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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2007 10:21:57 GMT -5
2007 spring wild turkey harvest reportMore than 52,000 hunters pursued a turkey in Indiana this spring Indiana wildlife biologist Steve Backs has tabulated check station reports from this spring's wild turkey hunting season and found hunters harvested 11,163 wild turkeys from 86 of the 91 counties open to hunting. The 2007 harvest was the second highest harvest in 38 years. The 2007 total was slightly more than the 2005 harvest, but 15 percent less than the record 13,193 birds harvested during 2006. Counties with the highest wild turkey harvests ----------------------------------------------- -Switzerland, 467 -Harrison, 402 -Jefferson, 399 -Dearborn, 391 -Greene, 354 -Perry, 349 -Parke, 333 -Clark, 309 -Pike, 306 A total of 736 birds was taken during the new special youth weekend prior to the regular season (6.6 percent of the statewide harvest). Backs speculates that reasons for the slight drop in harvest numbers this spring were low turkey reproduction in 2005 and abnormal spring weather temperature extremes prior to the 2007 season. More 2007 state and county turkey harvest data: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/hunt/turkey/turkeydata.htm
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2007 13:24:50 GMT -5
2007 Spring Wild Turkey Harvest - Check Station Results
Abstract: Hunters harvested 11,163 wild turkeys in 86 of the 91 counties open to hunting. The 2007 harvest was the second highest harvest in 38 years slightly exceeding the 2005 harvest, but a 15% decrease compared to record 13,193 birds harvested in 2006. Estimated hunter success was around 21%. The majority of the birds were harvested in the earlier part of the season and the early morning hours. A total of 736 birds was taken during the new special youth weekend prior to the regular season (6.6% of the total statewide harvest). Juvenile and adult weights were similar to the mean weights of previous years. The proportion of juvenile turkeys in the harvest was 22% with 42% 2-yr-olds, and 26% ¡Ý 3 yr-olds. `
The 38th wild turkey hunt was held 25 April to 13 May 2007 with harvest data collected at 338 check stations throughout the turkey range. Hunters harvested 11,163 wild turkeys in 86 of the 91 counties open to hunting during the 19-day season. The 2007 harvest was the second highest harvest in 38 years slightly exceeding the 2005 harvest, but a 15% decrease compared to record 13,193 birds harvested in 2006. Counties with high kills (>300 birds harvested) were Switzerland (467), Harrison (402), Jefferson (399), Dearborn (391), Greene (354), Perry (349), Parke (333), Clark (309), and Pike (306). Approximately 53% of the regular season¡¯s harvest occurred during the first 5 days with 31% occurring on weekends. A total of 736 birds was taken during the new special youth weekend (4/21 & 4/22) prior to the regular season (6.6% of the total statewide harvest). Approximately 70% of the harvest occurred by 1000 hrs and 78% by noon with 16% occurring after 1500 hrs (3 pm) to sunset. Unlicensed landowners/active military personnel accounted for 9% of the harvest.
Based on spur measurements taken at check stations, juvenile gobblers (1 yr old birds commonly referred to as "jakes") made up 22% of the 2007 harvest; 2 yr olds (42%); 3 yr olds (26%).
Juvenile and adult mean weights were similar to previous years. The proportion of 2-yr-old birds in the harvest was down from previous years, especially from the record high proportion(67%) in 2006.
Reasons for the decreased harvest (-15%) appeared to be a combination of record low production in 2005 and the abnormal extremes in the spring weather temps that occurred prior to the season that seem to interrupt the normal breeding chronology.
The -15% decrease in 2007 harvest follows a 18% increase with the record 2006 harvest and reflects wide range of production success in 2004 (record high) and 2005 (record low) followed by relatively low production success in 2006.
The number of hunters afield was estimated at around 52,660 with an estimated hunter success of 21%. A more accurate estimation of the hunter success and hunter effort during the 2007 spring season will be determined after the results of the turkey hunter questionnaire survey is completed later this summer.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2007 13:25:59 GMT -5
PS..
I have county by county results if you want to know how your county did.
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Post by huxbux on Jul 11, 2007 17:57:33 GMT -5
I checked out the harvest by county. It proves out what everyone was reporting this season. Some said they were seeing and hearing as many or more birds and some said less. The county I hunt was WAY down, as I suspected.
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Post by indybrad on Jul 11, 2007 19:56:01 GMT -5
How did Monroe Co. do Woody? Thanks
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 11, 2007 20:14:37 GMT -5
How did Monroe Co. do Woody? Thanks Monroe county had a big drop. 2006 - 298 2007 - 197 That is minus 101 birds for a 34% drop. |
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Post by bbarth on Jul 11, 2007 20:30:29 GMT -5
What about Owen Co.?
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Post by huxbux on Jul 11, 2007 20:34:53 GMT -5
2006- 313 2007- 246 21% drop in harvest All the data is in the link Woody posted. |
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Post by larryhagmansliver on Jul 12, 2007 8:13:20 GMT -5
I guess it's not time to panic and ask for separate northern/southern seasons just yet.  |
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Post by indybrad on Jul 14, 2007 1:30:13 GMT -5
No wonder I didn't hear as many shots. I've seen a lot more polts this year on my property than I ever have before. Hope they survive the winter. Thanks again for the stats Woody.
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Post by firelt72 on Jul 14, 2007 9:24:10 GMT -5
With the way things went anyone who took a bird had a special hunt this season. I really think 90% of the problems was weather related. Any other opinions???
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Post by cambygsp on Jul 15, 2007 6:24:48 GMT -5
Brown County was down 100 birds too!
We hunted at least 5 times in Brown and never heard a bird. Yesterday we go to the Conservation Club for some fishing and ATV riding. As we go in, we see two adult turkey and a half a dozen poults 10 yards from our clubhouse! The little ones were almost the size of full grown mallard ducks.
Do both the mom and dad turkey help raise the little ones?
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Post by firelt72 on Jul 16, 2007 13:13:05 GMT -5
I don't think so, but if I remeber right they pull back into larger groups and that is why you saw the Tom and Hen with the poults. If I am wrong someone let me know. I am learning always too!
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Post by larryhagmansliver on Jul 16, 2007 15:54:45 GMT -5
I don't think the Tom has anything to do with raising the young. I'm not sure about the group thing. I do see both together in the fall.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 16, 2007 16:06:02 GMT -5
With the way things went anyone who took a bird had a special hunt this season. I really think 90% of the problems was weather related. Any other opinions??? Steve Backs (Indiana turkey biologist) speculates that reasons for the slight drop in harvest numbers this spring were low turkey reproduction in 2005 and abnormal spring weather temperature extremes prior to the 2007 season. I asked Steve if he was surprised by the numbers and he said….. "Not really, but probably better than many folks expected after the exceptional 2006 season. Based on the reports I have received, it would appear that most if not all of the nearby/surrounding states were down 10-15% as well. Unless we see a big jump in production success this summer, I believe things will be a little tough next year as well since the 2006 production was not better than 2005." |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jul 16, 2007 16:07:47 GMT -5
I don't think the Tom has anything to do with raising the young. I'm not sure about the group thing. I do see both together in the fall. Quite right. It is possible that there were two hens that had only a few poults together. |
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Post by cambygsp on Jul 16, 2007 16:23:54 GMT -5
I don't think the Tom has anything to do with raising the young. I'm not sure about the group thing. I do see both together in the fall. Quite right. It is possible that there were two hens that had only a few poults together. Thats possible, the big birds took off before we could get close enough to determine what they were. But the little ones hung around for quite some time. My son said.....I bet those little ones are tender!.....lol They looked to be pecking on an old log we have sitting over there....I was thinking they were getting the bugs off it. |
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Post by firelt72 on Jul 17, 2007 17:52:11 GMT -5
When do they start pulling back into their large flocks? Just courios, I know they do, but don't know the time frame. Thanks!
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