MWTHA

I have anguished, procrastinated and sought the advise of our members about writing the following. Perhaps it is time to explain to our members and others of the roots of our organization, of our contribution to the restoration of the Wild Turkey and our contribution to the rules of hunting them.

This history was written based on my notes from before the beginning of the MWTHA (early 1980's) with the last installment in 1987.

In the early 1980s Wild Turkeys were found only in scattered areas of the northern Lower Peninsula and several counties in the Upper Peninsula. What had been a growing population had reversed and turkey numbers were declining. At the same time permits to hunt them during the spring season were increased. Hunting areas were made smaller. Competition for the few birds was intense. Quality hunting, as we once knew it was lost. A handful of dedicated turkey hunters came together and were determined that our Wild Turkeys would continue to not only flourish, but to expand their range. These people would later be the foundation that the MWTHA would be built on. This series of articles on our history is taken from notes kept during the past two decades.