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National Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook for 2018 - Continued
Submitted by: Backcountry Press Outdoor News
Posted on: 02/27/18
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Here is a preview of the 2018 National Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook courtesy of Game & Fish Magazine, with links to read more. NOTE: Not all states with spring turkey hunting was included at the time of this report.
Hunters will want to check their state outlook before heading out for gobblers this spring. Also, hunters who are looking to get a Turkey Grand Slam will want to see whats happening around the country.
Mississippi -- Although the Mississippi turkey population declined recently, thousands of gobblers still roam the Magnolia State.
“Unfortunately, the Mississippi turkey flock has been on a downward slide for most of the last decade,” lamented Adam Butler, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Wild Turkey Program coordinator. “For example, the 2015 spring harvest estimate was the lowest since the late 1970s. The good news, things have seemingly bumped up over the last couple of years. Hopefully, we’ll continue heading in a positive direction.”
The best habitat historically occurs in east-central Mississippi and bottomlands along the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, the river frequently floods in the spring, inundating turkey nests and breeding grounds. Floods during each of the past three years greatly affected turkey reproduction.
“Things are actually looking up in the Delta,” Butler remarked. “I don’t think the Delta has had back-to-back years without flooding over most of the last decade, but the long-term forecast for turkey habitat is positive. Tremendous numbers of hardwood acres have been planted over the last 25 years via government conservation programs.” READ MORE at 2018 Mississippi Turkey Hunting Outlook
Missouri -- Hunters bagged a grand total of 43,339 turkeys during the 2017 spring turkey seasons. That figure is 5,035 fewer birds than those killed during the 2016 season. Torrential rains during most of the final two weeks of the season were probably the main culprit behind the decline in harvest numbers. However, there is no denying that turkey harvest totals are down from what they once were in Missouri.
The last two years of poor turkey production (2016 and 2017) isn’t the best news for turkey hunters,” Isabelle said. “Back-to-back years of poor productivity is going to set us back a bit.” Fewer jakes in the 2017 spring harvest is a direct reflection of poor productivity in 2016. Of course, the bad hatch of 2017 will have a direct impact on the number of jakes in the spring harvest of 2018. But beyond that, there will be fewer 2-year-old adult gobblers in the flock this spring.
“Generally the most vociferous birds and the ones quickest to come to the call are 2-year-old gobblers,” Isabelle said. “Unfortunately the 2018 season will have fewer of this age-class gobblers, and hunters will likely hear less gobbling.” READ MORE at 2018 Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook
North Carolina -- North Carolina’s 60,000 wild turkey hunters harvested 18,819 birds in the spring season of 2017. It was a new harvest record, beating the former harvest record of 18,409 birds set in 2013. It was also an increase of 5 percent over the 2016 harvest of 17,932 turkeys.
However, turkey densities have changed over the years, with some areas benefitting from a larger number of gobblers and while some other areas have had flat populations or even suffered through population downturns.
The state has such a diversity of habitats and weather conditions — one part of the state may be experiencing a drought while another part may be suffering through floods — that hunters should think of it as a slice of Swiss cheese. Overall, it is a quite a tasty tidbit. Nevertheless, there are empty holes of various sizes and shapes throughout.
Turkey hunters want to put their efforts into the places where the gobblers are present in large numbers and not waste their precious few days of vacation in areas where gobblers and therefore, the opportunities for success, are scarce. READ MORE at 2018 North Carolina Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook
South Carolina -- Turkey hunters across South Carolina have weathered a long-term decline in the overall population of turkeys for the past 15 years. When compared to many other southeastern states, however, we still have a respectable population of turkeys and enjoy ample opportunities to hunt and harvest gobblers.
While no return to the turkey populations we enjoyed 15 to 20 years ago is in the short-term forecast, some optimism does exist for the potential for the 2018 turkey hunting season. The overall outlook appears to include some bright spots blended into the conversation for a change.
Charles Ruth, Big Game Coordinator for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) says based on the data he has available, the 2018 season should be similar or slightly better than what hunters experienced in the past couple of years. READ MORE at 2018 South Carolina Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook
Tennessee -- Tennessee is blessed with hundreds of thousands of acres of mountainous public land that is open during the Tennessee statewide turkey season, though some are open only on certain dates or open during quota hunts. The mountain turkey population is at its zenith right now, and using the right tactics in the right place will put you in range of these birds. READ MORE at 2018 Tennessee Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook
Texas -- What are your chances for success during the spring of 2018 in the Lone Star State?
That, of course, depends on several factors. The main influence will be Mother Nature — the weather. Be prepared for anything from frost and possible freeze, to damp humidity and fighting insects while trying to keep still and quiet. Conditions where you hunt may be wet and soggy with plenty of bugs, or droughty where birds visit deer feeders consistently.
As to numbers of birds, well, once again it depends on where you hunt, but overall this spring looks really good for a chance at successfully putting a turkey tag on a Rio Grande. Eastern turkey hunters will face more of a challenge as only a handful of counties allow a spring turkey harvest.
Restoration efforts from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and private landowners continue to make strides.
“As far as eastern wild turkeys, the best I can say is if you had turkeys last year, then you should have them again this year,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD Upland Game Bird specialist. “TPWD is actively restoring the eastern subspecies in Texas. Since 2014 TPWD staff has released just over 600 wild turkeys in East Texas. We have plans to release another 160 turkeys this coming winter in Camp and Henderson counties. READ MORE at 2018 Texas Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook
Virginia -- Virginians can know how to call, how to read sign, where to set up, and how to entice a longbeard away from his hens. But if we don’t know where the premier public lands and the top counties in our home regions are, we may be eating tags instead of punching them.
Without a doubt, Virginia turkey hunters have many options this spring. Whether we will be afield on public or private land, chances are that quality turkey hunting will be available. See this spring’s top destinations at 2018 Virginia Spring Turkey Hunting Outlook.
