bigasports
Well-Known Member
Copy and pasted from the Tennessean.com
The current statewide spring turkey harvest is approaching a record number with the season open until Monday.
At this point 35,551 birds have been shot, which is just 326 shy of the record harvest of 35,877 in 2006, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The robust harvest has not surprised some who eagerly awaited the fertile hatch that took place two years ago.
"In the spring of 2008 all the stars lined up and the hen turkeys had good weather for a very successful hatch and brooding," said Charles Tollett, regional director of the National Wild Turkey Federation. "Then in 2009 we saw a lot of jake turkeys (juvenile males) those mother hens successfully raised.
"We knew if those jakes could survive the winter we should see a great turkey harvest this spring."
The record likely would have already been broken if not for the recent flooding in Middle Tennessee.
The most birds have been taken in Maury County (976). Next are Montgomery (927), Henry (845), Greene (836), Dickson (818), Sumner (793), Giles (767), Rutherford (737), Hawkins (710) and Marshall (679).
The current harvest is an increase of 3,470 (10.8 percent) over last year's 32,081.
The current statewide spring turkey harvest is approaching a record number with the season open until Monday.
At this point 35,551 birds have been shot, which is just 326 shy of the record harvest of 35,877 in 2006, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The robust harvest has not surprised some who eagerly awaited the fertile hatch that took place two years ago.
"In the spring of 2008 all the stars lined up and the hen turkeys had good weather for a very successful hatch and brooding," said Charles Tollett, regional director of the National Wild Turkey Federation. "Then in 2009 we saw a lot of jake turkeys (juvenile males) those mother hens successfully raised.
"We knew if those jakes could survive the winter we should see a great turkey harvest this spring."
The record likely would have already been broken if not for the recent flooding in Middle Tennessee.
The most birds have been taken in Maury County (976). Next are Montgomery (927), Henry (845), Greene (836), Dickson (818), Sumner (793), Giles (767), Rutherford (737), Hawkins (710) and Marshall (679).
The current harvest is an increase of 3,470 (10.8 percent) over last year's 32,081.
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