The time is now to apply for a spring turkey hunting license

The late winter winds blow anticipation across the desk of many hunters. It still looks like winter, but snow in February doesn’t last nearly as long as a half-foot of the white stuff that falls in mid-November.

Spring is inevitable. The start of the spring snow goose conservation season, coupled with late season hard-water fishing, all indicate that winter is out the door.

But the ultimate sign that the seasons have really changed is spring turkey hunting.

To participate in that season, you need to apply now. The application deadline is Feb. 14.

Even before the license lottery drawing is held it’s not too early to start preparations to ensure a successful hunt when spring turkey season opens in April.

Once you draw a license, nothing is guaranteed other than the opportunity to hunt. If you don’t have an idea of possible land to hunt, or areas within a unit to hunt, this is a short-term must do. Check with other hunters through a local wildlife club, or investigate some possible turkey habitat and potential landowners who may allow hunting access. Identifying a place to hunt is probably the most important preparation you’ll make.

There are a lot of spring turkey hunting licenses in ND, the key is finding the right zone without too many applicants

For most spring turkey hunters, the quest is more than just about finding a bird and taking it home. Spring offers better odds of calling in turkeys compared to the fall season, and this can be tricky when it comes to securing a place to hunt.

You may find landowners frustrated with the number of turkeys in and around their farmstead. This can work in your favor as far as obtaining permission to hunt, as many landowners welcome turkey hunters.

On the other hand, there may be other hunters in the same area with the same idea. If you desire an undisturbed place to call in a turkey, be up front with the landowner and explain, if possible, that you’d like to coordinate with other potential hunters who may also have permission. Perhaps you might be able to hunt one small area of the land, while other hunters agree to hunt another piece of the property.

First and foremost, remember it’s up to the landowner.

Another factor to consider is that just because you’ve secured permission to hunt, don’t assume that also includes your friends or other family members. Be up front and let the landowner know how many are in your group, and what type of vehicle you’ll be driving. Most landowners will remember your vehicle and if they observe another, they may wonder what’s going on.

In all instances, clear communication is a key. Most landowners want to know who is hunting, and you will want to know if other hunters may be in the vicinity.

One last reminder on obtaining permission. Once you’ve filled your tag, make sure to notify the landowner. This may allow space for other hunters to come onto the property. And likewise, if you’ve not had success, by keeping in touch with the landowner and other hunters, you might find another spot that will work better.

Once again, submitting an application is the first step toward a spring turkey hunt. You can do it online at the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov, or pick up an application at most license vendors.

Then the wait begins. Think positive. Expect good news from the license drawing and get a head start on your preparations. I will make spring all that much more enjoyable when it does arrive.

It's getting close to strutting season

Deer hunting likely generates more questions than any other hunting season and its popularity in terms of hunter numbers is unparalleled for North Dakota.

Pheasant hunting, with expanding prairie opportunities made possible by warm winters and suitable habitat, has brought new hunters into the field and put a smile on the face for tens of thousands of Dakota rooster fanatics.

Waterfowl hunters? Well, who can’t appreciate the dedication of a hunter slumbering out of bed in the wee hours en route to a cold damp morning huddled on the edge of a marsh?

Fortunately, North Dakota has an array of outdoor opportunities from which hunters can find a favorite. If you ask around a bit, however, you won’t likely find too many people who put spring turkey hunting at the top of their list, but you will find more and more hunters who look forward to a chance at taking a spring gobbler.

With the application deadline for a North Dakota spring turkey license fast approaching, it’s time to get ready. For starters the easiest method to apply is online through the Game and Fish Department website at gf.nd.gov.
 
After you’ve filed your application – the deadline is Feb. 15 – take a few minutes to ponder turkey hunting in North Dakota. For starters, you’ve likely heard people both praise and despise the reputation of a turkey. I’ve compared turkeys to one of my favorite guilty pleasures – chocolate. A little is good, but sit down and eat a whole bag and you’ll get a belly ache.

It’s similar with turkeys, most hunters and landowners enjoy a few turkeys, but when three turkeys turn into three dozen, the novelty and joy of seeing turkeys near the farm can dwindle.

As we discuss turkey behavior and habits, keep in mind that hunting is the best method for wildlife managers to use to balance populations. On the same note, hunters in any situation prefer less competition. For example, a spring turkey hunter would rather not have a half-dozen other hunters within a few hundred yards of his calling site.

If you’ve ever observed turkeys, however, you know first-hand they tend to travel in social groups, and it’s that behavior that adds difficulty to turkey population management.

Herein lies the problem. If a landowner has three dozen or more turkeys that seek refuge in his farm yard each winter, and he is willing to allow hunters, he’s faced with the task of providing access to thin the local population. However, allowing a dozen hunters in to take out an appreciable number of turkeys is not an easy process.

Wild turkey hunting is growing in popularity all over the country

While hunters are more than willing to assist the landowner, by nature they’d rather have the place to themselves on the day they have permission. Contending with numerous other hunters on the same property can be just as difficult as getting a turkey.

Another localized obstacle is the turkeys’ penchant for inhabiting residential areas where hunting is less of an option. Managing urban turkeys can be even more problematic than managing turkeys in rural settings.

The process can become somewhat of a balancing act for the Game and Fish Department, dealing with a localized increase in turkey numbers without putting undue pressure on landowners or eroding the essence of the spring turkey hunt. It’s not just shooting a turkey that makes a spring hunt a success. Most hunters want to experience a sense of solitude and try to call in a gobbler on their own terms.

This year, more hunters that ever will have a chance to do that, as the Game and Fish Department is making available 6,425 wild turkey licenses, a record number for the third year in a row. Nine units have more licenses than last year, while only one unit – Dunn County – has fewer.

Cost of a license is $8 and only North Dakota residents are eligible to apply. The spring turkey season runs from April 8 through May 14.

Turkey Recipe Ingredients:

• 9 to 13-lb Turkey*
• ½ cup butter, melted
• Old-Fashioned Dressing,
• ½ cup butter
• 3 cups finely chopped celery
• ¾ cup finely chopped parsley
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tbls. salt
• 1 tbls. poultry seasoning
• 1 ts. paprika
• ½ ts. pepper
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 12 cups fine white-bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove giblets from turkey and set aside to use as gravy. Wash and dry turkey inside out. Make old-fashioned dressing by melting 1/2 cup butter in skillet over low heat. Add celery and onion and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes. Toss lightly with rest of dressing ingredients in large bowl just until well mixed. Spoon dressing into neck cavity. Bring skin of neck over back: fasten with poultry pin. Spoon dressing into body cavity. Do not pack. Bake any leftover dressing in covered casserole. Insert about 5 poultry pins at regular intervals to draw body opening together. With long piece of twine, lace cavity closed, boot lace fashion; tie with knot. Bend wing tips under body or fasten wings to body with poultry pins. With twine, tie ends of legs together. Brush turkey all over with some of melted butter. Insert thermometer in inside of thigh at thickest part. Turn, breast side down on rack in shallow roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 2 hours. Turn breast side up. Saturate cheesecloth square with rest of melted butter and place over turkey breast. (Or brush turkey with rest of butter; cover breast loosely with square of foil.) Roast 2 to 2-1/2 hours longer. As cheesecloth dries out you can moisten with pan drippings. (Or brush turkey with drippings.) Turkey is done when meat thermometer registers 185 to 190°F; leg joint should move freely when twisted, and fleshy part of drumstick should feel soft. Place turkey on heated platter; remove cheesecloth or foil, twine, and poultry pins. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile you can make Giblet Gravy. Makes about 15 or 16 servings and about 12 cups dressing.
 

*If frozen, let thaw, still in wrapper, in refrigerator 2 to 3 days.

Smoked Turkey Recipe :

• 1 Turkey (14 – 16 pounds)
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 tsp. thyme
• 1/2 tsp. rosemary
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 3 cups mesquite or hickory wood chips soaked in water for an hour.

Clean turkey and lay out to dry. Mix the lemon juice and olive oi, than add the spices. Prepare grill by arranging 75 hot coals in a circle. Put tin foil pan in the middle of the coals, and add a cup of water. Put turkey in the pan, breast up. Brush the turkey with marinade, than place heat thermometer into breast (don’t hit the bone). Put two cups of the presoaked wood chips into hot coals and close grill. Open the grill vents 1/4 to 1/2 way to let it smoke and let it go for an hour. Brush turkey with marinade, and add more wood chips). Let it smoke for another hour to hour and a half. Turkey temperature should be 175 degrees. You can add more coals to apply more heat. Make sure you check the thighs (should see clear fluides). If not, flip turkey upside down and grill for another 10 minutes. Let turkey stand for 20 minutes before carving and serving.

The still silence of the morning was interrupted by the distant sounds of a turkey making his presence known. Weeks of scouting and preparation had lead to this moment and everything seemed to be falling into place. I answered his call with a few scrapes on my slate. As the distinct call became closer and closer, anticipation mounted. I was taking part in my first spring turkey hunt and soon came to recognize the mystic of this truly American game bird. The excitement of a trophy gobbler approaching into shotgun range rivals any outdoor adventure. The challenges are also apparent. Turkeys have keen senses and are very wary birds. Therefore it is essential to blend into the surroundings when pursuing this challenging game bird. Honing calling skills and the use of one or two turkey decoys can significantly improve your chances of harvesting a bird. Scouting is essential to success, since the wide open spaces of the state can make finding birds very challenging. It is never too early to begin scouting and finding birds when there is still snow on the ground can help narrow down the area in which you plan to setup in the spring. Early scouting can also provide the opportunity to talk to landowners about the habits of turkeys in the area.

When the season arrives it will be a lot easier to determine where birds are roosting if you have done pre-season scouting. Once you have located and successfully determined where the birds roost you must coax them into shotgun range. A technique that has proven successful for me has been hunting turkeys with a partner. Since the competition for licenses in the state is relatively high, chances are pretty good that one of your hunting buddies may not get a license. Hunting as a team can give your buddy the opportunity to get into the turkey woods, and also provide you with a valuable teammate.

Two man turkey hunting not only allows you to share the excitement of the hunt, but also increases the odds of success. Synchronizing calling can make it more difficult for the turkeys to pinpoint your exact location. Each bird reacts differently to calling and each will approach your calls differently. Being prepared for any type of approach is essential to success. If you are hunting with a partner it is important to develop a calling game plan for different situations. You must be prepared for aggressive birds that run directly at you when you call or the silent gobblers that try to sneak up on you. Your hunting partner can help to ensure that turkeys don’t catch you off guard.

The North Dakota spring turkey season runs from April 12 to May 11 and applications must be postmarked no later than February 12. You can also order them online at the ND Game & Fish Department . Areas adjacent to the Missouri River in the western portion of the state have the highest number of licenses available. Licenses are also available in other regions of the state but the numbers available vary greatly. Turkey numbers have been fairly consistent over the years but an increased focus by the National Turkey Federation in the state may lead to increased turkey numbers which will equate to increased license availability statewide.

I recently attended a National Wild Turkey Federation banquet in the southeastern part of the state. The banquet demonstrated the increasing interest and focus on preserving and enhancing wild turkey numbers and habitat. Despite the fact that only a small fraction of the licenses are available in the southeastern area of the state, support for the organization at the banquet was very strong. It is exciting to see the renewed interest in this game bird.

Now is the time to start getting ready for the turkey season, the first step is sending in your application. Mark the deadline on you calendar. If you are fortunate enough to get drawn for a spring turkey license, do your homework, and you will definitely enjoy the hunt.