Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Contact: Michelle Dennehy (503) 947-6022 / [email protected] Internet: Fax: (503) 947-6009
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Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Contact: Michelle Dennehy (503) 947-6022 / [email protected] Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us Fax: (503) 947-6009 April 9, 2015 Go spring turkey hunting April 15 - May 31 Youth-only season this weekend (April 11 - 12) Last year’s spring harvest of 4,229 turkeys was the up 9 percent from the previous year and the highest since 2010. This spring turkey hunting season could be even better. “With the mild winter, more turkeys survived the season, particularly in areas of eastern Oregon where winter weather can be a limiting factor,” says David Budeau, ODFW upland bird coordinator. Mikal Moore, Pacific Northwest regional biologists with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), agrees. “Expanding turkey populations coupled with favorable over-wintering conditions should make for a very exciting wild turkey season this spring,” she said. All you need to spring turkey hunt is camo, a call, and a shotgun. A hen or jake decoy can also improve your odds. You can hunt for six weeks (April 15-May 31) anywhere in the state, and buy up to three turkey tags in some areas. There is no deadline to purchase a tag, just get one before you go hunting. The sight and sound of a turkey’s mating display is enough to quicken the pulse of even the most experienced hunter—and makes calling in a spring tom as exciting as calling in a bull elk. The fairer sex in the turkey world, toms use their iridescent red, green, copper, bronze and gold feathers to their advantage when trying to attract a mate—fanning their tails and strutting out in the open to show off. Adding to the spectacle, their brightly colored heads can alternate between red, white and blue, often changing color in just a few seconds. Youth-only weekend April 11-12 Budeau encourages kids to hunt the youth-only season this weekend (April 11-12), noting last year’s success rates. “There is a high level of harvest of turkeys from kids in general, and many of those were taken during the youth-only season last year,” he said. (Youth tag holders took 781 turkeys, 290 of those on the youth-only weekend.) This weekend’s hunt is reserved for kids age 17 and under who are hunter education certified. Kids who hunt must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. See the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for details. Where are the turkeys? Turkey hunting opportunities have drastically expanded in the last 20 years, as these maps from 1993 and 2013 show. (Wildlife biologists looked at the overall harvest and individual hunter success to judge each of Oregon’s wildlife management units as good, fair or difficult.) Southwest Oregon continues to be the leading place to find turkeys. But last year was the first time that Melrose Unit didn’t take first place in turkey harvest—that honor went to Rogue Unit (by just 7 turkeys) instead. This was partly due to a decline in hunting pressure in Melrose, which may be related to lack of public lands in the unit (just 16 percent of Melrose is public land and some private land is tied up by leases). ODFW is working to increase accessible turkeys throughout Oregon. Last year it transplanted 45 Douglas County nuisance turkeys to public lands within the county. Another 80 birds went to public land in eastern Oregon. Those who want to hunt southwest Oregon may have an easier time accessing land in Rogue, which is 57 percent public lands, or another leading unit like Applegate or Evans Creek. While a lot of turkey harvest in the Rogue is on private land, there is good turkey habitat in the Jackson Cooperative Travel Management Area and some USFS land. See the Jackson County report below for more information. The White River Unit continues to lead in hunting pressure and came third in overall harvest level. Biologists advise scouting in advance, hunting on a weekday or waiting until later in the season for the best experience in White River Unit. Don’t forget about northeast Oregon. Almost half (47%) of the turkeys harvested during the spring 2014 season were harvested east of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Mt. Emily, Sled Springs, Ukiah, Heppner, Northside, consistently rank high in terms of total harvest and individual hunter success rates are generally better in the northeast part of the state. Many northeast Oregon birds are found on public lands, particularly National Forests. In most years, birds can take advantage of open southern exposures at higher elevations before the hunters can get to them, but this year snow may not limit access to these areas. Finally, if you have access to private land, hunting can be excellent in northwest Oregon. Visit ODFW’s oregonhuntingmap and click on Game Bird Range Maps/Turkey to get a sense of where to find turkeys in Oregon. ODFW’s turkey hunting page also provides a map showing turkey distribution throughout the state. The Game Bird Harvest Statistics page shows the level of effort and harvest in each wildlife management unit. Though the mild winter has led to better conditions this year, hunters should check road conditions and access before heading out, especially early in the season. Even without snow, some roads may be too wet and muddy to travel. Tags and regulations Spring turkey hunting is general season, meaning anyone can purchase a tag any time before going hunting. Turkey tags are $22.50 for residents, $10.50 for youth hunters (age 17 and under). Hunting licenses are $29.50 for residents or $14.50 for hunters age 9-17. The daily bag limit is one male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard (hens with beards may be lawfully taken). The season limit is two legal turkeys; hunters must purchase a tag for each turkey. Hunters can get a third bonus tag to take an additional turkey in most of western Oregon (see page 15 of the Oregon Game Bird Regulations for Details). Finally, don’t forget to report results for each tag you purchased no later than Jan. 31, 2016. Report online or by phone (1-866-947-6339), even if you didn’t take a turkey or didn’t go hunting. Hunters need to know their hunter/angler ID number, hunting location (wildlife management unit), and days spent hunting to complete the report. Spring turkey hunters that do report by Jan. 31, 2016 are entered into a contest to draw a special 2016 big game tag of their choice (deer, elk or pronghorn). Turkey hunting: Tips, equipment, and safety While turkeys are notoriously difficult to sneak up on due to their excellent eyesight, the urge to mate makes wary toms (males) a little less cautious when they hear the call of a hen in the spring. In general, turkeys will be moving higher in elevation in the spring, following the snow line. They do not favor areas with a lot of underbrush for mating displays, so look for openings in the forest (meadows, old roads, power line clearings, etc.). Don’t forget to visit recent burns or clear cuts when doing your pre-season scouting. Wild turkeys will vocalize most in the morning and evening, so go early and stay late to figure out where the birds are spending their time. Mikal Moore, with the National Wild Turkey Federation, recommends getting out early this year. “The very mild winter will mean an early start to the mating season with favorable nesting conditions by the start of the hunting season,” she said. “For the turkey hunter, this translates to getting out in the field earlier in the season and working the high elevations where turkeys migrate after snow melt. With hens on the nest, lonely toms will be susceptible to hunters and should respond well to hen calls.” Moore cautions that toms will become harder to hunt and less vocal later in the season as the mating season falls off the peak. She recommends a realistic jake or hen decoy which will draw the bird’s attention away from you and put him right where you want him. The National Wild Turkey Federation’s website collects their best tips and tactics, or check out ODFW’s turkey hunting brochure (PDF). Highlights: Scout the area where you want to hunt first. Look for turkey sign like tracks and droppings. Once you know where to hunt, set up to call. Stay at least 100 to 150 yards from roosting turkeys; getting closer could spook them away. Don’t set up to call in cover or thick brush—turkeys tend to avoid these. If possible, set up with a tree or rock wider than your shoulders and taller than your head at your back, to protect yourself from a shot by a careless hunter. Be motionless while calling. Remember turkeys have a great vision. Experience will teach you how to call. Sometimes loud, aggressive calling works; other times soft, infrequent calls are best. Call your bird within 25 yards before taking a shot; aim for the base of the head when shooting. (Turkeys are very large birds and can be tough to bring down, so don’t shoot from too far away.) Immediately tag your bird and don’t delay in dressing it either. For safety, place your bird in a sack or cover with hunter orange when leaving the woods. Equipment needs: You need a shotgun no larger than 10 gauge or smaller than 20 gauge, camouflage clothing (because turkeys have excellent eyesight) and a turkey call to get started.