3/26/2007

SPRING TURKEY HUNTING SHOULD BE GOOD IN NORTHEAST WYOMING

CASPER – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department predicts a successful year for spring turkey hunters in northeast Wyoming. Spring turkey season opens April 1 in the Cheyenne River Unit (Area 11), and April 14 in the Black Hills (Area 1). Seasons in both hunt areas run through May 15.

“Turkey numbers are robust this year, and hunters should see about the same number of toms as last year,” said Newcastle Wildlife Biologist Joe Sandrini.

In 2006, spring turkey hunters enjoyed a success rate of 60 percent, with 3,177 hunters reporting a harvest of 1,913 toms and six bearded hens, requiring an average of 4.8 days to kill a bird. Sandrini predicted about the same results for this year’s spring hunt.

While hunting success is expected to be good, hunters in the Black Hills, which includes Wyoming’s best public turkey hunting access, should see fewer 2-year-old males this season. “There just aren’t quite as many long-beards this year, but there will be more jakes,” Sandrini said.

Conversely, hunters in the creek-bottom populations of Area 11 should expect an ample supply of 2-year-old toms. Sandrini reports the number of spring turkey hunters in northeast Wyoming has seen a slight but steady increase in the past few years. There were about 1,700 turkey hunters in 2004-05 and about 1,900 last year.

“We expect around 2,000 or so this spring,” he said.

Turkey hunters should also note a four-year gobbler mortality study is planned to begin in the Black Hills in 2008. The first two years of the study will examine gobbler mortality under the current hunting season, with a bag limit of one bird. Spring turkey hunters could then see that bag limit increased to two toms beginning in 2010, as changes in gobbler mortality are followed for two more years. Input from hunters will be critical to the study.

“We’ll be seeking better harvest data, and it is real important for turkey hunters to fill out harvest survey questionnaires and participate in hunter attitude surveys over the next five years to help with this study,” Sandrini commented.

(contact: Robin Kepple (307) 473-3400)

-WGFD-