Turkey hunting season opens March 22; harvest expected to be lower than usual

Turkey hunters across the state are dusting off their calls in preparation for another exciting turkey season. Opening day is Saturday, March 22, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) anticipates another enjoyable season.

According to WRD Wild Turkey Project Coordinator Chris Baumann, Georgia's current turkey population is estimated at 300,000 birds.

While the 2008 season should be respectable, the harvest levels are expected to decrease in comparison with past years' harvests. A variety of factors affecting the wild turkey population and wild turkey habitat account for this, including consistently low reproduction for the past few years, recent statewide extreme weather conditions, and considerable habitat loss and habitat alteration in many areas of the state.

"Overall, the state's turkey population is good but in need of a few years of better reproduction and more of an emphasis on good brooding and nesting habitat across the landscape," explains Baumann.

"While success rates remain variable from season to season, one major contributing factor continues to be the weather. As we continue to see relief from the extreme drought, hopefully reproduction will rebound and the future will remain bright for this important game bird."

Statistics from the 2007 season harvest summary indicate that an estimated 48,459 resident Georgia hunters bagged some 23,655 turkeys last year. The bird to hunter ratio for 2007 - .49 birds per hunter - was down by 22 percent from 2006.

Georgia turkey hunters, privileged with one of the longest turkey seasons nationwide, have nearly two months to bag themselves a bird or two, or maybe even three. With a bag limit of three gobblers per season, hunters have from March 22 through May 15 to harvest their birds.

Because most hunters pursue wild turkeys on private lands, WRD reminds hunters to always obtain landowner permission before hunting.

WMA Hunting Opportunities

Georgia's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) offer excellent turkey hunting opportunities. Through the WMA system, resident hunters have access to nearly one million acres of prime hunting land for just $19 per year.

According to Baumann, harvest success rates from 2007 indicate which WMAs hunters should target this year. In northwest Georgia - the Ridge and Valley region of the state - Pine Log WMA and Berry College WMA reported the highest harvest rates. In northeast Georgia - the Blue Ridge Mountains region of the state - Warwoman WMA and Swallow Creek WMA had the highest success rates in 2007. Hunters in west central Georgia - the Piedmont region of the state - should try Blanton Creek WMA and Rum Creek WMA during the season. For those in east central Georgia - the upper coastal plain region - should visit Di-Lane Plantation WMA and Yuchi WMA. In southeast Georgia - the state's lower coastal plain region - hunters should visit the two WMAs that reported the highest success rates last year - Dixon Memorial WMA and Griffin Ridge WMA.

A special WMA license is required for any person 16 years or older who does not possess a valid honorary, sportsman or lifetime license when hunting wild turkey on a WMA, Public Fishing Area or State Park. In addition, both a valid hunting license and a big game license are required to legally hunt wild turkey. Wild turkey legally can be hunted with shotguns, loaded with No. 2 or smaller shot, any muzzleloading firearm, longbow, crossbow or compound bow.

Conservation of

the Wild Turkey in Georgia

The comeback of the wild turkey is one of Georgia's great conservation success stories. Although the bird population currently hovers around 300,000 statewide, as recently as 1973, the wild turkey population was as low as 17,000. Intensive restoration efforts, such as the restocking of wild birds and increased emphasis on biologically sound hunting seasons, have helped re-establish turkeys in suitable habitat in every county. This resurgence is due to the efforts of private landowners, hunters and conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The Georgia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has donated more than $3 million since 1985, and over $290,000 during the past year, on projects that benefit wild turkey and other wildlife. The NWTF works cooperatively in partnership with WRD and other land management agencies to put such projects on the ground. There currently exist 112 state chapters of the NWTF with membership totals more than 18,000.

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