by Jim Maturen | Sep 29, 2013 | Turkey Tracks - September 2013
The Wild Turkey hunting license was established in 1977, restricted to be used for Scientific Research, Biological Work On Wild Turkeys and other Wild Turkey Management in this state. There was a promise made to those willing to purchase a license to hunt turkeys that the money raised would be used to manage Wild Turkeys over their entire range. The first requirement to manage any wildlife species is to provide their necessary living requirements (habitat).
Over the past 17 years we have a series of articles in this publication detailing the shortcomings of habitat requirements of most wildlife species on our public forests. Unfortunately the many forest management meetings we have held with both the DNR and current U.S. Forest Service has seen few positive results.
by Jim Maturen | Apr 1, 2013 | Photo Gallery
The 32nd Annual Wild Turkey Hunter Rendezvous was another big hit! Enjoy some photos from the event!
by Jim Maturen | Mar 30, 2013 | Turkey Tracks - March 2013
In 1983 Gary Truxton, Jay Driling and Tom Sexton from Baldwin and I met at Baldwin and formed the first local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation in Michigan, The Pere Marquette Chapter. Within a year or two we were joined by the Ausable River Valley Chapter and the Traverse Bay (Little Traverse Bay) Chapter. Collectively we were determined that the experiment of restoring Wild Turkeys to Michigan would succeed after being absent since the 1890’s.
At the time Wild Turkeys had been released in the Alegan State Forest and had been released in the Baldwin area. A few turkeys had been trapped and transferred to several counties in the northern lower peninsula.
by Jim Maturen | Mar 30, 2013 | Turkey Tracks - March 2013
The following contains activity by both the Pere Marquette Chapter and the state chapter. Reported by Jim Maturen, Pere Marquette Chapter President.
On 8/13/12 Traverse Bay Chapter president Rick Riley and I met with DNR Wildlife Division chief Russ Ma- son, assistant chief Doug Reves and DNR Upland Bird Specialist Al Stewart at the DNR RAM Center at Higgins Lake. Items that we brought for discussion follows.
by Jim Maturen | Sep 14, 2012 | Turkey Tracks - September 2012
Our sad farewells are becoming too frequent. This time it is Don Ingle and his wife Jean. During the early morning hours of March 8, 2012 Don’s house in Baldwin caught fire and both he and Jean died in it.
Don was a prolific outdoors writer and a member of the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association. He received many awards and honors for his writing. Don wrote for a number of publications and each year Don made sure that the Turkey Hunters Rendezvous received a lot of publicity.
