![]() Also, they can call the Hawaii Island Division of Fish and Wildlife office at (808) 974-4221 for special information and updated maps. Quick tip: Hunters might want to consider using a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Potential spring 2022 hotspots: In 2021, data from the Hawai’i’s public hunting areas, Mauna Kea and Pu’u Wa’awa’a, indicated a reversal in previously diminishing hunter success. Overall outlook: The Big Island has a good turkey population and remains a popular March destination for traveling hunters. Season dates and bag limits available here. ![]() Quick tip: Rushton adds that hunters should double-check regulations to ensure they’re up to speed about new season dates and bag limits. ![]() The mountains, however, experienced low production in 2020, which might translate into fewer birds. Potential spring 2022 hotspots: Rushton says that the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain regions in central Georgia did not experience a production decrease two years ago, so hunters in those regions might see more turkeys this spring. Harvest may look different this spring as well since significant changes to statewide turkey regulations will take effect for the 2022 season.” “Statewide poult production was slightly below average, and harvest generally tracks poult production from two years prior, as these poults are entering the adult population. Overall outlook: “The outlook for the spring 2022 turkey population will be fair, based on poult production estimates from 2020,” says Emily Rushton, state wild turkey biologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Lightweight clothing, waterproof boots, and insect repellent are recommended.” “When hunting spring turkeys in Florida, expect it to be warm and wet. Quick tip: “Be patient, as birds in Florida may not gobble as much as what hunters in other regions are used to,” says Welch. “This new map, combined with the habitat suitability model, enables wild turkey hunters to drill down to an area smaller than two basketball courts to get a better understanding of the likelihood of wild turkeys occurring in a particular area,” he said. Potential spring 2022 hotspots: Welch says hunters can learn more about turkey abundance, distribution, and the quality of habitat throughout the state by using the FWC’s new map, which shows the predicted quality of habitat based on the location, amount, and arrangement of habitat turkeys need throughout their home range and life cycle. Overall outlook: Buddy Welch, wild turkey management program coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Hunting and Game Management, expects the spring 2022 season to be similar to the spring 2021 hunt. You cannot hunt state forests and state wildlife areas in the same season. Quick tip: Hunters must obtain a permit to hunt turkeys on public lands. Potential spring 2022 hotspots: Western Kent and northwestern Sussex counties typically provide the best opportunities to harvest a bird. The average harvest from 2016 to 2020 was about 650 birds. Overall outlook: Delaware’s annual turkey productivity surveys indicated fair to poor production in 2020. Spring 2021 harvest: Not available 643 in 2020 Reproduction improved in 2020 and again in 2021, which should result in improved populations in subsequent springs.” As such, I anticipate harvest to be down slightly in this region during the 2021 season. The Delta ecoregion saw substantial summertime flooding during late spring and early summer in recent years. “I anticipate this area to see increasing trends in harvest during the spring 20 seasons. Potential spring 2022 hotspots: “The Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregion in southwestern and south-central Arkansas has seen the highest reproductive estimates in the state over the past several years,” says Wood. Reproductive indices in 20 were the highest since 20, and anecdotal reports this past spring and summer indicate good numbers of juvenile males, which should translate into more gobblers for spring 2022. The 2021 spring harvest was down significantly, likely because of an increase in pressure and harvest in 2020-attributed to COVID-and because Arkansas experienced four of the five lowest recorded years of reproductive success from 2015 through 2019. Overall outlook: Jeremy Wood, turkey program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, says hunters should see some improvement for the spring 2022 season.
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