History of the MWTHA-Part IV

     Due to a publishing error the last sentence of Part III should have read “After two winters of working with the birds we have come to the conclusion that our population problem is no longer winter starvation (they are being fed) but other problems”.
     On 5/28/85 Tom Tighe and Maturen met with the new Wildlife Division chief, Ed Mikula and John Urbain at the Mason building. We complimented John Urbain for providing the first quality spring hunt in years and requested that the hunt be similar in future years. Even though our hens provided a lot of poults last spring, the population in Area K is down by another 400 to 500. Asked them what the problem is and they still have no answer, only guesses.
     State Chapter & Pere Marquette Chapter are in agreement that we should reinstate check in stations (i.e. Missouri) to get a better fix on the kill. Presently the DNR does not know the ratio of young to old birds killed, weight ratio and if there is any disease factor among our isolated flocks. We still disagree with their mail survey over numbers killed. Much information can be obtained from a check station.
     Again, asked to return to a 12:00 noon closing. As we are the only state in the northeast part of the USA that is having population loss, perhaps we should follow suit. Discussed past liberalization of rules, permits and closing check stations which has an effect on people’s attitude. The bottom line is taking the Wild Turkey off the “something very special list”. It is quite odd that the turkey population was doing quite well until liberalization began. We want the Wildlife Division to find out once and for all what is happening to our birds. Talk is cheap. We get the impression that if the southern Michigan birds succeed that the northern turkeys will be forgotten.
     Our winter assistance program allows us to survey and count all of the Wild Turkeys in our 3000 square mile area. From our many contacts we have found an acute poaching problem. Many flocks, especially those in areas of public land are being reduced by half or more during the fall hunting months. As an example we may have 50 birds living in an area in early fall and at the end of small game and especially firearms deer season there is less than 25.
     On 5/31/85 I met with state representatives Sid Ouwinga of Marion. Outcome of the meeting is that he will introduce an amendment to the penalty law for unlawfully killing, possessing, etc. a bear or deer to include the Wild Turkey. Penalty would then be a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, plus the cost of prosecution and imprisoned not less than 5 days nor more than 90 days. Shall not secure a deer, bear or Wild Turkey license for the current and 3 succeeding years. If we can get this passed, Michigan will be the only State to consider the Wild Turkey as big game.
     On 5/28/85 Tom Tighe & Maturen met with Tom Washington, executive director of Michigan United Conservation Clubs, at his office. Talked for over an hour about what our chapter is attempting to accomplish. Apparently we do not see eye to eye on several issues and not sure if we can count on them for assistance.
     Added notes for 1985. We have received a lot of publicity on our last two festivals from many newspapers. We have appeared on TV and have given numerous interviews to radio stations. Our Adopt-A-Turkey and winter assistance programs have generated many newspaper articles. Because of all the publicity there are many more people in Michigan aware of our Wild Turkeys. Our goal of making our Wild Turkeys “something special” in Michigan is becoming a reality.
     Noted in January 1985 that the Grand Rapids Press carried an article that the Wildlife Division has a new program to survey winter flocks and to issue hunting permits based on populations. For the past several years we have presented this proposal to the Natural Resources Commission, in articles, letters to the editor and at various meetings.
     On 9/12/85 I made a presentation to the Natural Resources Commission at Higgins Lake. Pere Marquette Chapter members present were Gary Truxton, Tom Tighe & Art Cocklin. We asked that the spring hunting permits remain the same for 1986, requested research of our depleted Wild Turkey population, requested to return to a 12:00 noon closing and to return to check in stations.
     On 10/2/85 attended a meeting at the DNR Rose Lake Research Station near Lansing with biologist Steve Schmidt, John Urbain & the assistant chief of the Wildlife Division. Also present were Bruce Cocklin & Tom Tighe of the Pere Marquette Chapter, Hugh Marx & Craig Liddicoat of the state chapter and Birney Williams, president of the Huron Valley Chapter. The meeting was called by the DNR to discuss the possibility of researching our northern Michigan flocks. Hopefully we are getting through that we are losing birds and that now something will be done. (Note-After the meeting it was said that from now on the DNR would meet with us in the spring, perhaps twice with the local biologists present)
     In the next issue we will move on the highlights of 1986 where we pulled off what we were told would be impossible.

HISTORY OF THE MWTHA PART VII

2/87. Our winter has been one of the mildest on record so we have been discouraging people from feeding wild turkeys. It appears that we have an increase in population in most areas. The area southwest of Cadillac appears to have decreased but because the birds are so widely scattered no one can be sure. It did appear that more birds came through the fall hunting seasons so our poaching bills seem to be working. Discussed the population count with the DNR and they are having a hard time counting also. We can at least say that our flocks have remained fairly stable.

3/21/87. Attended the state chapter workshop at East Lansing. Met for a long discussion with the new Wildlife Division chief, Karl Hosford. Among the many items discussed were: use of the $3.00 application fee, initiating a Successful Turkey Hunters Patch, check stations, game breeders, disease studies, applicant cheating and poaching. Discussed the past history of our involvement in the turkey program. He asked for several months to enable him to get his feet on the ground.

3/23/87. Letter sent to the five senators on the Conservation Committee and Senator Engler, supporting H.B. 4047 (1987) which passed the house and is before the Senate. It would increase the poaching fine for a wild turkey to $500 minimum, $1500 maximum and 15 days in the county jail. Will stay on top of it.

3&4/87. Letters sent to the U.S. Forest Service at White Cloud and Cadillac at their request regarding management of the Hungerford, Kellog and Ward Hills tracts for a total of 39,650 acres. Offered our chapter’s assistance in implementing any project.

6/1/87. Jay Drilling and I met with DNR biologist Fred Ignatoski at Baldwin. Fred is on a committee with U.S. Forest Service people and has been actively involved in assisting them to plan wildlife habitat within the Huron-Manistee National Forest. It appears that the Forest Service is seriously considering wildlife management in their forest planning. (Editors note: How times have changed!)

6/4/87. Jay Drilling, Gary Truxton, Tom Tighe & I met with DNR Director, Gordon Guyer, Natural Resources Commissioner, Stew Meyers and DNR deputy director, John Robertson at the VFW in Baldwin. Among numerous issues discussed were: loss of birds and other wildlife on orchards and Christmas tree farms due to poisoning, the need for a Successful Turkey Hunter Patch (for voluntary check in and testing of turkeys), control game breeders and game farm turkeys, applicant cheating, a written plan for the management of the wild turkey, habitat management on state forests and DNR Region III biologist, Ed Tucker’s remarks to the news media of our northern birds being inferior. Follow up will continue.

6/6/87. Attended the Michigan Conservation Foundation banquet. Met briefly after the program with wildlife division chief, Karl Hosford. He indicated that some of our suggestions for better turkey management will be implemented, such as the patch program and checking in harvested turkeys.

6/9/87. Met with Tom Prawzdik, DNR district biologist from Clare. Discussed the turkey program in Area W. Future plans are for 3 ten day hunts with 1000 permits per hunt. We discussed the quality of the northern wild turkeys, the necessity for winter feeding, etc. No disagreements here. He estimated that 500 more wild turkeys are needed to completely stock his area.

6/8/87. Sent a letter to Dr. Kennamer of the NWTF with a copy of my article in the North Woods Call. Advised him that we have our belly full of his opinion of our Michigan turkeys and his unrealistic stand on winter feeding.

Jim Maturen