Photo by Kenny Bahr

You’ll not find a bigger wildlife-management success story than that of the wild turkey population along the East Coast -- from the brink of extinction in the early 1900s to an exploding population that greeted the new century.

A major food source for early Americans, the wild birds were all but hunted to extinction in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. As civilization moved westward, the wild turkey population was reduced even more. Even with restricted hunting in most states during the mid-1900s, the birds’ numbers continued to drop.

Things really looked gloomy for turkeys, especially after attempts to rebuild stocks with pen-raised birds saw only a limited success, with most tries ending in dismal failures.

I’m somewhat old-fashioned and not a big fan of modern science, but have to admit the men in the white coats sure found a way of rebuilding gobbler numbers. What’s become the proven method for restoring wild turkey populations is to trap turkeys in the wild and transplant them into targeted areas that offer the habitat to support them.

Technology has made this process a lot more successful, with advances in trapping, as well as tracking the restocked birds once they are released. These databases help to explain why any given reintroduction succeeded or failed. There are now more than 4 million turkeys in the United States, with huntable populations in every state in the lower 48.

In short, the information age has benefited wild turkey populations in the Mid-Atlantic States. Now the big birds are not only the mainstay of our annual November feast, but also one of the most sought-after game birds for today’s hunter.

In the last 10 years, turkey hunting has come on strong. With turkey calls, scent-blocking camouflage, portable ground blinds, advanced arrow and ammo designs, you name it--a whole modern technology has evolved around wild turkey hunting. Next to deer, wild turkeys are fast becoming the second most popular quarry for hunters. So if you live in the Mid-Atlantic States and are looking for a nice plump bird to train your sights on, here’s what you can expect in the 2007 season.

When it comes to your pursuit of spring turkeys, the birds’ mating instinct takes precedence. You should spend some pre-hunt time in the field, looking for prime mating areas. Going into the field at sunup and just before sundown and listening for the gobble of male turkeys as they call the female will give you a general idea of where to look for the birds.