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…
The 2011 Minnesota spring wild turkey hunt almost assuredly will not set a new state harvest record. Given the huge record kill of 2010, that's not entirely surprising. The state can't set a record every year, particularly after liberalizing the tagging system last year set the table for a strong kill. Still, did harvest have to drop this much? Consider…
With harvest numbers in from the North and South zones through the first 4 turkey seasons of 2011, it is apparent that some hunters have not found the success that they had hoped for. So far in the North zone, 5,656 birds were harvested, compared to 6,387 from last year. The total harvest through the first 4 seasons in the South in 2010 was…
Madelia, Minn. – Weather-wise, April was a bummer. There was little sun and lots of cold. Some rain and snow, too. Turkey hunters felt the effects. Through May 2, the end of the spring D turkey season, hunters had killed 6,456 birds. At the same time last year – the fourth consecutive year with a record harvest – hunters had…
General statewide wild turkey hunting permits are available now. If you didn't draw a permit to hunt wild turkeys during Utah's limited-entry hunt, you can still hunt turkeys in the state this spring. Utah's general statewide turkey hunt is about to begin. Justin Dolling, upland game and migratory game bird coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources, says he and…
CONCORD, N.H. — Hunters getting out for New Hampshire's spring turkey season (May 3-31) and youth turkey hunt weekend (April 30-May 1) can do a lot to help promote positive landowner relations, says Charles Miner, Landowner Relations Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. "More than 70% of New Hampshire's land is under private ownership, so good landowner…
STRAWBERRY – Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission today unanimously approved an emergency proclamation closing the upcoming permit turkey hunt on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area in Lawrence County. Recent heavy rain has caused several rivers across Arkansas, including the Black River which courses through the WMA, to rise well above flood stages. As rivers rise,…
Youth Day is April 30 Maine's spring wild turkey hunting season will begin Saturday, April 30, with the traditional Youth Day and commence Monday, May 2, for all licensed hunters with permits. A notable addition to this spring's hunt is two wildlife management districts in the Downeast area. WMDs 19 and 28 are open to spring wild turkey hunting, but…
Severe weather and widespread rain held down numbers Rain and severe weather complicated hunting during the first week of Missouri's 21-day spring turkey season, leading to a 10 percent drop in the first-week harvest. Missouri hunters checked 18,788 turkeys April 18 through 24, a decrease of 2,233 compared to last year. Top counties during the first week of Missouri's regular…
You can even add a photo of your favorite hunter JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Shooting that first turkey is a landmark event in a young hunter's life. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) helps turn such milestones into mementoes. MDC's First Turkey Program gives participants free commemorative certificates suitable for framing. You can even add a photo of the proud…
If you're wondering why Indiana's spring wild turkey hunting season starts as late as it does this year, DNR wildlife research biologist Steve Backs has an explanation. "It's always the first Wednesday after the 20th of April, so it can be the 21st to the 27th," Backs said of the date-setting process that is based partly on biology and partly…
St. Paul – There's nothing you can do about the weather. A-season turkey hunters found that out. While they killed 2,173 birds during the first five-day season – April 13-17 – the total was well below last year's 3,200-bird kill. Weather conditions during the first season last year were just about perfect for turkey hunting. This year, it was cold…
Belleville, Ill. – The spring turkey seasons are in full stride, and once again weather is playing havoc with early numbers. Harvest during the south zone's opening week (April 4-8) was down slightly, with hunters taking 1,523 birds, compared to the 1,637 taken during the first south zone season in 2010. "A rainy and slow opening morning contributed to this…
At 3 a.m. Sunday my alarm went off and I pondered for a few minutes. Why in tarnation am I getting out of my warm bed to sit in the bitterly cold wind? After a few moments, I reluctantly dressed in layers and then drove for one hour and 17 minuets to my pal Keri Butt's house. My first turkey…
Let's compare and contrast turkey hunters and deer hunters. Why do the attitudes appear to be different, even though most turkey hunters are also deer hunters at another time of the year? There are concerns by some – actually, worries – that turkey hunters might develop the same trophy-only ideas that prevail among many deer hunters. In other words, turkey hunters…
COLUMBUS, OH – Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,646 bearded wild turkeys on the first day of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 15, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. Top counties for wild turkeys killed on Monday were: Guernsey – 94; Adams – 88; Tuscarawas – 85;…
Turkey hunters in Illinois' south zone wrapped up their second week-long season April 14 with a total harvest of 1,520 birds, bringing the harvest after two seasons to 3043. That is behind last year's two-season total of 3,134. The top five counties through april 14 were Jefferson (186), Pope (177), Jackson (168), Randolph (160) and Union (156). Meanwhile, north zone hunters harvested 2,427 turkeys…
Turkeys must be checked in by 11 p.m. the day of harvest Hunters must still report their harvest of turkeys but they are no longer required to take their turkey to a check station for physical inspection according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife. Instead, hunters have three options to complete the new automated game…
WATERBURY, VT – Vermont's 18,000 turkey hunters need to start patterning their turkey guns, checking their calls and thinking about turkey hunting safety. May first is almost as important as the opening of firearms deer season, and while spring turkey hunting accidents are uncommon (last year's season was incident-free) extra precautions are needed. Camouflage or drab colored clothing is helpful…
Free camps near Alpine, Flagstaff and Payson offer food, seminars, more Kids and their families are invited to learn how to hunt wild turkeys, under the guidance of experts, the weekend of April 15-17. There are three separate camps, located near Alpine, Payson and Flagstaff. The camps are free to young hunters and their families and offer a fun-filled weekend…
St. Paul – When the spring turkey season begins next week, hunters will be gunning for a sixth consecutive record harvest. The kill has increased every year since 2006; hunters last spring killed 13,467 birds. This year, there are new permit areas in the northwest and north-central parts of the state, and, like last year, permits for the final two…
Madison – Citizens across Wisconsin have an opportunity to share their opinions on proposed fish and wildlife rule changes, present new ideas in the management of Wisconsin's natural resources, and elect Conservation Congress delegates for their counties during the 2011 DNR Annual Spring Fish and Wildlife Rule Hearings and Wisconsin Conservation Congress annual county meetings that always take place the…
Pinckneyville, Ill. – There was some question if Cole Pedtke was going to make it into the woods for Illinois' annual Youth Turkey Hunt – the official start of the state's popular spring turkey hunting season. The 11-year-old from Ashley, an avid turkey hunter, knew this years' youth hunt was just a little more special. Cole recently suffered from a…
The general season youth turkey hunt runs Friday, April 8, through Thursday, April 14. Youths 15 years or younger on April 8 may participate in the youth hunt. All youth hunters must have a valid hunting license. The general spring turkey hunts open April 15 and runs through May 25. Dates vary for controlled hunts, listed in the Upland Game…
The Massachusetts spring turkey hunting season is just around the corner (April 25, 2011). Here are some important reminders for turkey hunters to consider as they plan for their hunt. Permit Applications-Hunters may still send in their permit application to the Westborough office; however, the DFW cannot guarantee those applicants will receive their turkey permit before opening day. Hunters who…
