Last year, hunters took 234 birds, a 13-percent increase from the 207 birds shot in 2005. With increases in the turkey population, the 2007 season should be even better.

Arcadia WMA
This forest is the state’s largest, spreading out over 14,000 acres in the towns of West Greenwich, Richmond and Exeter. Land managers keep areas clear, so hunters will find hundreds of acres of open fields, farmlands and hedgerows. The Department of Environmental Management also manages several special food plots for wildlife.

Open-field hunters will want to spend some extra time setting up blinds. Good calling skills are also required to bring birds up close.

For forest access, take Exit 4 off Interstate Route 95 and head north on Route 3 to Route 165. Turn west on Route 165 for about three miles to the main entrance. Follow the entrance road to designated parking areas.

Carolina WMA
Turkey hunters will enjoy this 2,300-acre forest, which is also heavily managed for turkeys. According to recent DEM reports, about 23 acres of the forest contains wildlife food plots. Another 100 acres is leased farmland planted with corn, sunflower and buckwheat. The DEM also mows another 100 acres of land to maintain open meadows.

The Carolina WMA access is close to Exit 3 off I-95 in Richmond. Follow Route 138 east to Route 112 south. From Route 112, turn right onto Kenyon Hill Road, where parking is available. Another parking area is available on Pine Hill Road.

Continue on Route 112 south for two miles past Kenyon Hill Road. Turn right and follow Pine Hill Road into the forest.

For more information on Rhode Island’s turkey-hunting seasons and licensing, call the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife at (401) 789-3094, or visit the division’s Website at www.state.ri.us/dem.

For tourism information, call 1-800-556-2484.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Granite State hunters have done very well with wild turkeys over the past several years. Last season, more than 3,500 birds made their way to the dinner table. The best harvests were in Hillsboro, Manchester, Littleton and Walpole counties.

Two state forests worth checking this spring are:

Fox State Forest
This small 1,500-acre forest has a lot to offer hunters, including plenty of roadside access, a mixture of forest and small open patches, several streams and swamp ponds. Wild turkeys thrive in this state-owned forest because of the surrounding rural homesteads that provide the birds with additional food and habitat.

The forest can be divided into three distinct sections. “Bible Hill” is the western (and largest) section of the forest. It is relatively flat with three streams running through it. Find a strutting area along one these streams for your best opportunity of getting a turkey.

Access to this section is directly off Bible Hill Road, which is east of the Route 9-Route 202 merge in Hillsborough. Travel north on Bible Hill Road for about one mile. Watch for state forest signs and roadside parking areas.

Two smaller sections are on the east side of Hillsborough Center Road. The Mud Pond section is flat and contains two small ponds and several streams. It may also be somewhat wet during the spring season. The best turkey hunting will be found on the drier portions of this forest section.