Still, if you lack access to private land, you shouldn't be deterred. There is still a respectable amount of public land. Hunting it does require a permit, however. Permits can be used only on the property for which they were issued.

"Redden State Forest has a good wild turkey population," said Reynolds. "It depends on the year, but sometimes the Nanticoke Wildlife Area, which is located down in the southwestern part of the state, does pretty well as a public area. Blackiston Wildlife Area, which is western Kent County, can also be pretty good."

Redden State Forest is located north of Georgetown. It encompasses a total of 9,500 acres, primarily loblolly pine. A mixture of hardwoods including oak, maple and gum is found on Redden State Forest. Large tracts have been timbered. While a large portion of Redden is contained in one contiguous block, the tract is also made up of several satellite parcels.

Reynolds said that Delaware has made no regulatory changes the past year that would affect spring wild turkey hunters.

According to the Delaware Division of Wildlife, the state's 2007 spring season will run from April 14 through May 4. Private-land hunters may hunt during the entire 18-day season. Public-land permits can be used only on the property for which they are issued. Applications must have been received by Dec. 8 to be processed for the Dec. 15 lottery.

The season segments for A through C for Public Land Permits are April 14 through 20 for Area A; April 21 through April 27 for Area B; and finally, April 28 through May 4 for Area C.

No Sunday hunting is permitted.

Delaware shooting hours, for the spring turkey season, are a half-hour prior to sunrise until 1 p.m. All turkeys must be checked at an authorized turkey check station by 2:30 p.m. on the same day the bird is harvested.

Only bearded birds are legal, and the limit is one turkey per season. Non-electric calls are legal, as are temporary blinds of vegetation or camouflage material. Artificial decoys are also permitted.

For safety reasons, Delaware hunters are not permitted to wear clothing that bears the colors red, white or blue.