Many outdoors enthusiasts have their special first spring sign, such as seeing American Robins, noticing blooming dandelions, or tasting maple sap. For some it is that first tom turkey gobbling that brings a rush.
Gobbling may be heard when cleaning a bluebird nest box, picking earthworms for a panfish bite, or when slamming a truck door before stepping into a watercress patch with a bag and scissors.
These cues of spring are no more calendar-specific than woodchuck day because turkeys are known to gobble any day of the year, including Jan. 1.
Spring turkey “hunting” for some is taking photographs; for others just hearing a gobbler is enough; and still others expect to see a strutting tom or a breeding pair.
Those who admire and seek seeing, not bagging, turkeys could take a hint from hunters who call birds while hunting. For some hunters, it is a “catch-and-release sort of thing and the gun remains silent when a bird presents a shot. The hunter puts more into the chase than the kill and wants a repeat display by a strutting tom, just to watch and listen.
Turkey hunters refer to these early morning tom turkey reactions as shock gobbles, reacting to a loud or unusual noise, including a ruffed grouse drumming, crows cawing or dogs barking. Some hunters insist rain storm thunder is the best shock gobble call, but be careful, cautious, and crafty. Maybe even from inside a parked truck.
With most hunters turkeys are stimulated to gobble when hen turkeys call or other toms gobble. Either way, it is a likable sound to most who bird watch, photograph turkeys, or expect a gobble that locates a bird and signal the hunt is on.
Spring turkey hunting begins with a two-day youth hunt April 13-14, with the first seven-day hunting period opening Wednesday, April 17, followed by five other periods, each seven days, opening on a Wednesday and closing the following Tuesday.
Almost as exciting for hunters is the sale of bonus authorizations providing even more permits to bag a bird beyond that first permit.
Zone 1 bonus authorizations go on sale Monday, March 18, beginning at 10 a.m. The other zones sales begin on Tuesday (Zone 2), Wednesday (Zone 3) Thursday (Zone 4) and Friday, (zones 5, 6, and 7). After this initial flurry, all left over permits will be on sale with a limit of one permit per hunter per day. Some hunters have been known to purchase many permits (authorizations).
Permits for the same zone and same period can be used to register birds on the same day if a hunter is fortunate enough to shoot more than one bird during an outing. Make sure to be licensed and have the correct authorizations for the zones.
Hunters need a spring turkey hunting license selling for $15, or $7 for a hunter younger than 12. Non-residents will pay $65, now. The stamp is $5.25 or $4.50 if younger than 12. Hold on to the stamp, which is valid for the fall turkey season beginning in September. A fall turkey hunting license is needed for that season.
Wisconsin nonresident hunting licenses went up last month resulting in hunting turkeys jumping to $65, gun deer at $200, crossbow and archery up to $200, too, and a small game license being $95.
“Not everyone is happy about the nonresident license fee increase, but most see to understand,” said Doug Williams, at D W Sports Center in Portage. “Maybe it has something to do with the fact residents pay Wisconsin taxes.”
Turkeys are still rafted in groups and some hunters believe the numbers of birds is good this year. Travis Anderson, WDNR wildlife biologist in Lafayette and Iowa counties, said “The dry spring in 2023 was generally good for nesting birds.
Turkey hunters continue to be sold on trying .410 shotguns with heavy metal ammunition selling for $41.95 for five cartridges. The .410 gun costs $249, according to Don Martin, at Martins, in Monroe.
Other wildlife, including Canada geese, fighting male muskrats, and Bald Eagles are entertaining for those who take the time to stop, listen and watch, according to Wayne Smith, an outdoorsman in Lafayette County.
Numerous tree species are showing their catkin-grouped tiny flowers.
— Jerry Davis is an Argyle native and a freelance writer who lives in Barneveld. He can be reached at siadjam@mhtc.net or at 608-924-1112.
