of 2010. Hunters took a state-record 16,605 turkeys during the spring season in 2006. "This year's wild turkey season will probably be best remembered for being the wettest…
In recent years I've become convinced more than ever that experience may be the biggest factor contributing to success in the spring turkey woods, and if that's the case then by the time I'm 138 years old I should have a pretty good handle on things. But it's true. How else could you explain my run of luck in recent…
CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. – Fall turkey hunters would see fewer licenses in the Black Hills and East River if a South Dakota Game Fish and Parks Commission proposal is adopted. Fall turkey hunters would have 2,000 fewer resident and 140 fewer nonresident licenses in the Black Hills, as well as 385 fewer resident East River licenses under changes proposed…
Wet, windy weather plagued hunters throughout much of the season A 9.3-percent dip in the 2011 spring turkey harvest confirms what Missourians already knew – it has been a stormy three weeks in the Show-Me State. Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle, the Conservation Department's turkey specialist, announced today that hunters checked 38,328 turkeys during the regular spring turkey season April 18…
Next weekend I have a turkey hunt planned in Vernon County. I have been along on one turkey hunt before but haven't had the opportunity to shoot one myself. I am very excited, for more than one reason. The first reason is obvious: the thrill of hearing, chasing, and hopefully dropping a gobbler. Another reason I'm excited is also the…
Besides being a passionate bowhunter, I'm just as passionate and devoted to spring turkey hunting. Bowhunting is fun, but by nature it's stealthy business. Avoiding detection by a whitetail's nose is always the first order of business when hunting deer but fortunately for us turkey devotees, a turkey can't smell. Someone once said if a turkey could smell like a…
I never thought I would turn down an added opportunity to hunt longer and spend more time in the woods, but I am. This spring, I won't hunt past noon during the final two weeks of the gobbler season. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is giving hunters that opportunity this year, by extending the hunting hours from a half hour before…
