Pennsylvania’s Fall Turkey Season Begins Saturday, November 1
October 31, 2008
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission is expecting hunters to encounter a sizeable wild turkey population when they head afield for the opening day of wild turkey season Saturday. And finding birds this fall may be easier than it was last year.
“Wild turkey hunting is one of Pennsylvania’s premiere outdoor experiences,” said PGC Executive Director Carl G. Roe. “The satisfaction derived from calling in and taking a game bird that can see you twitch at 50 yards is a fulfillment that veteran hunters never tire of and new turkey hunters can’t wait to experience.
“The good news for this fall is that we believe there are great opportunities for wild turkey hunters throughout the state. But, as always, pre-season scouting and planning will be important to your hunting success.”
Season lengths vary in the state’s Wildlife Management Units for fall turkey hunting: WMUs 1A, 1B and 2A (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-15; WMU 2B (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-22; WMUs 2C, 2E, 2F, 4A and 4B - Nov 1-15; WMUs 2D, 2G, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4C, 4D and 4E - Nov. 1-22; WMUs 5A and 5B – closed to fall hunting; and WMUs 5C and 5D (Shotgun and bow and arrow only) - Nov. 1-7.
Mary Jo Casalena, Game Commission wild turkey biologist, said Pennsylvania’s wild turkey population is above the 10-year-average thanks to good reproduction the past two springs and generally conservative fall season lengths, which prevents overharvest of hens.
“At its best, back in 2001, Pennsylvania’s turkey population peaked at about 410,000 birds,” Casalena explained. This spring, we believe the population numbered about 335,000 turkeys, prior to reproduction, and turkey reproduction appears to have been average or better in most areas. That should translate into great hunting in Pennsylvania.
“Of course, weather and the availability of fall foods also influence hunter success, and this fall will be no different. Gypsy moth defoliation has had a tremendous impact on mast production in many areas of the state. This will make finding turkeys difficult in areas without a sufficient mast crop and should force birds to congregate where mast – particularly acorns and beechnuts – are available.
“Hunters who find pockets of beech or oak trees with good nut production, or soft mast such as grapes, apples or cherries, or agricultural fields with standing crops or waste grain, should find turkeys,” Casalena explained. “But remember, locating the flock is only part of the hunt. Setting up properly and bringing a turkey within range are other challenges hunters must master. It’s what makes success so tricky and enjoyable.”
The preliminary spring 2008 harvest was 40,500, including about 1,955 turkeys taken with “special turkey licenses.” In 2007, hunters took an estimated 41,000, including about 1,500 second license turkeys. The spring harvest record was set in 2001 when hunters took 49,200 turkeys.
“Pennsylvania hunters have consistently taken 30,000 or more turkeys in the spring season since 1995,” Casalena pointed out. “That exceeds most other states in the nation.”
Casalena said she expects hunter success this fall to mirror last year’s rate of about 16 percent. In the three years prior to 2007, hunter success was about 12 percent annually. The best hunter success rate was set in 2001 when 21 percent of hunters were successful. The worst was 1979, only four percent of hunters were successful.
“There is no substitute for scouting when it comes to finding wild turkeys, unless, of course, someone else scouts for you,” Casalena said. “And there’s nothing wrong with being enterprising and thorough. Talk to farmers, hikers and other hunters if you don’t have leads for areas to scout. Look for scratchings in the leaves, and know that it’s pretty hard to miss the signs turkeys make looking for food. Leaves are falling or have fallen in many areas, so scratching for food will become more pronounced on the forest floor.
“Once you find the general area turkeys are working, try to pattern their daily movements. Look for fresh scratchings, tracks, turkey droppings and feathers. Sort out what the birds are eating. It takes about a week to pattern a flock. Once you have, capitalize on your preseason fieldwork.”
In both spring and fall turkey seasons, it is unlawful to use drives to hunt turkeys. Hunters may take only one turkey in the fall season.
Shot size is limited to No. 4 lead, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron or No. 2 steel. Turkey hunters also are required to tag their bird before moving it and to mail the postage-paid harvest report card – provided with all hunting licenses – within 10 days of taking a turkey. A replacement harvest report card is on page 33 of the 2008-09 Hunting and Trapping Digest.
Also, two other reminders to turkey hunters: legal hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. For more information, please see page 14 of the 2008-09 Digest for the legal hunting hours table. In addition, it is now lawful to use a dog to pursue, chase, scatter and track wild turkeys during the fall wild turkey season. Prior to 2007, hunters were prohibited from using dogs to hunt any big game animal, which includes wild turkeys.
On a final note, turkey hunters are asked to please remember to report any leg-banded turkeys they harvest. This information hunters provide from the recovery of a banded wild turkey has great value to the agency’s research efforts.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT TURKEY POPULATION PROFILES
WMU 1A – Expect the fall harvest to be similar to last year with the only setback for hunters being the abundance of fall foods, which will disperse flocks. Hunters who have scouted and patterned flocks will have the most success. Flock sizes should be mixed as some areas had great reproduction while it was below average in other areas. Hunter success last fall (14 percent) was slightly below the state average (16 percent).
WMU 1B – With the excellent reproduction this summer, expect turkeys everywhere and great hunter success like last year (22 percent) compared to the state average (16 percent). The abundant fall food source will disperse flocks so scouting will be important for a successful hunt.
WMU 2A – This unit has seen a decrease in the turkey population during the last seven years, but flocks are still widespread. The agency decreased the fall season length to two weeks in 2007 to aid this population to reverse its dramatic decline. Hunter success should be similar to last year (14 percent) compared to the state average of 16 percent. The abundance of natural food will challenge hunters in locating flocks that may continually move throughout the two-week season. Those hunters who scout pre-season should be most successful.
WMU 2B – Hunters who secure permission to hunt on private land have plenty of time to be successful with this three-week season. Also, the hard mast crop (acorns) was fair this year so those who search for areas with plentiful acorns on the ground will find the turkeys. Because of this and the abundance of turkeys, expect hunter success to improve from last year’s 14 percent, which was somewhat below the state average of 16 percent.
WMU 2C – Even though surveys show that turkey reproduction this summer was down, expect a good harvest this year, similar to last year’s 14 percent hunter success rate, which was above the previous three years’ success rates, mainly due to the spotty mast crop of white oak acorns and beechnuts. The low mast supply will concentrate flocks around the food sources. So, even though flock sizes may be small, they should be relatively easy to pattern if hunters find the food.
WMU 2D – Turkey hunting prospects should continue to be better than many other units, but the fall harvest could be down slightly from last year’s hunter success of 15 percent, which was average for this unit, due to this summer’s lower turkey sighting index. However, spring and fall harvests continue to be above the statewide average.
WMU 2E – There are very good hunting opportunities for older birds from the record summer sighting index in 2007, but the marked decrease in summer sightings this year indicates that reproduction was down this year. Hunter success should be similar to last year, about 10 percent.
WMU 2F – The agency shortened the fall season to two weeks in 2007 to help this population reverse its long-term decline. This management action, coupled with slightly above-average recruitment, should provide the jumpstart this population needs to rebound. Hunters can help, too, by harvesting a young turkey rather than an experienced adult bird, as there are ample juvenile birds in this fall’s population. The above-average acorn crop will cause the birds to be more dispersed, so preseason scouting will ensure success.
WMU 2G – This was the fifth consecutive year of increased summer turkey sightings, so juveniles abound in this unit. But the above-average mast (acorn) crop will tend to disperse the flocks. Last fall’s hunter success of 16 percent was the highest it’s been since 2001 and was equal to the state average. Prospects are quite promising for those who scout prior to the season to locate those boisterous, noisy juvenile turkeys. The good mast crop will disperse flocks so finding the turkeys may be challenging.
WMU 3A – Prospects should be similar to last year’s phenomenal harvest and hunter success of 21 percent, which was well above the state average of 16 percent! With turkey sightings over the past four years more than twice the long-term average, juvenile and adult turkeys abound! Even with the above-average mast crop, the turkey harvest should be well above average.
WMU 3B – Prospects couldn’t be better in this unit! With the record summer turkey sightings this year and above-average sightings last year, both juveniles and adults abound. Tioga County Wildlife Conservation Officer Robert Minnich reported it succinctly, “…with all the turkey around, you are bound to run into them sooner or later, if they do not run you over first.”
WMU 3C – Last year’s fall harvest and hunter success rate (19 percent) were the best for this unit since the records of 2001, and this year appears to be almost as good. Summer recruitment, as witnessed from our summer turkey sightings, has increased significantly during the last four years, providing an ample supply of turkeys in most age classes. Prospects are excellent.
WMU 3D – The turkey population in this WMU is now above the long-term trend as indicated by a substantial increase in this year’s summer turkey sightings. Fall hunter success last year was 20 percent compared to 16 percent for the state average. The average mast crop, coupled with above-average recruitment and three-week long season, should translate to a better harvest this year.
WMU 4A – Prospects have greatly improved for this WMU. This is the fifth year of a two-week fall turkey season and the turkey population is rebounding well. Although reproduction this year, as determined from summer turkey sighting surveys, decreased from last year’s record, hunter success and harvests should be similar to last year. Soft mast (cherries, apples, etc.) abounds, but acorn production on oak trees was impacted severely in areas with gypsy moth defoliation. Hunters who find the food will find turkeys.
WMU 4B – This WMU has shown tremendous fluctuations in recruitment and harvests, which prompted the agency in 2004 to reduce the fall season to two weeks. Recruitment this year was down slightly after two consecutive years of increased reproduction. Even though flock sizes may be a bit smaller this year, hunters who scout and locate food sources will find turkeys. Expect hunter success to be similar to last year (13 percent, compared to the state average of 16 percent).
WMU 4C – This WMU typically maintains a stable summer sighting index trend, but increased 84 percent from last year. Hunting prospects for juvenile turkeys will be excellent. Fall hunter success last year was excellent at 19 percent, compared to the 16 percent state average, and should improve this year, especially if hunters scout before the season.
WMU 4D – Fall hunting prospects should improve over last year as a result of recruitment, which was more than twice the long-term average, and the second year of a 3-week season. Fall hunter success last year was similar to the state average at 16 percent. Acorn crops are spotty and dependent on the effect of gypsy moth defoliation. Areas with high gypsy moth abundance have poor mast crops, whereas areas spared of defoliation have abundant mast crops, and will have the birds.
WMU 4E – Excellent hunting prospects. Summer recruitment has been increasing steadily for the last five years and fall harvests have been above the state average. Because of the increasing population trend, expect the fall harvest to increase again, if hunters scout and locate flocks. Fall hunter success last year, 21 percent, was well above the state average of 16 percent.
WMU 5A & 5B – Closed.
WMU 5C - Even though the season is only six days and the overall harvest here is low, hunters who did hunt this WMU last fall had an 18 percent success rate compared to 16 percent statewide. Expect an above-average harvest again, as indicated from an above-average summer sighting index.
WMU 5D - Data for this unit is limited, as well as huntable turkey flocks, but those hunters who locate hunting areas can be quite successful, even with the six-day season. Summer reproduction was average for this unit. Expect the fall harvest to be similar to last year.
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N.H. Fall Shotgun Turkey Season Is October 13-17, 2008
October 6, 2008
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire’s five-day fall shotgun turkey hunting season takes place Monday through Friday, October 13-17, 2008, in select Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) in the Connecticut River Valley and southwest portions of the state (WMUs D1, D2, G, H1, H2, I1, I2 and K). These areas have New Hampshire’s densest wild turkey populations.
Participants in the fall shotgun turkey season need both a turkey license ($16 for N.H. residents or $31 for nonresidents) and a current N.H. firearms hunting license. Hunters can purchase licenses online at www.HuntNH.com
or from any Fish and Game license agent.
New Hampshire’s turkey license comes with 2 tags, one for use during the spring gobbler season, and one for use during either the fall archery or the fall shotgun turkey season. Hunters are restricted to taking a single turkey during the fall, either with bow and arrow during the archery season, or with a shotgun during the shotgun season. The bird must be tagged with the “fall” tag that comes on the regular turkey license.
Mark Ellingwood, a wildlife biologist with Fish and Game, notes that, “Hunters no longer require a special fall shotgun turkey permit in order to hunt the fall season. Beginning in 2008, purchase of a turkey license gives you the option to take a spring bird and a fall bird. The fall bird can be taken during the archery season (statewide, except for WMU A) or the shotgun season, in the 8 designated Wildlife Management Units open to fall shotgun hunting.”
Ellingwood advises fall turkey hunters to be extremely selective in deciding when to shoot, both as a matter of safety and to guard against hitting more than one bird with a single shot. “Even if the turkeys are not “flocked up,” their cryptic coloration, coupled with the pellet pattern cast by a shotgun, requires that hunters exercise extreme restraint when choosing a shot,” says Ellingwood. He also reminds hunters to use good judgment in deciding where to pursue turkey flocks: “Pursuit of flocks visible from public roadways is discouraged for reasons of safety and fair-chase.”
New Hampshire’s 5-day fall shotgun turkey season has been in place since 2006. Last fall, shotgun hunters tallied 343 turkeys (226 hens and 117 gobblers) from the 8 WMUs open to fall shotgun turkey hunting, all in the western half of the state. During the first year the fall shotgun hunt was offered (2006), hunters took 122 turkeys during the limited season.
New Hampshire’s fall archery season for wild turkey runs from September 15 through December 15 (statewide except for WMU A, which is closed to fall turkey hunting). A total of 418 turkeys were harvested during the 2007 fall archery season, double the previous year.
Nearly 20,000 hunters purchase New Hampshire turkey hunting licenses annually. The spring gobbler season, which occurs statewide in May, is the more popular turkey season. During the 2008 spring season, hunters harvested a record 4,098 turkeys in New Hampshire.
For more information on turkey hunting in New Hampshire, visit www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm.
New Hampshire currently has an estimated 40,000 wild turkeys statewide.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s marine, fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. Visit www.HuntNH.com.
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National Wild Turkey Federation Announces Kansas Habitat Projects for 2009
September 29, 2008
$18,175 allocated for specific projects; another $30,000 for outreach and education
ALLEN — The Kansas State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) recently announced selection of the following Hunting Heritage Super Fund proposals for funding 2009 projects in the Sunflower State. These proposals had been evaluated and ranked earlier by the Kansas Super Fund Committee, as follow:
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), statewide, for additional acres of spring wild turkey Walk in Hunting Access — $5,000 approved.
- KDWP, Kaw Wildlife Area, for herbaceous woodland opening restoration — $1,000 approved.
- KDWP, Marion Wildlife Area, for native grassland restoration — $1,500 approved.
- KDWP, Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, for herbaceous woodland opening restoration — $1,250 approved.
- KDWP, Clinton Wildlife Area, for woodland openings and grassland restoration — $1,500 approved.
- Smith County Conservation District, to purchase prescribed burn equipment for newly-forming burn associations — $1,100 approved.
- Ness County Conservation District, to purchase prescribed burn equipment for newly-forming burn associations — $500 approved.
- Hillsdale Range and Training Facility, for construction of a new shooting range at Hillsdale Reservoir — $2,500 approved.
- NWTF/KDWP/Kansas Forest Service, to conduct a two-day forestry and wildlife workshop for natural resource professionals — $1,000 approved.
- Archery In the Schools Program, to provide archery kits for Phillipsburg and Logan high schools through the Western Kansas Chapter — $2,000 approved.
- KDWP/Nemaha County Sheriff, to purchase a robotic deer decoy for use in wildlife law enforcement operations — $825 approved.
These projects are in addition to more than $30,000 budgeted towards outreach and education designed to preserve the Kansas hunting heritage. These projects include 4-H Shooting Sports, JAKES (juniors), Wheelin’ Sportsmen (special needs), and Women in the Outdoors events.
Since 2002, the NWTF has funded more than $105,000 worth of habitat improvements on public land in Kansas. In addition, more than $36,000 has been spent on habitat and management equipment, and more than $20,000 has been spent on public hunting access to private lands (WIHA). Since 1985, NWTF has spent $157,000 on wild turkey research in Kansas. These project funds are generated by volunteers who organize and attend local NWTF banquets. For more information about these projects or to apply for funds, contact NWTF regional wildlife biologist Brandon Houck at 620-443-5906 or http://www.ksnwtf.org on the internet.
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Conservative Turkey Season Again Proposed by AGFC
September 25, 2008
LITTLE ROCK – Biologists from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission again have proposed a conservative turkey season. The AGFC has tried to address declining turkey harvests through the regulations process starting in spring 2005.
AGFC turkey biologist Mike Widner told the Commission, that the shorter season of 30 days in 2005 and 2006 undoubtedly aided gobbler carryover somewhat. “However, the reduction in season length was not enough to reverse the trend in declining spring harvests and the index of gobbler carryover from the 2005 and 2006 brood surveys,” he said.
Widner said that the best way to achieve long term harvest management goals is to utilize a short, later turkey season such as the one in place during the 2007 and 2008 season. “The data we have collected strongly supports this conclusion. After the first year of this regulation, we saw positive results and we believe those positive results continued in 2008,” Widner explained. “When we first approached the Commission with a conservative season recommendation, we stressed that a one-year change wouldn’t result in turkey harvest recovery. Our intention was to bring harvests in line with reproductive trends,” he added.
Widner went on to say that it is going to take at least two good years of turkey brood production to see a significant increase in turkey numbers and turkey harvest. “Even when that finally occurs, there is plenty of data to suggest a conservative season is in the best long-term interest of turkeys and turkey hunters in the state. Of course, we haven’t seen those two good years of turkey reproduction yet, so continuation of the conservative season structure now in place is especially important,” he said.
The AGFC Wildlife Management Division turkey team recommended a spring 2009 season structure to open with a two-day statewide youth hunt April 4-5. In zone 17 the youth hunt would be March 28-29. The regular-season proposal was April 11-May 1 in zones 1 Zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9 and 10; April 4-26 in zone 17; April 11-24 in zones 4, 4A, 5A and 9A. Zone 1A would be closed.
According to Widner, turkey numbers currently are extremely low in Zone 1A. Hobbs SP-CA and Beaver Lake WMA are proposed for closure for the same reason.
Other proposed changes include closure of Bald Knob NWR to turkey hunting, a change to regular season quota permit hunts on McIlroy Madison County WMA and Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, a change to a 4-day regular season quota permit hunt on Sylamore WMA later followed by public hunting for the rest of the season, the addition of a regular quota permit hunt on Choctaw Island WMA and public archery-only hunts on Harold E. Alexander WMA and Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA after quota permit hunts are completed.
Comments on the proposed basic season structure or on the specific changes listed above are welcomed by AGFC and should be sent prior to Oct. 17 to AGFC, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205 or by calling (501) 223-6359 or (800) 364-4263 or by email to information [at] agfc [dot] com
Commissioners will formally approve the season at the agency’s Oct. 22 meeting in Pine Bluff.
In other business, the Commission:
*Discussed proposed commercial fishing and turtle farming regulations. The regulations will be approved at the October meeting.
*Approved an agreement for land conveyance on the Arkansas River. Echubby Lake Hunting Club will donate to the Commission Coal Pile Lake and adjacent lands totaling about 538 acres. There is no cost to the Commission other than closing costs that are expected to be less than $1,500. The lake will be managed for public fishing and as a waterfowl rest area.
*Approved the return of more than $659,650 in fine money, collected during fiscal year 2008, to the Arkansas Department of Education. The money will be sent to the counties where the offenses occurred and used for school fish and wildlife conservation programs.
*Approved a budget increase of $200,000 for initially funding of a new bridge over Crooked Creek. The bridge will provide year-round access to the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Conservation Education Center in Yellville. The low-water bridge that had provided access to the center was damaged during repeated flooding in the creek.
*Approved a cost-share agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help control nuisance aquatic vegetation in Felsenthal Reservoir. The AGFC will provide approximately 35,000 triploid grass carp in an effort to control the vegetation. The vegetation is so thick that it impairs boat access to fishing and hunting areas.
*Approved a $145,000 budget transfer to be used for re-surfacing the Pendleton Access Area on the Arkansas River in Desha County. The area is heavily used by anglers and is a popular tournament site.
*Approved a land exchange for 80 acres of land in the Gene Rush Buffalo River Wildlife Management Area in exchange for 80 acres of isolated and excess land on the Bayou Meto WMA. In addition to the land, the AGFC will also pay $70,200 for the 80 acres in Searcy County. The money will cover the purchase and closing costs.
*Approved a land exchange of just over 16 acres for land on Bayou Meto WMA. The land swap will make land that was inaccessible, due to Little Bayou Meto, a contiguous part of the WMA.
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Minnesota Fall Wild Turkey Leftover Licenses Available
September 18, 2008
Turkey hunters who were unsuccessful in this year’s lottery for the fall hunting season may apply for 2,243 surplus permits starting at noon Monday, Sept. 15.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) makes surplus permits available at all Electronic Licensing System (ELS) outlets and online at www.dnr.state.mn.us.
The Web site also contains information on surplus licenses availability and the status of lottery applications. The fall turkey hunt consists of two five-day seasons: Oct. 15-19 and Oct. 22-26.
Hunters who did not enter the lottery will be able to purchase any remaining surplus licenses beginning noon Monday, Sept. 22.
Bill Penning, DNR farmland coordinator, said because hunting access in many zones is limited, hunters should obtain landowner permission before getting a leftover permit. He added that a hunter who obtains a surplus permit does not lose any existing preference for future lottery drawings. Unsuccessful turkey hunting party applicants must apply individually to purchase a license.
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2008 Fall Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse Seasons Open Sept. 13 in Wisconsin
September 4, 2008
Hunter safety should be a top priority
MADISON – The 2008 fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse seasons are set to open at the start of shooting hours on Sept. 13, and state wildlife officials say hunter prospects are good for both seasons.
Wisconsin’s wild turkey population also continues to grow, and wildlife officials have increased the number of fall turkey permits to 95,700 from last year’s 94,800. Wisconsin’s grouse population also continues to climb as it is still on the upward side of this popular game bird’s 10-year population cycle.
New for the fall 2008 wild turkey hunting season is a consolidation of the previous 46-zone structure into a new seven-zone structure (pdf; 256kb). There is still the same amount of turkey hunting area and the application and permit process remains the same. The consolidation will allow turkey hunters more flexibility to move about in search of birds this fall.
Hunters also may use dogs to hunt wild turkey for the fall 2008 season. Use is restricted to a nine county area including: Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Vernon, and Wood.
Leftover turkey permits on sale Sept. 6
Leftover fall turkey permits will go on sale beginning at noon on Saturday, September 6 over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236); and at license sales locations. DNR service centers are closed Saturdays but permits may be purchased at DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation). Postcard notifications from the fall preference drawing have been mailed to those who were awarded a permit in the drawing. Hunters can also check their permit status on the Online Licensing Center.
Hunters are reminded that new for 2008 is the requirement of blaze orange on ground blinds on DNR lands during any Gun Deer Season. Ground blinds on DNR lands left unattended must also have the owners name and address or DNR Customer Identification Number attached near door opening. Ground blinds still may not be left out over night. Please note that these ground blind rules do not apply to ground blinds being used for hunting waterfowl or to blinds built only out of natural vegetation found on the DNR property.
Grouse and turkey hunters should also note that during any gun or muzzleloader deer season, including the Oct. 6 - 7 Youth Deer Hunt, antlerless hunts and CWD hunts (see 2007 Wisconsin Deer Hunting Regulations), Blaze Orange clothing is required. A hat, if worn, must be at least 50 percent blaze orange.
Turkey, grouse hunting have special safety concerns
Hunters need to keep safety in sight due to the nature of hunting these challenging game birds.
“There’s something very special about turkey and grouse hunting,” says Tim Lawhern, hunter education administrator for the state Department of Natural Resources. “And with the enthusiasm that goes with this type of hunting, we should all be mindful of making sure we return home safe and sound at the end of each hunt.”
Here are some things Lawhern says hunters need to keep in mind when going afield after ruffed grouse and fall turkey:
- In grouse hunting, two is company and three is definitely a crowd. Any hunt with more than two will become difficult to manage from a safety aspect.
- Communicate. Grouse cover is thick and sometimes it will be difficult to see a hunting partner who might only be a few yards away.
- Plan your hunt and hunt your plan. Keep it simple. Know in advance how far and in what direction you will be going and when turns will be made.
- Advise someone else of where you will be hunting and when they should expect you back. Then, if something goes wrong, at least someone will know where to start looking.
- Know your safe zone of fire. If you are on the left, your safe zone is to the left and slightly forward. The opposite is the case if you are on the right. Always advance forward in unison and don’t get ahead or behind your partner.
- In heavy cover, shoot only at birds that are at least eight feet above the ground. Don’t shoot at low birds that could have a hunter or a dog behind them!
- Wear blaze orange clothing and stay in visual contact with your partner at all times. If you lose sight of your partner stop hunting, call and listen until you locate each other.
- Turkey hunters need to be sure of their target - shooting into heavy brush without positive identification can lead to tragedy
- Follow the four basic rules of firearms safety: TAB+K.
- Treat every firearm as loaded;
- Always point the muzzle in a safe direction;
- Be certain of your target and what’s beyond it;
- Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
Grouse and turkey hunters also need to be aware that there might be other hunters afield at the same time after other types of game. Bow hunters may be perched in tree stands and other turkey hunters may be under a tree. Most of them will be wearing full camouflage and very hard to see.
Lawhern suggests hunters also consider wearing some type of eye protection. A good pair of clear or light colored safety glasses can go a long way toward avoiding injury to eyes and sight.
“Famed conservationist Aldo Leopold once wrote, ‘There are two kinds of hunting: ordinary hunting, and ruffed grouse hunting,’” Lawhern says. “Don’t let careless hunting practices spoil this special tradition.”
Fall Wild Turkey & Ruffed Grouse Season Dates and Reminders
2008 Fall Wild Turkey Season Dates:
Sept. 13 - Nov. 20
2008 Ruffed Grouse Season Dates:
Zone (A): Sept. 13-Jan 31, 2009
Zone (B): Oct. 18 - Dec. 8
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern, hunter safety, (608 266-1317 Scott Hull, grouse and turkey seasons (608) 267-7861
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More Turkey Permits in Utah
September 2, 2008
The Wildlife Board approves a big increase in permits for 2009
The chance you’ll draw a wild turkey hunting permit in Utah just got better.
The Utah Wildlife Board has approved 13,761 publi