Gallagher said that when the weather improved at the end of May that she and friends killed four gobblers in three days.

One suggestion that Gallagher had was to open the turkey seasons a little later.

“We might possibly be opening our turkey season too early,” offered Gallagher. “Other more southern states, like Ohio, Missouri and Pennsylvania, open their season a week or more later than Michigan. I know biologists don’t want hunters disturbing the nesting hens, but it still happens anyway.” That might make the weather during the season a little more bearable.

Gallagher had mixed feelings about the prospects for the spring 2005 hunts.

“The Thumb counties should be a hotspot for turkeys this spring,” stated Gallagher. “The birds have been steadily increasing there to the point that they had their first fall season there (last year). I would think that Tuscola, Sanilac, Huron and the northern portion of St. Clair would be good spots to kill a bird this spring.”

While much of the Thumb is private property, there are several state game areas that offer ideal turkey habitat and public hunting. In Tuscola County, check out the Tuscola, Murphy Lake, Vassar, Deford, Cass City and Gagetown state game areas. The Sanilac, Minden City and Cass City state game areas in Sanilac County are likely spots to search for a big gobbler this spring. For more information on turkey numbers and hunting opportunities in the Thumb, contact the DNR field office in Cass City at (989) 872-5300.

THE NORTHEAST

“The reduction in deer feeding has really hurt turkey numbers in the northeast part of the state,” advised Gallagher. “Deer-proof feeders are helping.”

Biologists, wildlife managers and volunteers who run the winter feeding programs are adamant about the fact that the corn that is distributed feed turkeys and not deer. Placing the feed out in the open, close to buildings and houses, and feeding during daylight hours makes it more likely that turkeys will reap the benefits of the winter feeding programs.

In spite of the lower turkey populations in northeast Michigan, Gallagher said that turkey numbers remain high in Alcona, Oscoda and Alpena counties.

“Alcona County had it first fall hunt in years,” said Gallagher. “I would think that it would be a good bet to fill your tag this spring.”

There are plenty of public lands to chase turkeys on in Alcona County. Near half of the county is part of the Huron National Forest. Smaller tracts within the Oscoda State Forest offer additional opportunities. Hunters should find plenty of birds and few hunters in portions of the Alpena State Forest in Alpena County. Look at a map of Oscoda, and the entire map is almost green, which means most of it is within the Huron National Forest and open to public hunting. The area traditionally holds good numbers of spring gobblers.

For more information on turkey hunting opportunities in northeast Michigan, contact the DNR field office in Atlanta at (989) 785-4251.

AREA K OUTLOOK

“Turkey numbers in the 13-county area that makes up Area K have been on a steady decline since 1999,” stated MWTHA member Jim Maturen. “A combination of cold springs, bad winters, increased predation and possibly the West Nile virus has really cut into the number of birds.”

Maturen said that winter feeding programs not only help turkeys make it though the winter, but it helps wildlife managers accurately count turkeys. Birds traditionally cluster at the same locations each winter, and it’s easy to see changes within the population from year to year. Declines in turkey numbers in Area K are widespread. Fall hunting was not allowed in the area during 2004.

“The hardest-hit counties are along the northern portion of the area,” claimed Maturen. “Places like Kalkaska County have a lot less birds because of the last few relatively hard winters. The southernmost counties have the highest number of birds and should produce some of the better hunting opportunities this spring. Mecosta County should be one of the best.”

Wildlife biologist Penny Mechoir said that turkey abundance in Area K basically gets better the farther south you go.