Posted: 4/12/05
Spring turkey season starts this week
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
This yearís turkey hunting season should be as good if not better than last yearís record harvest, according to Minnesota DNR conservation officer Scott Fritz.
Fritz, who lives in La Crescent, said farmers and DNR staffers are seeing a lot of birds.
ìTheyíre just beginning now to leave their wintering areas,î he said on April 1. ìThe toms are ready.î
The number of jakes (juvenile males) compared to the number of toms could be down this year though, Fritz said. Wet summers during the past two years have resulted in poor hatches, Fritz said. It was devastating to pullets because it reduced the population of grasshoppers, which are an important source of high energy for the young birds.
Fritz reminded hunters to avoid wearing red, white and blue. ìThose are the colors in a turkeyís head,î he said.
He also asked hunters to pattern their shotguns. ìYou owe it to the turkey to be the best shot,î Fritz said.
There has never been a hunting fatality in Minnesota among turkey hunters. Fritz said that education and experience are the main reasons. The average turkey hunter has 17 years of hunting experience, he said.
The odds of getting shot while hunting are about the same as the odds of getting hit by lightning, Fritz said.
But he cautioned against ìpremature closure.î Hunters are thinking about turkeys and hearing gobbling, Fritz explained, so when they see movement, the mind will tell them itís a turkey, even if itís not.
Eight turkey seasons
Turkey hunters are chosen on a lottery basis after applying in the fall. There are eight five-day seasons that run from this Wednesday to May 26. (The last two seasons have two extra days to encourage more people to apply for them.) The dates are April 13-17, April 18-22, April 23-27, April 28-May 2, May 3-7, May 8-12, May 13-19, and May 20-26.
Statewide, 31,864 permits have been issued. Most of Houston County is in zone 349; 450 permits have been issued for each of the seasons, compared to 360 per season last year.
Licenses are $18 plus $5 for a turkey stamp for hunters over age 18. Hunters have to buy a turkey stamp, something that is sometimes overlooked by hunters.
Wild turkeys are a true success story in Minnesota wildlife history. They were introduced into Minnesota in 1971 with 13 birds and in 1973 with birds, all from Missouri. The first year of hunting was was 1978.
Caledonia has the title of ìWild Turkey Capital of Minnesota.î There is a very active Houston County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). Annual dues are $45, which include a meal at the annual banquet held in March. Call president Larry Webinger, La Crescent, at 507-895-6581 for information, or talk to a local member.
Houston County is one of the top NWTF fundraisers in the nation, with more than $350,000 over the years. Another $200,000 has been raised for things like food plots.
Al Huesmann, Caledonia, was inducted into the Minnesota NWTF Hall of Fame last February. The award is given to volunteers who work to promote wild turkeys and turkey hunting.
Huesmann said on April 11 that it was nice to be recognized for his efforts. He admitted that he was dedicated to wild turkeys, but added with a laugh, ìI like to hunt them too.î
Huesmann led the effort to name Caledonia the wild turkey capital of Minnesota. ìItís put Caledonia on the map,î he said. The local NWTF chapter, which was formed 23 years ago, is one of the strongest in the nation, he believes.
Webinger agrees with that. ìSometimes the zeal dies off,î he said. ìBut not here. Thereís too much passion with turkey hunting in Houston County. Everybodyís passionate about turkey hunting.î
Getting a ticket to their annual banquet is about as easy as getting a ticket to a Green Bay Packer football game. Somebody has to die before a banquet ticket to become available to people on the waiting list, Webinger said.
More turkey talk
Webinger, who preceded Fritz as the local game warden, has a unique claim to fame. He shot a turkey during the first season of the first year of turkey hunting in 1978.
Webinger agreed that the jake population could be down. Heavy rainfall and cool weather can affect populations, he said.
This past winter was a mild one, Webinger noted. It brought a couple significant snowfalls, but they didnít stick around long enough to do damage. Turkeys are resilient, and with a good hatch, their numbers will likely rebound, Webinger said. ìSo the population should be healthy,î he said. ìWeíll see more adult birds harvested.î
Houston Countyís NWTF chapter had food plots planted which they purchased from landowners. They also distributed some shelled corn.
Long periods of subzero weather and deep snow can affect turkey numbers, Webinger said. When that happens, turkeys will sit in trees and consume their own fat until they can move.
This yearís opening week weather looks good, Webinger said. Some years have had snow.
Like Fritz, Webinger urged hunters to identify their targets. There are other people in the woods, like fishermen along streams, or mushroom hunters. Make sure what you see is a turkey with a beard, he said.
Caledonia Argus
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