For most of us this past spring, it was a pretty good season, thanks to slightly higher numbers of birds in many areas of the north. We work hard every day to see that.

 

But although conditions have been excellent for the hatch, we’re hearing reports of hens running with toms into mid-July, hens with one poult, and groups of hens with no poults at all. Predation is an obvious problem all over the state.

This past winter the northern chapters of MWTHA purchased and distributed 224,000 pounds of shelled corn throughout a large portion of the northern lower peninsula. We are continuing what we are dedicated to, the survival of our Wild Turkey flocks during the severe portion of each winter. 

Our chapter continues to progress as a local leader in conservation issues and the promotion of hunting. This past winter 56,000 pounds of shelled corn was distributed to ensure survival and to deal with nuisance complaints, which can threaten the survival of flocks. Our normal range,

The fall was cooler and wetter than normal, but extreme cold and snow has held off except for a short stint in early December, which helped an excellent, but still late crop of poults in Area J put some fat on those skinny little bones to help them make it through the winter. 

Wow it’s already mid-January, and although it’s bitter cold today, we haven’t had any winter at all yet isn’t that great? With any luck at all, we’ll get through the rest of the winter as easily as we have so far, a blessing not only for all the birds out there, but also for the chapters that conduct winter feeding programs that are being confronted with unbelievably high corn prices.