AUGUSTA, Maine — Spring turkey season starts on Monday, May 1, throughout the state, and youth hunters have their own day this Saturday, April 29. IFW biologists believe hunters are in for a successful season.
“With a dry spring last year, and a relatively average winter throughout the state, we are seeing good numbers of turkeys in nearly all areas of the state,” said IFW wildlife biologist Kelsey Sullivan.
Maine is quickly becoming known as a destination for turkey hunters, as hunters from 44 states and six different Canadian provinces hunted turkeys in Maine last year. The majority of out of state hunters came from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.
Last year’s dry spring provided nearly ideal nesting conditions, which meant higher hatching and survival rates for poults according to Sullivan. That should translate into hunters seeing multiple birds. Last year, over 16,000 hunters pursued turkeys in Maine.
“It also seems that the timing of the season is nearly ideal. We are hearing lots of gobbling activities, and seeing a lot of males strutting,” said Sullivan, who added he thought turkeys would be very responsive to calling.
Wild turkeys are a wildlife success story in Maine. Once gone completely from state landscapes, they are now a familiar sight in all 16 counties, thanks to a reintroduction and management plan started in the 1970s by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
“Maine has some excellent turkey hunting, and hunters throughout New England and beyond are realizing that,” said Sullivan. “Success rates are very good, the birds are lightly hunted compared to other states, and you can hunt turkeys throughout the state.”
With a valid Maine big game or small game hunting license, turkey hunters can purchase a wild turkey permit for just $20 for both residents and nonresidents. This permit allows turkey hunters to take up to two bearded wild turkeys in the spring, and an additional two turkeys in the fall. Legal hunting hours for turkey hunting stretch from a half-hour before sunrise and a half-hour after sunset. The spring season runs May 1-June 3.
For more information on hunting season dates, times, licenses and bag limits, refer to the hunting lawbook or visit www.mefishwildlife.com.
The Department strongly encourages all turkey hunters to reach out to landowners before hunting. Please remember to ask first before accessing private land, and respect any and all requests of the landowners.
