Photo by Steve Carpenteri

The resurgence of the wild turkeys in New England continues in what is considered the greatest wildlife management coup ever. Brought back from virtual extinction by careful planning, judicious stocking of wild birds captured in other states and close monitoring by biologists, these magnificent birds now thrive in every corner of the region.

Despite a long, wet spring in 2004, nesting success was high with excellent chick survival rates. One other player besides weather seems to be emerging as a factor in turkey populations, and it's spelled "coyote." These big canines are also enjoying a rapidly expanding population, and they prey heavily on both young birds and adults. So far, the turkeys are staying ahead in the population race, but make no mistake; predation in areas that harbor a lot of coyotes is a factor. Besides coyotes, there are also hawks, owls, fishers and bobcats. Actually, everything likes to eat turkeys. Be that as it may, there are excellent populations of wild turkeys throughout New England, and no matter which state you choose to hunt, you'll find plenty of trophy birds to pursue.

MAINE
Maine has a January deadline for applying for a turkey-hunting permit via a lottery system. Hunters who are successful in drawing a tag have an excellent chance of bagging a bird.

The season this year is split, and your permit determines when you may hunt. Season A is May 3-8 and May 24-29. Season B runs May 10-15 and May 17-22. All permit holders are eligible to hunt from May 31 to June 5. May 1 is designated as a youth wild turkey hunt this year.

The turkey has made a strong comeback in this least hospitable of New England states, especially in the southern regions. Most of the designated hunting areas lie in the southern end of the state. Hunting areas include wildlife management districts 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. All of these areas boast mixed hardwoods and softwoods interspersed with fields and farmland.

Favorite areas include Wildlife Management District 15, which lies in Oxford, York, Cumberland and Androscoggin counties. This is the Sebago Lake area, and contains a nice mix of forest and farmland. Most of the forest region consists of hardwoods, with lots of oaks and other mast trees providing ample food for the birds.

Wildlife Management District 21 on the eastern side of Sebago Lake from District 15 contains the same terrain mix of forests and agriculture. It consists of 14 townships in Cumberland, Androscoggin and York counties.

Yet another favorite among knowledgeable locals is Wildlife Management District 26 in the Penobscot Bay area off state Route 1. It contains 654 square miles in Waldo, Hancock, Knox and Penobscot counties. There is good turkey habitat here, with plenty of mast as well as farmland, giving the resident turkey flocks everything they need to thrive.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife lists the map numbers in DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer for individual WMDs. This makes locating areas you wish to hunt a snap, including up-to-date road directions. The DeLorme map book is invaluable for researching hunting and fishing hotspots.

For more information, check out the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Web site at www.state.me.us/ifw/index.html, or phone them at (207) 287-8000. You can also write to them at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04333.

There is an automated information line at (207) 287-8003 that offers updated information on season dates, new law changes, etc.

Lodging, restaurants and such may be found by browsing the Maine tourism site at www.visitmaine.com.