TWENTY‐FIVE YEARS OF SPRING WILD TURKEY HUNTING IN INDIANA, 1970‐94
Abstract: Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were restored in Indiana from 1956 to 1994, with 2,389 birds released at 160 sites. Twenty‐five years of spring turkey hunting occurred during 1970‐94. Hunter numbers and turkey harvests increased (P < 0.01) as the restoration progra...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1995-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1995.tb00237.x |
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| Summary: | Abstract: Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were restored in Indiana from 1956 to 1994, with 2,389 birds released at 160 sites. Twenty‐five years of spring turkey hunting occurred during 1970‐94. Hunter numbers and turkey harvests increased (P < 0.01) as the restoration program progressed, providing increased hunter opportunities. The proportion of forest cover in the hunting range decreased as less forested habitats were restocked. Average hunter success increased to 20% (P < 0.001), and the average hunter effort decreased to 22 hunter trips per bird harvested (P < 0.001) after 1985. Hunter success declined after 1987 as the number of hunters increased rapidly. During the 1990‐94 spring hunting seasons, the cumulative hunter effort averaged 2.4 trips/km2 of hunting range, with an average harvest of 0.09 birds/km2 and a hunter success rate of 18.5%. Hunting trips per bird harvested increased slightly despite decreased hunter success and increased season length. The proportion of adults harvested remained above 65% with increased season length and increased hunter effort. The mean harvest per square kilometer of hunting range was greater (P < 0.01) for counties with >30% forest cover than for counties with <30% forest cover; counties with 50±10% forest cover were considered optimum habitat. Turkey hunter accidents occurred at a rate of l/20,000 efforts, with no fatalities. Limited new hunting range and increasing hunter numbers will limit further liberalizations of harvest regulations if sustainable harvests and hunter satisfaction are to be maintained. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |