Post by Woody Williams on Jul 21, 2005 16:15:33 GMT -5
2005 Spring Wild Turkey Harvest – Check Station Results
Abstract: Hunters harvested 11,159 wild turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting compared to 10,765 birds harvested in 2004. The 2005 harvest was a new high and a 4% increase over 2004. The majority of the birds were harvested in the earlier part of the season and the morning hours. Juvenile weights were down from previous years. The proportion of juveniles in the harvest (33%) was higher than the mean of the previous 10 years.
Work Plan: # 200290 Federal Aid Study/Job No.: W-26-R-37; Job 16-G-5.
The 36th wild turkey hunt was held 27 April to 15 May 2005 with harvest data collected at 316 check stations throughout the turkey range. Hunters harvested 11,159 wild turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting during the 19-day season. The 2005 harvest was a new high and a 4% increase over the 10,765-bird harvest of 2004. Counties with high kills (300 birds+ harvested) were Switzerland (478), Perry (445), Jefferson (415), Harrison (406), Parke (376), Orange (373), Dearborn (368), Warrick (356), Greene (352), Franklin (347), and Crawford (329) (Table 1). Approximately 57% of the kill occurred during the first 5 days of the season with 37% occurring on weekends (Figure 1). Approximately 70% of the kill occurred by 1000 hrs and 79% by noon with 14% occurring after 1500 hrs (3 pm) to sunset (Figure 2). Unlicensed landowners/active military personnel and nonresident hunters respectively accounted for 8% and <3% of the harvest.]
Based on spur measurements taken at check stations, juvenile gobblers (1 yr-old birds commonly referred to as "jakes") made up 33% of the 2005 harvest; 2 yr-olds (44%); 3 yr-olds (23%) (Table 2; Figure 3). The average weights of jakes were down from previous years and below 15 lbs for the first time since 1988. The overall proportion of jakes (33%) in the harvest was higher than the mean of the previous 10 years but the majority of hunters still harvested adult gobblers (67%).
Reasons for the 4% harvest increase are speculative but probably reflect the high production of 2004 summer brood season, the continued increases in both the turkey population and turkey hunter numbers. The number of hunters and their success rate were estimated at 49,684 hunters afield with an estimated hunter success of 22% (Table 3). Spring harvests of wild turkeys continue to grow but the annual rate of growth has shown signs of leveling-off since 2001 (Figure 4).
Special thanks goes to Roger Hunter, Mitchell office, who put together the check station materials and to Clare Moser and Becky Wilson, Bloomington office, who handled the check station returns and data entry. Acknowledgment also goes to the 316 volunteer check station operators for their efforts and cooperation in collecting the harvest data.
BY COUNTY..
img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Woowoo1/2005TurkyHarvestCounties1.jpg
img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Woowoo1/2005TurkeyHarvestCounties2.jpg
Abstract: Hunters harvested 11,159 wild turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting compared to 10,765 birds harvested in 2004. The 2005 harvest was a new high and a 4% increase over 2004. The majority of the birds were harvested in the earlier part of the season and the morning hours. Juvenile weights were down from previous years. The proportion of juveniles in the harvest (33%) was higher than the mean of the previous 10 years.
Work Plan: # 200290 Federal Aid Study/Job No.: W-26-R-37; Job 16-G-5.
The 36th wild turkey hunt was held 27 April to 15 May 2005 with harvest data collected at 316 check stations throughout the turkey range. Hunters harvested 11,159 wild turkeys in 82 of the 88 counties open to hunting during the 19-day season. The 2005 harvest was a new high and a 4% increase over the 10,765-bird harvest of 2004. Counties with high kills (300 birds+ harvested) were Switzerland (478), Perry (445), Jefferson (415), Harrison (406), Parke (376), Orange (373), Dearborn (368), Warrick (356), Greene (352), Franklin (347), and Crawford (329) (Table 1). Approximately 57% of the kill occurred during the first 5 days of the season with 37% occurring on weekends (Figure 1). Approximately 70% of the kill occurred by 1000 hrs and 79% by noon with 14% occurring after 1500 hrs (3 pm) to sunset (Figure 2). Unlicensed landowners/active military personnel and nonresident hunters respectively accounted for 8% and <3% of the harvest.]
Based on spur measurements taken at check stations, juvenile gobblers (1 yr-old birds commonly referred to as "jakes") made up 33% of the 2005 harvest; 2 yr-olds (44%); 3 yr-olds (23%) (Table 2; Figure 3). The average weights of jakes were down from previous years and below 15 lbs for the first time since 1988. The overall proportion of jakes (33%) in the harvest was higher than the mean of the previous 10 years but the majority of hunters still harvested adult gobblers (67%).
Reasons for the 4% harvest increase are speculative but probably reflect the high production of 2004 summer brood season, the continued increases in both the turkey population and turkey hunter numbers. The number of hunters and their success rate were estimated at 49,684 hunters afield with an estimated hunter success of 22% (Table 3). Spring harvests of wild turkeys continue to grow but the annual rate of growth has shown signs of leveling-off since 2001 (Figure 4).
Special thanks goes to Roger Hunter, Mitchell office, who put together the check station materials and to Clare Moser and Becky Wilson, Bloomington office, who handled the check station returns and data entry. Acknowledgment also goes to the 316 volunteer check station operators for their efforts and cooperation in collecting the harvest data.
BY COUNTY..
img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Woowoo1/2005TurkyHarvestCounties1.jpg
img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/Woowoo1/2005TurkeyHarvestCounties2.jpg