Family-Outdoors

The belief that the best bet for turkey hunting is to head to southern Michigan is being challenged this year. Early survey results and hunter commentary are showing that hunters who spent time turkey hunting in the northern half of Michigan are satisfied with their experience. “We took three birds in three days,” said the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Tony Snyder, who took a bird himself, and assisted his grandchildren in harvesting their first turkeys, in Unit J. “We had awesome hunting and saw lots of birds in the area.” Trevor Shuman, an 11-year-old from Petoskey, also had great success and harvested his first bird in Emmet County. Trevor Meers from Des Moines, Iowa hunted on Beaver Island and had a hunt he can’t wait to replicate, saying, “I think I’m going to get my buddies together and come back; I was amazed at how inexpensive my turkey tag was.” Meers harvested a big tom and saw dozens of birds. ”We work hard to maintain and create great wild...

Turkey hunting season has brought with it some concerns about Rio Grande turkey populations in western Oklahoma. Many hunters have observed fewer birds to hunt than in previous years. "Part of what makes this a tough year for many western Oklahoma turkey hunters is the lower number of adult toms in the population. Two-year-old birds normally make up the largest portion of adult toms that hunters so much enjoy pursuing," said Rod Smith, southwest region supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Additionally, overall turkey population numbers are reduced from what many have experienced in the past few years. Western Oklahoma turkey populations were at an all-time high five years ago. "In 2008 there were numerous reports from landowners that there were too many turkeys on their properties. Several years of abnormally good turkey reproduction led to those record numbers of turkeys. Following 2008, we experienced a couple of years of b...

With gobbler season right around the corner, it's time to talk turkey! Check out the DNR's short  video about basic spring turkey regulations ,  including hunting hours, bag limit, hunting devices and ammunition allowed, baiting, calls and decoys. For more information on spring turkey hunting, visit www.michigan.gov/turkey . Related articles Young hunters bag 3,915 birds during youth turkey hunting weekend (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Iowa Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) Ohio Game Check Procedure Updated for 2013 Deer and Turkey Hunting (midwestdeerhunting.blogspot.com) Youth turkey hunting clinic offered March 30 (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com) Arrival of Spring Puts Turkey Hunting Back in Full Strut (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com) Spring Turkey Hunting Atlas More Than Maps (kansas-outdoors.blogspot.com) Learn to Hunt Bear application process open - Wisconsin (family-outdoors.blogspot.com) Volunteer Group to Host Youth ...