Permits can only be used on the property for which they were issued.

"Redden State Forest has a good wild turkey population," Reynolds said. "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 in 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 also found on this state forest. Large tracts have been timbered. Though a large portion of Redden is contained in one contiguous block, the tract is also made up of several satellite parcels.

According to the Delaware Division of Wildlife, the state's 2007 spring season will run from April 12 through May 2. 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.

The season segments for public-land permits are:

• For Area A, April 12-18,

• For Area B, April 19-25, and

• For Area C, April 26 through May 2.

No Sunday hunting is permitted.

For Delaware's spring turkey season, shooting hours are a half-hour before 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 made of vegetation or camouflage material. Artificial decoys are also permitted. For safety reasons, Delaware hunters are not permitted to wear clothing that has the colors red, white or blue.

All first-time Delaware turkey hunters must successfully complete a turkey-hunting safety class. Beginning with the 2009 spring season, hunters will have to have taken one of these classes before they may apply for a public-land permit.

Find more about Mid-Atlantic fishing and hunting at www.midatlanticgameandfish.com