2009 Spring Turkey Season Looks Good for New Hampshire Hunters

According to New Hampshire Fish and Game Department turkey biologist, Ted Walski, New Hampshire hunters can expect a productive spring turkey season this year. The spring turkey season opens on Sunday, May 3 and runs through May 31 statewide. However, the New Hampshire Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend precedes the regular season. It takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26.

“Hopefully, turkey hunters were out some time during March checking on the whereabouts of turkey flocks before snow cover disappeared and the flocks began to break out of their wintering sites and disperse across the landscape.”

Recapping the past winter’s impact on the state’s turkey population, Walski said, “Turkeys did well this past winter in most of the state. The ice storm during the middle of December and the thawing days in late December created some crust, allowing the turkeys to walk more easily on the snow. While January was cold, the month of February had many thawing days, which created bare ground sites on south and southwest slopes. Turkeys fed on acorns during early and late winter and made good use of dried crabapples and apples on trees from last fall’s bumper apple crop. An Internet Wild Turkey Winter Flock Survey in New Hampshire this year produced 1,400 flock reports. The majority of these flocks visited bird feeders for sunflower seeds and cracked corn during the deep snow periods.”

Walski says that turkeys have been displaying and gobbling this year since early February. Even some grouse were seen displaying in mid-February. “By February 20, turkey and deer groups were venturing from their winter ranges for ‘walk-abouts‘. Some turkey breeding was observed by the middle of March, which means there may have been some early hatching during the second half of May.”

During the spring 2008 turkey season, New Hampshire hunters harvested 4,107 turkeys. Walski said, “I would guesstimate the spring 2009 harvest will be in the same range, if not even better. My travels through the fall and winter months seemed to indicate good numbers of adult toms with long beards. Last year’s season harvest and this winter’s flock survey results suggest that turkey populations in the eastern half of the state are increasing, and I predict an increase in the May 2009 harvest from eastern wildlife management units.”

Ted further indicates that since the end of March, turkeys have been gobbling early in the mornings, between 6:00 and 6:15 a.m. “If you can make the time, do some early morning gobbling routes. Start at approximately one-half hour before day break. Stop at one-half to one mile intervals along a 5-to-10 mile route in the region you intend to hunt. Get out of the vehicle and listen for gobbling turkeys and drumming grouse for four to five minutes at each stop.”

Ted Walski says that if you are new to turkey hunting or you’ve been thinking about giving it a try, come to the free turkey hunting seminar for beginners, Introduction to Turkey Hunting, on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the N.H. Fish and Game Headquarters at 11 Hazen Drive, Concord. The session features New Hampshire and Maine hunting guide, Dave Smith, and Bill Devon, President of the State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and a Pro Staff member of Quaker Boy Game Calls. Pre-registration for the course is required. Call 603-271-6355.

All hunters should keep in mind some key safe ty guidelines for turkey hunting:

1. Always positively identify your target. Never assume that calls and movement indicate the presence of a turkey --- hunters commonly imitate turkey calls and use decoys in order to locate and/or attract turkeys.
2. Never stalk a turkey, you could be mistaken for game. Rather than stalking, scout out a good spot, call and wait for the turkeys to come to you.
3. Be seen! Turkey hunters should always wear a blaze-orange hat or vest as they enter and leave the area they are hunting. Tying blaze-orange survey tape around a decoy/calling location can alert other hunters to your presence and it won’t scare the birds.
4. Avoid clothes with the colors of red, white and blue and black as these are the colors of the male turkey.

Don’t forget, the purchase of your New Hampshire spring turkey license also allows you to participate in the fall turkey hunt. Licenses are available online at: www.huntnh.com or from any license agent in the state. Consider taking a young person out during the Youth Hunt Weekend.

Remember that youth hunters do need to have a valid turkey license, too. Have a great and successful turkey hunt and be sure to observe all the other interesting things in the spring woods.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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DISCLAIMER:  The opinions expressed by Mr. Harris are not necessarily those of the Goffstown Residents Association or its members

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