2009 SPRING GOBBLER SEASON LOOKS GOOD FOR N.H. TURKEY HUNTERS
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire's turkey hunters can expect a productive spring gobbler season, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department turkey biologist Ted Walski. The spring season opens Sunday, May 3, and runs through May 31 statewide. The N.H. Youth Hunt Weekend precedes the season, taking place on April 25-26 (Saturday and Sunday).
"Hopefully, turkey hunters were out sometime during March checking on the whereabouts of turkey flocks before snowcover disappeared and the flocks began to break out of their wintering sites and disperse across the landscape," said Walski.
Walski recapped the past winter's impact on the state's turkey population: Turkeys did well this past winter in most of the state. The ice storm during the middle of December and the thawing days in late December created some crust, allowing turkeys to walk more easily on the snow. While January was cold, the month of February had many "thawing days," which created bare ground sites on south and southwest slopes. Turkeys fed on acorns during early and late winter, and made good use of dried crabapples and apples on trees from last fall's bumper apple crop. An Internet Wild Turkey Winter Flock Survey in New Hampshire this year produced 1,400 flock reports! The majority of these flocks visited bird feeders for sunflower seeds and cracked corn during the deep snow periods.
Turkeys have been displaying and gobbling this year since early February, Walski reported. Even some grouse were seen displaying in mid-February. By February 20, turkey flocks and deer groups were venturing from their winter ranges for "walk-abouts." Some turkey breeding was observed by the middle of March, which means there may be some early hatching during the second half of May.
During the spring 2008 gobbler season, N.H. hunters harvested 4,107 turkeys. "I would 'guesstimate' the spring 2009 harvest will be in the same range, if not better," said Walski. "My travels through the fall and winter months seemed to indicate good numbers of adult toms with long beards. Last year's season harvest and this winter flock survey results suggest that turkey populations in the eastern half of the state are increasing, and I predict an increase in the May 2009 harvest from eastern wildlife management units."
Since the end of March, turkeys have begun gobbling early in the mornings between 6:00 and 6:15 a.m. "If you can make the time, do some early morning gobbling routes," recommends Walski. "Start approximately one-half hour before daybreak. Stop at one-half to one mile intervals along a 5- to 10-mile route in the region you intend to hunt; get out of the vehicle and listen for gobbling turkeys and drumming grouse for four minutes at each stop." N.H. Fish and Game Department regional biologists each survey several 10-mile routes each spring between April 15 and May 10 to listen for turkey and grouse.
Don't forget -- the purchase of your spring N.H. turkey license also allows you to participate in the fall turkey hunt. Licenses are available online at
http://www.huntnh.com or from any license agent. Consider taking a young person out during the Youth Hunt Weekend; remember that youth hunters do need to have a valid turkey license. Have an interesting turkey hunt and be sure to observe all the other things in the spring woods!
If you're new to turkey hunting or you've been thinking about giving it a try, come to a free turkey hunting seminar for beginners, "Introduction to Turkey Hunting," on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. at N.H. Fish and Game headquarters in Concord, N.H. The session features N.H. (and Maine) Hunting Guide Dave Smith and Bill Devon, N.H. State Chapter President of the National Wild Turkey Federation and a Pro Staff member of Quaker Boy Game Calls. Pre-registration required; call 603-271-6355.
All hunters should keep in mind some key safety guidelines for turkey hunting: Always positively identify your target. Never assume that calls and movement indicate the presence of a turkey -- hunters commonly imitate turkey calls and use decoys in order to locate and/or attract turkeys! Never stalk a turkey; you could be mistaken for game -- rather than stalking, scout out a good spot, call and wait for the turkeys to come to you. Be seen! Turkey hunters should always wear a blaze orange hat or vest as they enter and leave the area they are hunting. Tying blaze-orange survey tape around a decoy/calling location can alert other hunters to your presence and won't scare the birds. Avoid clothes with the colors red, white and blue and black, as these are the colors of the male turkey.
For more information on turkey hunting in New Hampshire, including a list of registration stations, turkey hunting regulations and important safety tips, visit
http://www.huntnh.com/Hunting/Hunt_species/hunt_turkey.htm.
