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IDNR Report
Wild Turkeys
Indiana DNR is accepting applications for reserved spring turkey hunts from Feb. 14 through March 14.
Hunters can apply online at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt by clicking "Apply for a reserved hunt" and entering their Customer ID. The online method is the only way to apply. Late entries will not be accepted.
Applicants must possess a valid hunting license for the species they wish to hunt. A valid spring turkey hunting license and game bird habitat stamp privilege, a comprehensive lifetime hunting license, comprehensive lifetime hunting and fishing license, or a resident youth hunt/trap combo license is required to hunt or call in wild turkeys in the spring season. Non-hunting partners who plan to call in wild turkeys must be properly licensed.
The application process is consolidated into the online services website, on.IN.gov/INHuntFish, along with licenses, CheckIN Game, and HIP registration. You do not need to have an online account to apply, so there is no need to log in.
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MDNR Report
License applications for the 2022 Michigan spring turkey hunting season are available now through Feb. 1. Applications are $5 and can be purchased online at eLicense or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.
There are a limited number of licenses for public and private lands across most of the far southern Michigan border counties but there are 55,000 private land licenses in most of the southern counties. The general season runs from April 23 through May 31.
Find the season dates and regulations in the 2022 Spring Turkey Digest. For question about applying for a spring turkey license, call 517-284-WILD (9453).
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MDNR Report
The Michigan DNR is now accepting hunters’ applications for the fall turkey hunt and will continue to do so through Aug. 1.
The fall season runs from Sept. 15 through Nov. 14.
Applications can be purchased for $5 online at eLicense or anywhere DNR licenses are sold.Â
Review the season regulations and hunting details at Michigan.gov/Turkey or download an electronic copy of the Fall Turkey Digest to your phone and carry it with you wherever you go. See instructions at Michigan.gov/DNRDigests.
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IDNR Report
Volunteers can help DNR learn more about Indiana’s wild turkey populations by reporting turkey broods from July 1 through Aug. 31. The report form has been improved and updated to be more convenient for volunteers. Â
Each summer, wildlife biologists and volunteers from across Indiana conduct brood surveys, counting the number of turkey hens with or without broods to estimate how many young turkeys live through the summer. Summer brood survival is one of the primary factors influencing wild turkey population trends in various regions of the state and informs wild turkey management.
This year DNR aims to collect 3,000 reports across the state with a goal of at least 25 reports per county.
Individuals will have an easier time submitting sightings using the new form, which requires no password and can be found at https://bit.ly/3z2Vx5h. That link also includes instructions for the survey and an illustrative guide on how to report wild turkey broods and hens, as well as the results of the previous summers’ brood surveys.Â
For more information about wild turkey biology and management, see on.IN.gov/turkey.
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By Heath Wood
Wild Turkey
Nothing excites a turkey hunter more than the sound of a majestic gobble echoing through the air. For many, hearing this sound – or actively calling in order to get a tom to make it – is considered essential to success in the turkey-hunting game. No doubt, calling is a crucial part of most successful hunts, but the setup itself is what actually creates -- or robs – opportunities.
Over many years of experience – both successes and failures – I’ve learned the importance of being in the right place at the right time when setting up on gobbler. Think of it as a bubble or an imaginary circle. Inside that bubble, your chances of you being able to call a gobbler in and make the shot increase significantly. Outside of that bubble, he’s much more likely to hang up or hen up. Hunters often debate how big the circle is before a gobbler locks in and commits to coming to a call; some say 100 yards, while others believe the circle is smaller at around 50 yards. Either way, one must complete a proper setup to have a chance at entering this bubble of opportunity.
Setting Up on the Roost
One of the easiest ways to get inside a gobbler’s circle of influence is setting up on him while he’s still on the roost.
Some hunters scout and observe birds the night before the hunt to determine where they may be roosted in the morning. It’s often possible to actually observe roosted birds, leaving no question where they’ll be. Either situation results in knowing where a gobbler will be – either generally or specifically – so that the hunter can set up as close as possible. Getting close to a gobbler on the roost allows the hunter to not only determine where a gobbler may pitch down to in the morning, but also a gobbler's mindset and attitude before he does. Calling can then be optimized to suit his mood.