RIDEM - DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
TURKEY SEASON RESULTS SPRING 2016
Source: Brian C. Tefft, Principal Wildlife Biologist Great Swamp Field Headquarters, West Kingston, RI 02892
The 2016 Rhode Island spring turkey season was held April 28 to May 23, 2016 and was the State’s thirty first season since the spring season was initiated in 1986. Turkey hunters reported harvesting 122 birds, a 7% increase from a harvest of 114 birds taken during the 2015 season (table 1). The harvest includes 7 birds taken during the youth hunter and paraplegic hunter seasons held April 23 and 24. The hunter success rate was 12%. The harvest consisted of 22 juveniles (18% of harvest) and 100 adults (82% of harvest), a 0.2 to 1 juvenile to adult ratio in harvested birds. Mandatory harvest reporting is required using pre-paid kill report post cards distributed with the hunting permits. The 2016 spring gobbler season was a safe season with no hunting accidents occurring.
The restoration of the wild turkey has been a major success story in R.I. with turkey hunters enjoying excellent hunting opportunities. This years’ reported harvest total is an increase from the number of birds reported in 2015. The 2016 season was preceded by a very mild winter with average temperatures well above normal in December and January. Mild weather would have enhanced survival and overall health of the birds in the spring season. Several heavy adult birds (22 to 24 pounds) were reported by hunters. Turkeys were harvested in 22 of 39 towns from around the state. The top five towns in harvest this year were Tiverton (13), Foster (10), Coventry (11), Richmond (9) and Burrillville (8). Private land accounted for a majority of the harvested birds (89%); however, 12 birds were taken on eight different state wildlife management areas. Arcadia Management Area in Exeter was the top producing state land area. The first week of the season accounted for 49% of the harvest (56 birds), 21% (24 birds) were taken during second week, 12% (14 birds) during the third week and 18% (21 birds) were taken during the last week.
The average live weight for a juvenile turkey is 15 pounds and the average live weight for adults is 20 pounds in Rhode Island. Resident hunters took 78% (95 birds) of the harvest compared to 22% (27 birds) for non-resident hunters who came from as far away as Indiana and Georgia to hunt turkey in the Ocean State. The official State record is a 25.6 pound gobbler taken in 2001 in the town of Exeter.
To report wild turkey sightings, hens with or without broods, participants should record the date, location, and the total number of hens and poults seen. Brood report forms can be downloaded from DEM's website at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/turkysee.pdf.
Participants in the survey are asked to send reports via email to brian.tefft@dem.ri.gov, or by mailing brood report forms to Brian Tefft, Wild Turkey Project, 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892.
Fall archery season: October 1 to October 31 Crossbows are not allowed for the fall turkey hunt.
TURKEY SEASON RESULTS SPRING 2016
Source: Brian C. Tefft, Principal Wildlife Biologist Great Swamp Field Headquarters, West Kingston, RI 02892
The 2016 Rhode Island spring turkey season was held April 28 to May 23, 2016 and was the State’s thirty first season since the spring season was initiated in 1986. Turkey hunters reported harvesting 122 birds, a 7% increase from a harvest of 114 birds taken during the 2015 season (table 1). The harvest includes 7 birds taken during the youth hunter and paraplegic hunter seasons held April 23 and 24. The hunter success rate was 12%. The harvest consisted of 22 juveniles (18% of harvest) and 100 adults (82% of harvest), a 0.2 to 1 juvenile to adult ratio in harvested birds. Mandatory harvest reporting is required using pre-paid kill report post cards distributed with the hunting permits. The 2016 spring gobbler season was a safe season with no hunting accidents occurring.
The restoration of the wild turkey has been a major success story in R.I. with turkey hunters enjoying excellent hunting opportunities. This years’ reported harvest total is an increase from the number of birds reported in 2015. The 2016 season was preceded by a very mild winter with average temperatures well above normal in December and January. Mild weather would have enhanced survival and overall health of the birds in the spring season. Several heavy adult birds (22 to 24 pounds) were reported by hunters. Turkeys were harvested in 22 of 39 towns from around the state. The top five towns in harvest this year were Tiverton (13), Foster (10), Coventry (11), Richmond (9) and Burrillville (8). Private land accounted for a majority of the harvested birds (89%); however, 12 birds were taken on eight different state wildlife management areas. Arcadia Management Area in Exeter was the top producing state land area. The first week of the season accounted for 49% of the harvest (56 birds), 21% (24 birds) were taken during second week, 12% (14 birds) during the third week and 18% (21 birds) were taken during the last week.
The average live weight for a juvenile turkey is 15 pounds and the average live weight for adults is 20 pounds in Rhode Island. Resident hunters took 78% (95 birds) of the harvest compared to 22% (27 birds) for non-resident hunters who came from as far away as Indiana and Georgia to hunt turkey in the Ocean State. The official State record is a 25.6 pound gobbler taken in 2001 in the town of Exeter.
To report wild turkey sightings, hens with or without broods, participants should record the date, location, and the total number of hens and poults seen. Brood report forms can be downloaded from DEM's website at: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/pdf/turkysee.pdf.
Participants in the survey are asked to send reports via email to brian.tefft@dem.ri.gov, or by mailing brood report forms to Brian Tefft, Wild Turkey Project, 277 Great Neck Road, West Kingston, RI 02892.
Fall archery season: October 1 to October 31 Crossbows are not allowed for the fall turkey hunt.
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