03-23-2003, 06:40 PM
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][#003366]Wild Turkey Management[/#003366][/font]
[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black] [center][#004080][size 3] Apply Now[/size][/#004080][/center] [left]The application period for the 2003 spring hunting season is January 1 - February 1, 2003.[/left] [left]You may [url "http://www.mdnr-elicense.com/welcome.asp"][#0000ff]apply on-line[/#0000ff][/url].[/left] [left] [/left] [left]For more information about wild turkeys in Michigan, visit the Department of Natural Resources' [url "http://mi.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12202-52511--,00.html"][#0000ff]Wild Turkey page[/#0000ff][/url].[/left] [left] [/left] [left]For information about hunting wild turkeys in Michigan, visit the DNR's on-line [url "http://mi.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363---,00.html"][#0000ff]Hunting Information[/#0000ff][/url].[/left]
The wild turkey is one of the largest birds in North America. An adult male can grow up to 4 feet long from his beak to his tail. Wild turkeys live in open fields and woods and nest on the ground. They prefer to eat insects, grasses, nuts, and berries.
Wild turkeys are found in many areas across the U.S. and part of Ontario, including most counties in Michigan. However, this is following a major re-introduction effort that was finally successful after four failed attempts. This species had completely disappeared from Michigan by 1900, probably due to loss of habitat, and unregulated hunting.
As year-round residents of Michigan, wild turkeys move from grasslands and forest clearings that have lots of high protein insects for their young in the summer to more covered areas such as stands of mast (food)-producing trees in the winter. Wild turkeys are a game species in Michigan and their numbers have increased enough to support two hunting seasons each year (spring and fall).
[#006400]Population Management[/#006400] [center]![[Image: turkey_mgmt_20044_7.jpg]](http://mi.michigan.gov/images/turkey_mgmt_20044_7.jpg)
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Managing wild turkeys in Michigan involves the complex interactions of turkey populations and their habitat and their relationship to people. Hunting plays an important role in the management of turkeys by regulating their numbers.
The goal of the spring wild turkey hunting season is to maximize hunter opportunity while maintaining a satisfactory hunting experience. Limited to gobblers only, this conservative harvest approach has allowed the continued growth and expansion of the wild turkey population in Michigan.
Wild turkey hunting in the fall enables the DNR to stabilize or reduce wild turkey numbers in certain areas of the state to meet local goals based on habitat conditions and public attitudes. License quotas are developed to harvest the desired number of turkeys to meet the management goal. To help reach these goals, hunters are encouraged to harvest female turkeys during the fall season.[/black][/font]
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[font "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][black] [center][#004080][size 3] Apply Now[/size][/#004080][/center] [left]The application period for the 2003 spring hunting season is January 1 - February 1, 2003.[/left] [left]You may [url "http://www.mdnr-elicense.com/welcome.asp"][#0000ff]apply on-line[/#0000ff][/url].[/left] [left] [/left] [left]For more information about wild turkeys in Michigan, visit the Department of Natural Resources' [url "http://mi.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12145_12202-52511--,00.html"][#0000ff]Wild Turkey page[/#0000ff][/url].[/left] [left] [/left] [left]For information about hunting wild turkeys in Michigan, visit the DNR's on-line [url "http://mi.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10363---,00.html"][#0000ff]Hunting Information[/#0000ff][/url].[/left]
The wild turkey is one of the largest birds in North America. An adult male can grow up to 4 feet long from his beak to his tail. Wild turkeys live in open fields and woods and nest on the ground. They prefer to eat insects, grasses, nuts, and berries.
Wild turkeys are found in many areas across the U.S. and part of Ontario, including most counties in Michigan. However, this is following a major re-introduction effort that was finally successful after four failed attempts. This species had completely disappeared from Michigan by 1900, probably due to loss of habitat, and unregulated hunting.
As year-round residents of Michigan, wild turkeys move from grasslands and forest clearings that have lots of high protein insects for their young in the summer to more covered areas such as stands of mast (food)-producing trees in the winter. Wild turkeys are a game species in Michigan and their numbers have increased enough to support two hunting seasons each year (spring and fall).
[#006400]Population Management[/#006400] [center]
[/center] Managing wild turkeys in Michigan involves the complex interactions of turkey populations and their habitat and their relationship to people. Hunting plays an important role in the management of turkeys by regulating their numbers.
The goal of the spring wild turkey hunting season is to maximize hunter opportunity while maintaining a satisfactory hunting experience. Limited to gobblers only, this conservative harvest approach has allowed the continued growth and expansion of the wild turkey population in Michigan.
Wild turkey hunting in the fall enables the DNR to stabilize or reduce wild turkey numbers in certain areas of the state to meet local goals based on habitat conditions and public attitudes. License quotas are developed to harvest the desired number of turkeys to meet the management goal. To help reach these goals, hunters are encouraged to harvest female turkeys during the fall season.[/black][/font]
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