"We were up a little bit last year," reports Ken Reynolds, wildlife biologist for the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). "We took 153 birds, which is one bird shy of our all-time record. The year before that, we harvested 138 birds, so last year's harvest was up a little bit."

Of those 153 birds tagged last season, all but one were male. One bearded hen was checked in. Some 57 percent of last season's birds were harvested during the first week of the season, with 33 percent being bagged the second week and 10 percent the third. Hunter success was estimated to be 19 percent. The heaviest gobbler bagged last season weighed 25.25 pounds.

The wildlife biologist felt this year's spring hunt should provide good opportunities for hunters, similar to what they have experience during recent years.

"Our numbers seem to be pretty stable," notes Reynolds. "We don't have any particular surveys going on at the moment, but our harvest seems to fluctuate between 120 and 150 birds. It doesn't seem to change very much. So barring any unforeseen circumstances that may occur over the winter, I would think that we would have a reasonably good season."

Reynolds also related that breeding conditions were favorable last spring. He said his agency received some "pretty good reports from hunters." Delaware's wild turkey population is presently estimated at 3,500 birds, well distributed throughout the state's suitable habitat.

As for the best turkey habitat available, Reynolds noted that the turkey zone is fairly well defined.

"We only have three counties in Delaware," said Reynolds. "But Sussex, which is our largest and southernmost county, has the most forest habitat. It produces most of our birds. Usually the best areas are from the central to the southern portion of the county."

As with most states -- particularly ones such as Delaware, which has limited public hunting lands with suitable wild turkey habitat -- the odds would have to favor the private-land hunter. During last season's hunt, 89 percent of the harvested birds were taken from private land.