NWTF Hosts Large Ocellated Turkey Survey

MEXICO — The National Wild Turkey Federation recently trapped and released a record number of Ocellated turkeys as part of an ongoing project to learn more about the species.

"We expect to gain basic population information on the Ocellated turkey, with the goal of addressing concerns on the welfare of this species," said Scott Vance, NWTF director of partnership programs. "This will provide critical information for wildlife managers in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize who are responsible for Ocellated turkey management and hunting regulations. Without this study and the valuable information gained from it, future hunting for the Ocellated turkey could be in jeopardy because so little is known about the bird."

The study will take place over a four-year period, where birds will be trapped in the fall and winter, fitted with radio-tags and released. The birds will be monitored throughout the entire year to determine population size and status; home range and habitat use; nest initiation rates, nesting success and poult survival; adult mortality rates and to identify cause of mortality.

Last year, five Ocellated turkeys were radio-tagged and monitored. Some of these birds moved over seven miles in a few months and provided important habitat use information. This past March, 12 Ocellated turkeys were trapped, radio-tagged, released and are currently being monitored. This is the most Ocellated turkeys ever trapped, tagged and released.

The study is being conducted on La Montana Ranch, which is a 25,000-acre hunting ranch. The first year will serve as a pilot project and will be confined to La Montana Ranch, with future plans to expand the program to more sites.

"Because of this study we should obtain the largest and most comprehensive amount of Ocellated turkey data ever recorded," said Vance. "These studies are extremely important for the continued well-being and regulated hunting of the species."

Partners in this study are NWTF-Mexico, SEMARNAT (The Mexican equivalent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service), AMAVISI, La Montana Ranch and the Collegios de Postgraduados in Campeche and San Luis Potosi.

To learn more about the Ocellated turkey study, contact Scott Vance at (800) THE-NWTF or svance@nwtf.net.

2007 National WIld Turkey Federation Sweepstakes Sponsored by Winchester

If you are an NWTF member go the the sweepstakes site and sign up to win a two day hunt with the NWTF sponsored by Winchester.

Sounds like it could be a really amazing experience!

Turkey Hunting in Quantico

Last night I got off the plane from Cleveland and drove right to Quantico and camped out in the Hunter Parking until 4:15 this morning.

At 4:45 the window rolled up and I had the choice between 14A and 17B as I was the second person in line for the morning. Not sure where the other guy came from but he was headed to 14A and I did not want to have to think about it. I was talking with someone there and he gave me a suggestion to hunt a certain section of 17B that was inside of a large fence around it.

I headed right there, pulled inside the fence and pulled over. I sat in the truck for about 10 minutes and let the light rain shower pass over. I got out of my truck and pulled on my camo and walked 50 feet when I heard the very first gobble. For the next two hours we traded conversation. I would yelp and he would gobble! There were times he was 70 yards away just hammer gobbling and others he would be farther. It was cat and mouse and he won. At 8am he shut completely and I waited him out for an hour and with not a peep I headed out to check out the power lines running across the back of the area.

I did not hear a peep in the 30 minutes I was walking around and decided that I would head back, drive by a couple of other areas that I thought were worth looking at for deer season in the fall and head out.

As I came back the old boy was just inside the fence and I pulled in again and tried to circle wide around him and get in about 100 yards and then lightly yelped and chirped for the next 2 hours until noon. Nothing! All in all the greatest day of hunting I have had in Quantico. This bird is only going to be killed by someone who can remain dead quiet and ambush him and maybe someone pushing him by aggressively calling from the other side so he runs into a trap. This bird is one of the biggest turkeys that I have ever seen in the wild and ambushing him is still going to be a tremendous accomplishment. Hopefully he will be there on wednesday, and if I am really lucky I will get another shot at him!

Brandon and I are headed out to hunt with Dennis Campbell in Charlottesville at a little honey hole he has picked out. Hopefully Brandon will be able to score on his very first turkey! I will be filming the hunt to place up on the blog!

Leupold & NWTF Partner up for Turkey Conservation

I got this great email from Leupold so I cut and pasted it here for all of you. I am a big fan of both Leupold and the NWTF and these optics look fantastic. If you are looking for some new glass, check these out!

www.leupold.com
www.nwtf.org









1.3 million. That's the number of wild turkey in North America in 1973. Today, thanks to the efforts of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, and a group called the National Wild Turkey Federation, we have more than 7 million birds across the United States, and the numbers keep growing.

Since its founding in 1973, the NWTF has grown too, from 1,300 members to more than 545,000 today. With that growth has come impressive strides in wildlife management as the NWTF has forged dynamic partnerships across the country, to help uphold hunting traditions and conserve more than 11.3 million acres of wildlife habitat.

Leupold is proud to be one of those partners, helping to conserve and uphold hunting traditions. For 2007, we've created some exciting new optics specifically designed for the turkey hunter, and emblazoned each with the mark of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The NWTF will receive a portion of each sale, to further their conservation and wildlife management efforts. For more information, or to learn how you can assist the National Wild Turkey Federation,visit www.nwtf.org.

A Turkey Hunter’s Code of Conduct

As a responsible turkey hunter, I will
• not let peer pressure or the excitement of the hunt cloud my judgment;
• learn and practice safe hunting techniques;
• hunt the wild turkey fairly;
• know the capabilities and limitations of my gun or bow and use it safely;
• obey and support all wildlife laws and report all violations
• respect the land and the landowner and always obtain permission before hunting;
• avoid knowingly interfering with another hunter and respect the right of others to lawfully share the out-of-doors;
• value the hunting experience and appreciate the beauty of the wild turkey;
• positively identify my target as a legal bird and insist on a good shot; and share responsible turkey hunting with others and work for wild turkey conservation.

Some turkey tidbits you might not know

April 5, 2007 - 3:24PM

One of the great success stories in the history of wildlife management is the restoration of the wild turkey throughout its native range, including here in North Carolina. When the first European colonists arrived on these shores, turkeys were plentiful and widespread. By the early 1900s, the bird that Benjamin Franklin had championed to be the symbol of our country was nearly extinct. Over-hunting and habitat destruction had nearly done them in.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission began a program in 1953 to reverse the wild turkey¡¦s fortunes in this state. That year birds, acquired from states where they were holding their own, were first released in suitable habitat here. Since then, 6,031 turkeys have been released on 358 restoration sites and, with careful management, have flourished. Today the NCWRC estimates the state¡¦s wild turkey population to be close to 150,000. Wild turkeys now exist in all 100 counties in North Carolina and the population is stable enough that there is a spring gobbler season in all of the counties. This year the season opens on April 14 and extends through May 12. A special Youth Turkey Hunt Day will be April 7. On that date, youngsters under the age of 16 may hunt wild turkeys on private land if accompanied by a licensed hunter at least 21 years of age. (Special provisions of the Youth Turkey Hunt Day are found on page 46 of the NCWRC¡¦s Hunting and Fishing Regulations Digest.)

READ MORE AT: ED Wall, Sun Jounal, New Bern, NC

Fredericksburg, VA National Wild Turkey Banquet

Saturday, April 7th started off with snow on the ground. There has not been snow on the ground in April in like 20+ years! Luckily it was only 2 inches and the roads were nice and clear. I had a local National Wild Turkey Foundation banquet to attend and work at. The local committee has doubled up the attendance this year and the banquet promised to be a good one. I got there at 9am ready to set up and the team pulled together and got everything ready.

The raffle table being picked over for great tickets on countless prizes and some great guns.

Some of our raffles girls and auction girls.

Brandon McGuire working over at the Jakes table helping to sign up new Jakes members and raffle off a new bicycle.

Tom Worrell and our local Virginia Fish and Game Officer talking about a recent bust of a poacher in Virginia. There is nothing I hate more then poachers! They are stealing the game that belongs to us all.
John Shaw who is a local artist here in Fredericksburg and his work is absolutely amazing. Every year he donates a couple of his great works to our chapter and they always do very well for the NWTF.

Some of our committee members!


Kelly Strauss and Family! His young daughter is getting a hair cut on Tuesday, one of her very first hair cuts and the her hair is being donated to Locks of Love. For the last several years, Kelly has been donating his services as our auctioneer and he does a great job with our crew! I have been lucky enough to be a spotter at several of these banquets and love it! I get to yell and have fun, what more can you ask for! Kelly, you have an amazing family!

We gave Brandon McGuire his scholarship for college and I got a moment to thank him for being a great friend! This chapter means a lot to me because it was at their Jakes Day that I was at passing out fishing rods to the kids where I met Brandon and Holly! I look forward to many more years of hunting with Brandon as he is has become a great friend.

Holly McGuire, Brandon McGuire, Bill Newman(Chapter Chair, Fredericksburg NWTF), myself and Kevin Grubbs(Virginia NWTF Regional Director).


Veronika walking around with a Thomas Kincaide print at our banquet!

Brandon with his scholarship.

Our live auction brought in $15,360.00 dollars for wild turkey habitat and conservation! With our raffles, silent auction, and memberships the committee had a wonderful night! Thank you to all the hunter conservationists who attended this event.