By J.W. VanHouten

"Prospects for Michigan's 2004 spring turkey season look good and are expected to be similar to 2003," said Al Stewart, upland game-bird specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources when asked about the upcoming spring season. Gobblers are plentiful, and this spring should provide a great hunt for everyone who drew a permit.

Michigan's 2003 spring turkey season was another good one for turkey hunters. I even managed to connect on a jake during my first trip out. Unfortunately, he had a "diseased" leg and I couldn't make a meal out of him. But the season was a success for me, and judging from the results reported by the DNR, it was for many other Michigan hunters as well.

A survey of hunters was conducted following the 2003 spring season to determine turkey harvest and hunter participation. In 2003, an estimated 88,969 hunters killed 33,416 turkeys. Statewide, 39 percent of hunters bagged a turkey. The 2003 turkey harvest was 8 percent higher than the 2002 harvest and was the largest in Michigan's history. This clearly shows that the last few years have been excellent, and things only look like they are improving for this year and in the future.

Photo by D. Toby Thompson

The number of people hunting turkeys increased by 2 percent, and hunting effort increased by 3 percent between 2002 and 2003. The majority of hunters rated their hunting experience as excellent, very good or good. About 87 percent of the hunters reported no or only minor "interference" from other hunters.

In 2003, 78 percent of the state (44,540 square miles) was open for wild turkey hunting from April 21 to May 31, and the same amount of area should be open for turkey hunting this year. Hunting areas were divided into 33 management units, with hunting licenses available for three types of hunts on these management units. These included the following: licenses for quota hunts on a specific management unit; licenses for quota hunts on private lands in southern Michigan (Hunt 301); and licenses for an unlimited quota hunt that included all units (Hunt 234).

A limited number of licenses were available for quota hunts and they were valid only in certain management units and only during a limited time period (seven to 20 days). Most quota hunts began before May 5 and lasted for seven days.

A private land management (Unit ZZ) was created in 2003 that included private land only in southern Michigan. Hunters who selected Hunt 301 could hunt the first two weeks (April 21 to May 4) anywhere on private lands in Unit ZZ. This unit and hunt period was created to provide additional hunting opportunities and increased flexibility for hunters who had difficulty finding time to hunt during shorter quota hunts. In 2003, approximately 24,000 hunters purchased a license for the ZZ hunt (Hunt 301). This year, hunters should consider taking advantage of this new unit that will again be offered in 2004. It provides a great opportunity for increased hunting time.

Michigan's turkey season looks like it's going to be another one for the record books. Updated historical harvest information from the DNR indicates that the number of applicants, number of hunters, number of turkeys killed and success rates have all increased since 1969. Wild turkeys in Michigan have expanded steadily and the state has attempted to monitor this growth through a number of survey techniques. Hunters should continue to assist the state by cooperating with mail surveys they may receive in the future to further assist them in managing our turkey resources.

Stewart said the 2003 turkey season was another banner year, which means it broke the previous year's record harvest. He also said the top counties in Michigan should again include Antrim, Iosco, Montcalm, Ionia, Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Cass in the Lower Peninsula, and Dickinson, Menominee and Delta in the Upper Peninsula as far as population densities go. Southern Michigan had the best nesting success in 2003 and will undoubtedly have the best population of birds this year because of good survival rates throughout the year.

Hunters harvested roughly the same percentage of turkeys in the last few years, and by all accounts will do so again this year. Again this was due to a greater number of hunters, a larger turkey population and plenty of acreage open to hunting. Predictions have been very accurate during the last few years, and the state has worked very hard to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information for hunters. Last year the prediction was for another record year. It appears we're headed there again in 2004.

Last year's "new" Private Land Limited Quota Hunt Unit (ZZ) was very successful and will again be used this year. Units open for this hunt were limited to Unit M and Unit O in the U.P. and new Unit ZZ, which encompasses a large portion of the L.P. This will be a very popular choice again this year. It is suggested that, if possible, you try for this very beneficial hunt.

Forecasts from state regional field staff indicate that 2004 will again be a successful one for Michigan hunters. The Upper Peninsula's four hunting units - MA, M, O and N - will again be good areas to try. Northern flocks depend on supplemental feeding from organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation or Michigan Wild Turkey Hunters Association, and as in past years, fall hunting may affect this spring's flock. Most of the northwest corner of our state supports a good population of birds, but this year, Area J appears to have a lower population because there are local reports of significant reductions in numbers and sizes of flocks.