Post by Decatur on Apr 19, 2006 15:20:59 GMT -5
DNR Spring Turkey Tracks Report
---------------
2006 turkey hunting news
- Spring turkey season forecast
- Spring and fall turkey season dates
- First fall turkey season results
- 2005 spring season review
- East-central Indiana turkey hunting restrictions continue
- Turkey hunting safety tips
- Make your own turkey tags
-------------------------
2006 spring turkey season forecast
-------------------------
Indiana DNR wildlife research biologist Steve Backs expects between 50,000 to
55,000 hunters will take to Hoosier woods and fields for the Indiana spring
turkey hunting season. The season runs from April 26 to May 14.
Backs also expects about one-in-four hunters will bring a bearded bird home,
resulting in a harvest of 12,000 to 13,000 turkeys.
Data collected by Backs also points to a probable increase in the number of
older birds in this spring's harvest.
"Expect 2-year-old birds to make up more than 50 percent of the harvest this
spring because of record production in 2004," said Backs. "The proportion of
jakes (juvenile males) should drop due to poor poult production during summer
2005."
-------------------
2006 turkey seasons
-------------------
April 26 - May 14
(Bearded or male turkey only)
Fall Archery - Oct. 1 - Oct. 22
Fall Firearm - Oct. 18 - Oct. 22
(One bird of either sex per hunter each fall)
Fall turkey hunt areas will be determined after spring harvest data is analyzed.
Areas should be determined by midsummer.
------------------------------------
2005 fall turkey season results
-------------------------------------
Hunters harvested 716 wild turkeys in 53 of the 60 counties open to turkey
hunting during the first modern-day fall wild turkey hunting season -- held from
October 1 to 23, 2005.
Counties harvesting at least 30 birds were Switzerland, Harrison, Warrick, Pike,
Orange, Jefferson, Crawford, and Perry counties.
The archery-only portion of the season occurred from October 1 to 18 in 60
counties. The combined firearms and archery season occurred from October 19 to
23.
Firearm hunting was limited to 26 counties in south-central and southeast
Indiana. About 19 percent of the turkeys were taken during the archery-only
portion of the season and 581 turkeys, about 81 percent, were taken during the
combined firearms and archery portion.
Across both portions of the season, archers harvested 181 birds (25 percent),
while firearm hunters took 525 birds (75 percent).
Comprehensive lifetime license holders harvested 62 percent of the birds,
followed by resident fall turkey license holders, who took 22 percent of the
wild birds.
Juvenile birds made up 27 percent of the harvest while adults composed 73
percent. State wildlife research biologist Steve Backs says that, based on
observations in other states, a high proportion of adults in the fall harvest
generally occurs following poor summer brood production.
"Brood production in Indiana during summer 2005 was the lowest recorded in 13
years, and was in notable contrast to the above average brood production during
summer 2004, which was the highest recorded in 13 years," said Backs.
Backs says the wide extremes in brood production between the summers of 2004 and
2005 probably resulted in much higher proportion of adults available for
harvest. "Fall turkey hunting research in other states show adult gobblers are
generally the least vulnerable individuals in the autumn turkey population,"
said Backs.
"Hunter selection for larger birds, when given the opportunity, may help explain
the high proportion of adult males in the harvest."
Backs predicts the first fall season is probably not indicative of what is to be
expected over time. "Besides the novelty of this first season and the general
inexperience of Indiana hunters with fall turkey hunting, there were several
environmental events that influenced the harvest," said Backs.
Record warm temperatures influenced bird activity and reduced their normal food
demands. The first killing frost in southern Indiana was at least 3 weeks later
than normal, and several hunters complained about the nuisance of mosquitoes
during the firearms portion of the season.
"Wild turkey movements were also influenced by one of the heaviest mast crops in
recent years. Besides the abundant mast foods, there were still many unharvested
agricultural crop fields. The fall turkey hunting experience should improve over
time," Backs concluded.
--------------------------------------
Record 2005 spring wild turkey harvest review
-------------------------------------
Indiana wildlife biologist Steve Backs tabulated check station reports from last
spring's wild turkey hunting season and found hunters harvested 11,159 wild
turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting compared to 10,765 birds
harvested in 2004. This four-percent increase over 2004 was a new high for
turkey harvests.
Counties with the highest wild turkey harvests were:
Switzerland - 478
Perry - 445
Jefferson - 415
Harrison - 406
Parke - 376
Orange - 373
Dearborn - 368
Warrick - 356
Greene - 352
Franklin - 347
Crawford - 329
The majority of the birds were harvested in the earlier part of the season and
during the morning hours. About 70 percent of birds were taken by 10 a.m. and 79
percent were taken by noon.
Approximately 57 percent of the wild turkeys were taken during the first five
days of the season and 37 percent of turkeys were harvested on weekends.
Juvenile male gobblers, commonly called jakes, made up 33 percent of the
harvest, while 44 percent of birds were 2-years-old and 23 percent were
3-years-old or older.
The proportion of jakes in the harvest was higher than the mean average of the
previous ten turkey season harvests.
Backs speculated that the 4 percent increase in turkey harvests reflects high
turkey poult production during the 2004 summer brood season, and the continued
increases in both the turkey population and turkey hunter numbers. Backs
estimated 49,684 turkey hunters took to the woods in spring 1995, and he
estimates 22 percent of the turkey hunters bagged a Hoosier turkey.
-------------------
Protect new turkeys
-------------------
The DNR is continuing restrictions on Indiana's turkey-hunting range in
east-central Indiana
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is keeping closed sections of
east-central Indiana to spring turkey hunters in order to protect the area's
growing wild turkey flocks.
The following areas of Indiana cannot be hunted during the 2006 spring wild
turkey season:
-Adams Co., south of state Route 124.
-Blackford Co.
-Delaware Co.
-Grant Co., east of Interstate 69.
-Hancock Co., east of state Route 9.
-Henry Co.
-Huntington Co., south of state Route 124 and east of Interstate 69.
-Jasper Co., south of state Route 114, and west of Interstate 65.
-Jay Co.
-Newton Co, south of state Route 114.
-Randolph Co., north of state Route 32.
-Rush Co., north of state Route 44.
-Shelby Co., east of state Route 9 and north of state Route 44.
-Wells Co., south of state Route 124.
-Whitley Co., south of U.S. 30.
------------------------------
Safety rules for turkey hunting
-------------------------------
- Select a calling position where you can see for at least 50 yards in all
directions and where you are protected from the backside.
- Whistle or shout to alert approaching hunters of your position. Never wave or
stand up.
- Never sneak in on a turkey or use a gobbler call near other hunters. Never
crowd another hunter working a bird.
- Never shoot at sound or movement.
- Use a flashlight when walking in the dark.
- Be aware of turkey "fever" and its prevention. Disregard peer pressure to bag
a bird.
- Be extremely careful using turkey decoys.
- Do not wear red, white, or blue outer wear or exposed inner clothing.
- Make sure your headnet doesn't obscure your vision.
- Don't assume you are the only hunter in the area. Be certain of a companion's
location.
- Know and identify your target and what is beyond.
- Discuss safety techniques with companions.
- Never assume that other hunters are responsible.
- Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
- Always keep your gun unloaded until ready to use.
- Never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting.
- Respect property rights and secure permission before hunting.
- Hunters should unload their guns when crossing fences, climbing into stands,
jumping ditches or traversing steep ravines.
----------------------------
Turkey tag requirements
----------------------------
Because new DNR Web-generated turkey licenses do not include a turkey tag, The
DNR has adopted a rule allowing turkey hunters to tag wild turkeys with a piece
of paper indicating the month and day of the kill and the name and address of
the hunter taking the turkey.
A sample turkey leg tag is available at:
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/licenses/pdf/turkeytag.pdf
Turkey licenses may be purchased online at:
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/
DNR property information:
www.in.gov/dnr/destinations/list.html
Wild turkey hunting regulations:
www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm
---------------
2006 turkey hunting news
- Spring turkey season forecast
- Spring and fall turkey season dates
- First fall turkey season results
- 2005 spring season review
- East-central Indiana turkey hunting restrictions continue
- Turkey hunting safety tips
- Make your own turkey tags
-------------------------
2006 spring turkey season forecast
-------------------------
Indiana DNR wildlife research biologist Steve Backs expects between 50,000 to
55,000 hunters will take to Hoosier woods and fields for the Indiana spring
turkey hunting season. The season runs from April 26 to May 14.
Backs also expects about one-in-four hunters will bring a bearded bird home,
resulting in a harvest of 12,000 to 13,000 turkeys.
Data collected by Backs also points to a probable increase in the number of
older birds in this spring's harvest.
"Expect 2-year-old birds to make up more than 50 percent of the harvest this
spring because of record production in 2004," said Backs. "The proportion of
jakes (juvenile males) should drop due to poor poult production during summer
2005."
-------------------
2006 turkey seasons
-------------------
April 26 - May 14
(Bearded or male turkey only)
Fall Archery - Oct. 1 - Oct. 22
Fall Firearm - Oct. 18 - Oct. 22
(One bird of either sex per hunter each fall)
Fall turkey hunt areas will be determined after spring harvest data is analyzed.
Areas should be determined by midsummer.
------------------------------------
2005 fall turkey season results
-------------------------------------
Hunters harvested 716 wild turkeys in 53 of the 60 counties open to turkey
hunting during the first modern-day fall wild turkey hunting season -- held from
October 1 to 23, 2005.
Counties harvesting at least 30 birds were Switzerland, Harrison, Warrick, Pike,
Orange, Jefferson, Crawford, and Perry counties.
The archery-only portion of the season occurred from October 1 to 18 in 60
counties. The combined firearms and archery season occurred from October 19 to
23.
Firearm hunting was limited to 26 counties in south-central and southeast
Indiana. About 19 percent of the turkeys were taken during the archery-only
portion of the season and 581 turkeys, about 81 percent, were taken during the
combined firearms and archery portion.
Across both portions of the season, archers harvested 181 birds (25 percent),
while firearm hunters took 525 birds (75 percent).
Comprehensive lifetime license holders harvested 62 percent of the birds,
followed by resident fall turkey license holders, who took 22 percent of the
wild birds.
Juvenile birds made up 27 percent of the harvest while adults composed 73
percent. State wildlife research biologist Steve Backs says that, based on
observations in other states, a high proportion of adults in the fall harvest
generally occurs following poor summer brood production.
"Brood production in Indiana during summer 2005 was the lowest recorded in 13
years, and was in notable contrast to the above average brood production during
summer 2004, which was the highest recorded in 13 years," said Backs.
Backs says the wide extremes in brood production between the summers of 2004 and
2005 probably resulted in much higher proportion of adults available for
harvest. "Fall turkey hunting research in other states show adult gobblers are
generally the least vulnerable individuals in the autumn turkey population,"
said Backs.
"Hunter selection for larger birds, when given the opportunity, may help explain
the high proportion of adult males in the harvest."
Backs predicts the first fall season is probably not indicative of what is to be
expected over time. "Besides the novelty of this first season and the general
inexperience of Indiana hunters with fall turkey hunting, there were several
environmental events that influenced the harvest," said Backs.
Record warm temperatures influenced bird activity and reduced their normal food
demands. The first killing frost in southern Indiana was at least 3 weeks later
than normal, and several hunters complained about the nuisance of mosquitoes
during the firearms portion of the season.
"Wild turkey movements were also influenced by one of the heaviest mast crops in
recent years. Besides the abundant mast foods, there were still many unharvested
agricultural crop fields. The fall turkey hunting experience should improve over
time," Backs concluded.
--------------------------------------
Record 2005 spring wild turkey harvest review
-------------------------------------
Indiana wildlife biologist Steve Backs tabulated check station reports from last
spring's wild turkey hunting season and found hunters harvested 11,159 wild
turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting compared to 10,765 birds
harvested in 2004. This four-percent increase over 2004 was a new high for
turkey harvests.
Counties with the highest wild turkey harvests were:
Switzerland - 478
Perry - 445
Jefferson - 415
Harrison - 406
Parke - 376
Orange - 373
Dearborn - 368
Warrick - 356
Greene - 352
Franklin - 347
Crawford - 329
The majority of the birds were harvested in the earlier part of the season and
during the morning hours. About 70 percent of birds were taken by 10 a.m. and 79
percent were taken by noon.
Approximately 57 percent of the wild turkeys were taken during the first five
days of the season and 37 percent of turkeys were harvested on weekends.
Juvenile male gobblers, commonly called jakes, made up 33 percent of the
harvest, while 44 percent of birds were 2-years-old and 23 percent were
3-years-old or older.
The proportion of jakes in the harvest was higher than the mean average of the
previous ten turkey season harvests.
Backs speculated that the 4 percent increase in turkey harvests reflects high
turkey poult production during the 2004 summer brood season, and the continued
increases in both the turkey population and turkey hunter numbers. Backs
estimated 49,684 turkey hunters took to the woods in spring 1995, and he
estimates 22 percent of the turkey hunters bagged a Hoosier turkey.
-------------------
Protect new turkeys
-------------------
The DNR is continuing restrictions on Indiana's turkey-hunting range in
east-central Indiana
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is keeping closed sections of
east-central Indiana to spring turkey hunters in order to protect the area's
growing wild turkey flocks.
The following areas of Indiana cannot be hunted during the 2006 spring wild
turkey season:
-Adams Co., south of state Route 124.
-Blackford Co.
-Delaware Co.
-Grant Co., east of Interstate 69.
-Hancock Co., east of state Route 9.
-Henry Co.
-Huntington Co., south of state Route 124 and east of Interstate 69.
-Jasper Co., south of state Route 114, and west of Interstate 65.
-Jay Co.
-Newton Co, south of state Route 114.
-Randolph Co., north of state Route 32.
-Rush Co., north of state Route 44.
-Shelby Co., east of state Route 9 and north of state Route 44.
-Wells Co., south of state Route 124.
-Whitley Co., south of U.S. 30.
------------------------------
Safety rules for turkey hunting
-------------------------------
- Select a calling position where you can see for at least 50 yards in all
directions and where you are protected from the backside.
- Whistle or shout to alert approaching hunters of your position. Never wave or
stand up.
- Never sneak in on a turkey or use a gobbler call near other hunters. Never
crowd another hunter working a bird.
- Never shoot at sound or movement.
- Use a flashlight when walking in the dark.
- Be aware of turkey "fever" and its prevention. Disregard peer pressure to bag
a bird.
- Be extremely careful using turkey decoys.
- Do not wear red, white, or blue outer wear or exposed inner clothing.
- Make sure your headnet doesn't obscure your vision.
- Don't assume you are the only hunter in the area. Be certain of a companion's
location.
- Know and identify your target and what is beyond.
- Discuss safety techniques with companions.
- Never assume that other hunters are responsible.
- Always keep your gun pointed in a safe direction.
- Always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
- Always keep your gun unloaded until ready to use.
- Never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting.
- Respect property rights and secure permission before hunting.
- Hunters should unload their guns when crossing fences, climbing into stands,
jumping ditches or traversing steep ravines.
----------------------------
Turkey tag requirements
----------------------------
Because new DNR Web-generated turkey licenses do not include a turkey tag, The
DNR has adopted a rule allowing turkey hunters to tag wild turkeys with a piece
of paper indicating the month and day of the kill and the name and address of
the hunter taking the turkey.
A sample turkey leg tag is available at:
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/licenses/pdf/turkeytag.pdf
Turkey licenses may be purchased online at:
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/
DNR property information:
www.in.gov/dnr/destinations/list.html
Wild turkey hunting regulations:
www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild/huntguide1/hunting1.htm
