Additional information is available from the South Central Management Unit at (517) 641-4903.

Upper Peninsula
"Turkeys have done better in the U.P. than anyone ever expected," wildlife biologist Craig Albert said.

"We even have sportsmen who tell us there's too many turkeys because they want to spend the money on something else now. The reason turkeys have done so well is because people have taken them under their wing, so to speak."

Winter feeding programs from a number of private sources have allowed turkey numbers to skyrocket. According to Albert, 13,000 birds are available in the general area of Menominee, Dickinson, Iron and Delta counties.

The NWTF and the various county Wildlife Unlimited chapters have banded together to donate thousands of dollars to buy corn to feed the birds through the U.P.'s severe winters. Without supplemental feeding, the turkeys probably wouldn't survive. The only role the Division of Wildlife plays is to refer landowners who would like to participate in the feeding program to the right organizations.

According to Albert, the turkeys will gravitate onto the private lands where the supplemental feeding is going on during the winter. Once spring arrives, the birds are off and running and spread out into the public forest and corporate lands in these counties where public hunting is allowed.

For more information, contact the Western U.P. Management Unit at (906) 786-2351.

* * *

A new development this season is a second chance for hunters not drawn during the initial application process. Hunters may purchase a leftover tag over the counter. Check the MDNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr for details as well as downloadable area maps.

To reach Knight & Hale, visit their Web site at www.knightandhale.com. Contact In-Sight Hunting Products at (814) 453-3024. Contact the National Wild Turkey Federation's Turkey Shop at (800) 843-6983.

Information on where to stay is available at www.travel.michigan.org or by calling (888) 784-7328.