By Al Raychard

By every indicator used to gauge wild game populations, the wild turkey is doing extremely well throughout New England. In recent years, either naturally or by trap and truck programs conducted by state wildlife agencies, the turkey has increased its range, even moving into historical areas where the birds were never found prior to the arrival of European settlers. Except in parts of extreme northern Maine, birds are everywhere, and even there things might soon change.

As their range has grown, so have turkey numbers increased throughout the region. Conservative estimates put the New England turkey population at 140,000 birds.

Despite a hard winter in 2002 across much of New England followed by several inches of snow in April and heavy rains in May in many areas, most biologists reported a great deal of re-nesting and average numbers of birds available during the fall. Overall, conditions were not as severe in 2003, and spring hunters found birds everywhere. Harvest figures in every state were slightly above or just below the previous year.

Winter and spring conditions typically determine the number of toms available for the spring hunt and the number of females and jakes extant in fall, but barring a natural catastrophe, wildlife managers across the region are predicting plenty of birds and ample opportunities in 2004.

There are other reasons to be excited this year. New areas are being opened to hunting, some states are increasing the number of hunting permits available and others are initiating or continuing youth hunting programs in an attempt to involve more youngsters in the sport.

Overall, it is a good time to be a turkey hunter in New England!

Photo by Ron Sinfelt

In 1977 and 1978, fish and game personnel in Vermont trapped 41 birds that were released in the towns of York and Elliot in southern York County. By the early 1980s, the York County population had become large enough to serve as a supply for birds and, in 1982, 33 birds were released in Waldo County with the hopes of establishing a turkey population in the midcoast region. Two years later, an additional 19 birds were captured in York County and released in Hancock County.

By 1986, the York County population had reached a point where it could support a limited spring hunt, and that year, 500 hunting permits were issued by special draw resulting in a harvest of nine birds. Since 1990, in-state trapping and transfer projects have helped expand the wild turkey range in Maine.

Today, Maine is home to an estimated 20,000 wild turkeys over a wide area of the state, according to Phil Bozenhard, the MDIFW's turkey expert. The exception is in the far north, some parts of the western mountains and extreme Downeast Maine.

"This coming year," Bozenhard said, "we'll be putting more emphasis on releasing birds in those areas."

As Maine's turkey population and range have increased, so have hunting opportunities. The number of permits issued has gone from 500 in 1986 to 12,000 in 2003. Bozenhard expects an increase of 6,000 permits in 2004, raising the total to 18,000, with the number of applicants holding at around 26,000 the last couple of years.

"Very few applicants will not receive a permit this year," he said. "While there will be a draw system for turkey hunting at least for the foreseeable future, the number of applicants seems to have reached its saturation point. If things go as we hope, additional permit increases will come in 2005 and 2006. If the number of applicants stays about the same, everyone who applies should receive a permit, and that's our goal."

This year, Maine hunters will have a split spring season that will run May 3 through June 5 in WMDs 15-18 and 20-26. WMDs 12 and 13 will be added in 2004, increasing the area open to hunting.

Each successful applicant will be assigned to hunting during Season A or Season B, except that all unsuccessful hunters will be allowed to hunt during the last week.

Last year, Maine turkey hunters harvested 3,994 toms for a success rate of 35 percent, one of the highest success rates in the Northeast. Bozenhard expects to see a similar impressive harvest and high success rate this spring.

Maine held its first fall turkey hunt in 2002. It was open to archery hunters only with a limit of one bird of either sex. In 2003, the hunt took place Oct. 2-31. Dates for the 2004 fall season will be determined later this spring or early summer, but they should change very little.

"There's been some talk about opening the fall season up to muzzleloader hunting," Bozenhard says, "but we're playing it safe right now. We'd prefer to expand on spring opportunities, and although birds of either sex may be taken in the fall, for now we would like to give some protection to hens and jakes prior to the onset of winter."

Unlike the spring season, which is a draw hunt, archers may purchase fall turkey permits over the counter where hunting licenses are sold.

"We'd like to see more kids get into the sport," Bozenhard said, noting that Maine's youth turkey hunt will take place the Saturday before the regular spring turkey season opens. Youth hunters, who must apply for a permit, will be allowed to harvest one bearded bird and must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information on turkey hunting in Maine, contact the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Department, 284 State St., Augusta, Maine 04333; call (207) 287-8000, or visit the MDIFW's Web site at www. mefishwildlife.com.

Walski said there are plenty of birds out there for the 2004 season. Statewide, the New Hampshire turkey population, estimated at 23,000 birds, is now one of the largest in New England.

Three wildlife management units in Coos County were opened to turkey hunting during the 2003 spring season. Hard winters and limited suitable habitat have made things difficult for birds in the north, but Walski said the birds have done reasonably well there and can now support a limited spring hunt. All but the far north will be open again in 2004 during the first two weeks of the spring season, although there will be no fall hunting.

The spring turkey season will be open during the month of May. The fall season will be open to bowhunting only in areas of the state where hunting is allowed. One bird of either sex may be taken.

If there are any changes in trends in New Hampshire, it is in kill distribution, according to Walski. In years past, the agricultural lands and surrounding woodlands of Cheshire County and Sullivan County have been perennial leaders in the annual turkey harvest. Both are in the southwest corner of the state along the Connecticut River, where habitat and living conditions are some of the best in the state. Those counties continue to produce their share of birds each year, and were again among the top producers in 2003, but Walski predicts higher kills in Merrimack and Hillsborough counties, both to the east. Unless the region is hit with a hard winter, Walski expects the two counties to be among the state's top- producing areas again in 2004.

Walski also said that the turkey population is doing better in the lake region, but numbers there are not quite as high.

For more information, interested hunters should contact the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, 2 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301; call (603) 271-3421, or visit the agency's Web site at www.wildlife.state.nh.us.

The first modern hunt took place in 1973 with the first fall hunt following two years later in limited areas. Birds are now reported to be in all areas of the state, and as this is written, a proposal is on the table to open two wildlife management units (WMU) in the north to spring hunting.

During the spring 2003 season, hunters took 3,694 birds, down from the 4,402 taken in 2002. This was undoubtedly due to poor hunting conditions, which kept hunters close to home in early May.

The total includes 350 birds taken during Vermont's Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend, which is held the Saturday and Sunday prior to the opening of the regular spring season.

While wild turkeys can be found over much of Vermont, last year's harvest figures suggest that certain WMUs offer some of the state's best opportunities. WMU K2 produced 389 birds, WMU F1 gave up 354 and hunters in WMU J1 took 306 gobblers. These areas constitute some of the best turkey range in Vermont, and generally top the annual list.

WMUs D2, K1 and Q all produced over 100 birds. In 2004, strong consideration is being given to opening WMUs C and E, both in the far northern part of the state for the spring hunt. This will provide added hunting opportunities in two areas that have been closed but where turkey numbers have been increasing.

As in the past, the limit is two bearded birds in the spring.

These new areas will not be open during the fall hunt, but there is still plenty of room to hunt and birds to go around.

The fall hunt will be restricted to bow only in WMUs F1, F2, G, H1, H2, I, J2, K1, K2, L, M1, M2, N, O1, O2, P and Q for much of October. There will also be a six-day shotgun season in some WMUs and a 16-day shotgun hunt in others. The fall limit is one bird of either sex.

For season dates and other information, contact the Vermont Fish and Game Department, 103 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 05676; call (207) 241-3700, or visit the department's Web site at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.