Today, the turkey population in Massachusetts, estimated at 20,000 birds, supports a spring and fall hunting season. According to Jim Cordoza, the state turkey project leader, the birds are doing well and continue to expand their range and increase their numbers.

During the spring season, 2,217 bearded birds were harvested, the second-highest number ever harvested. Fall totals were not available as this was being written, but figures should fall in line with previous years, somewhere between 200 and 300 birds, according to Cordoza.

Barring drastic circumstances, plenty of birds should be available this spring, while fall prospects will depend upon weather conditions and poult production.

As always, the spring season this year will commence on the first Monday in April and run four weeks in zones 1-10 and 13. It will run two weeks in zones 11 and 12. The fall season runs just six days, commencing the last Monday in October in zones 1-9 and 13 only. Be sure to check the MassWildlife hunting abstracts for specific details.

Although birds are well distributed throughout Massachusetts, four counties have led the pack in overall harvests the past few years. In 2003, Worchester County produced 592 birds, Berkshire County had 489, Franklin County had 321 and Hampden County produced 217. Hunters in these counties should do well again in 2004.

For more information, contact MassWildlife, Route 135, Westboro, MA 01582; call (508) 792-7270, or visit the MassWildlife Web site at www.masswildlife.com.

Currently, the Nutmeg State offers "Lottery Hunts" on certain state lands, "No-Lottery Hunts" as well as hunts on private lands. The open season is the same for all hunts, generally the month of May, but bag limits vary from two bearded birds on state lands to three bearded birds on private lands. There are also fall archery-only hunting opportunities on state and private lands, with the season starting in September or October and running as late as the end of December, depending upon the hunt. The bag limit is two birds of either sex.

Starting in the middle of October and running generally into early November, there are fall firearms hunts on state and private lands, too. Bag limits vary, either one bird or two birds of either sex, depending upon the hunt. There will be no major changes coming in 2004, and based on statewide population and harvest figures, hunters can expect plenty of opportunities this year.

In 2002, Connecticut hunters took 1,894 birds, a slight decrease from the previous year, largely due to rain and the same poor hunting conditions that plagued most New England hunters. Even so, more than 1,500 hunters took at least one bird from 149 towns across the state.

In general, hunters can expect good sport on private lands, but spring hunters should not overlook WMAs and state forests. A list of public areas open to spring and fall turkey hunting, including their size, location and access information is available online.

For more information, contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106; call (860) 424-3555, or visit the DEP's Web site at www.dep.state. ct.us.

During the 2003 spring season, hunters harvested 275 birds, a new record, surpassing the previous record of 256 birds set in 2002 by more than 7 percent. Hunters enjoyed a 21 percent success ratio.

The harvest consisted of 93 juveniles and 182 adult birds, with birds coming from 19 of 39 towns in the state. The top-producing towns were Exeter (44), Richmond (26), West Greenwich (25), Glocester (24) and Scituate (20).

Although private lands accounted for about 84 percent of the total harvest, turkeys were also taken on eight of the state's WMAs. The best state lands included Arcadia WMA in Exeter and the Big River WMA in Greenwich.

Ocean State hunters can expect plenty of good hunting in 2004. The statewide seasons will run from April 29 through May 24.

For more information, contact the Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife, Great Swamp Headquarters, P.O. Box 281, West Kingston, RI 02892; call (401) 789-0281, or visit the DEM's Web site at www.state. ri.us/dem.