Hunters could have the long winter to thank for what is shaping up to be a good start to Kentucky's statewide spring wild turkey season, which opens tomorrow, April 12, and runs through May 4.
"The timing of the first peak in gobbling and our season opener should be pretty close this year because the long winter somewhat delayed the arrival of spring," said Steven Dobey, wild turkey program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Often the peak gobbling period falls before the season opener, affording gobblers time to breed hens before they could potentially fall prey to a hunter. The late break in the weather this year sets up an ideal scenario across much of the state with breeding activity - and the gobbling that goes with it - approaching a crescendo. The birds haven't been disturbed and should be more responsive to a hunter's call.
Last spring, Kentucky outpaced all surrounding states in the number of birds harvested per square mile. Hunters reported taking 32,498 wild turkeys for an average of 0.82 per square mile, placing Kentucky slightly ahead of neighboring Tennessee.
"We're having this great success while doing so in a pretty narrow window of opportunity," Dobey said. "It reflects the large geographic area in which we have turkeys. People can go to almost any area in the state and have good success in the spring."
Approximately 90,000 people hunt wild turkeys in Kentucky and each is allowed a limit of two bearded birds during the spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or female turkeys with visible beards, may be included in the season limit. No more than one bird may be taken per day.
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, but hunters can be in the field before or after shooting hours.
Hunters are encouraged to consult the 2014 Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide before heading into the field in search of a boss gobbler. It is available online at fw.ky.gov
