The numbers have all been crunched, the harvest data finalized and Indiana biologists are giving a big thumbs-up for the 2010 spring turkey season. It was the best in the history of modern-day turkey hunting in Indiana.

The spring harvest was the highest since spring turkey hunting began in 1970, with an estimated hunter success rate of approximately 22 percent. Hunters harvested 13,742 wild turkeys in 88 of the 92 counties, exceeding the previous high of 13,193, set in 2006, by 4 percent.

“Reasons for the increased harvest reflect a combination of general turkey population growth around the state, especially in northern counties, and the continual increase in hunter numbers,” said Steve Backs, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist.
The majority of the birds were harvested in the early part of the season during the early morning hours. Juvenile and adult weights were slightly up compared to the mean weights of previous years. The proportion of juvenile turkeys in the harvest was 19 percent, with 54 percent being two-year-olds and 28 percent being three-year-olds.

Last year, hunters reported seeing fewer jakes than in other years, and the trend continued this year.

“We have had five years of below-normal production due generally to above-normal precipitation during the critical early brood period of late May through June,” Backs said.

The top 10 counties were Harrison (607), Switzerland (508), Jefferson (451), Dearborn (426), Warrick (368), Franklin (366), Marshall (363), Steuben (363), Perry (355) and Clark (347).
Last year, Switzerland County topped the hunter success list with 530 turkeys, followed by Harrison (511) and Jefferson (447). There were 30 counties with harvests of more than 200 birds this year.
The south-central and southeastern regions supported 49 percent of the harvest, followed by northern Indiana at 23 percent. West-central Indiana has shown a decline since 2008, when extensive flooding likely reduced production success.

“Northern turkey populations are still generally in a growth phase following restoration in the 1990s,” Backs said. “Older populations in the south have generally leveled off or stabilized at what is frequently referred to as population-maintenance production levels.”

A total of 1,554 birds were taken during the youth-only weekend before the regular season. The 2010 youth harvest made up 11.3 percent of the total harvest, and with a 59 percent increase over the 2009 youth season harvest.

Hunters may see the full 2010 spring harvest report and all the statistics online at www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-MR_1000_Spring_Wild_Turkey_Harvest.pdf

Geocaching in state parks

Anyone with a trail GPS unit can compete in the Indiana Epic State Park Challenge until May 2011, with a chance to win prizes. The challenge involves finding a GPS hidden treasure box, called a geocache, in each of 22 possible Indiana state parks.

The contest allows Indiana residents and non-residents to enjoy the hidden treasures Indiana has tucked away in all corners of the state. As co-sponsor, the Indiana DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs is giving away two 2011 DNR Annual Passes. Cabela’s Outfitters is giving away two $25 gift cards in a drawing of the competitors who complete the challenge by April 30, 2011.
To register to compete, visit www.geocaching.com and search for “Indiana Epic State Park Challenge” or GC code “GC26VN9” if you have a free user account. To complete the challenge, a competitor (or “geocacher”) must find an already existing geocache in at least 22 state parks to be eligible to find the challenge geocache.

The challenge geocache is located in central Indiana, within 15 miles of downtown Indianapolis. Upon completion, each successful competitor must provide verification of his or her finds to each respective cache owner. Several ways to verify finds are listed on the Geocache Challenge webpage, in addition to exact GPS coordinates to the final location.

Prizes come from the Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, Cabela’s Outfitters of Hammond and Indiana geocacher “IndyLovelace.” While it’s free to play, regular State Parks and Reservoirs entrance fees apply: $5 for Indiana residents and $7 for out-of-state residents ($10 out-of-state at Indiana Dunes State Park). Annual Entrance Passes are also available.

Visitors may also apply to place a geocache on State Parks and Reservoir properties by visiting the appropriate park office and consulting the DNR geocaching policy found online at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2390.htm

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Jack Spaulding may contact him by e-mail at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.