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Luke Garver, Illinois’ wild turkey project manager at the IDNR,
said that in spite of the harsh winter, there are plenty of wild
turkeys waiting to be harvested. Unlike last year when public
lands were shut down for hunting because of the pandemic, this
year IDNR and the governor’s office have given hunters the
go-ahead to hunt this year.
“All the public land is back open again, so that should add to
the harvest total,” Garver said.
Last spring, hunters harvested a stunning 15,800 wild turkeys in
Illinois, Garver said.
“A lot of people were stuck at home because of the pandemic,”
Garver said. “People had more time for wild turkey hunting. And
a lot of people gave the sport a chance for the first time."
Garver said spring wild turkey season is now more popular than
traditional fall turkey season and he thinks it is because the
mating season makes spring turkey hunting more interactive and
fun. Garver said that using turkey calls that mimic the noises
that turkey hens make, hunters can lure the males out in the
open.
“The spring season is a really interactive hunt. You know most
of the time that the male is out there. He’s calling back to you
and you have this conversation back and forth, trying to
convince that turkey to come in range of you. It’s a great
time,” Garver said. “Get a call and make some noise with it. A
little patience, patience is the big thing, and a little
practice and you’ll bring in a bird.”
Garver said he never takes it for granted that he has turkey
hunting figured out.
"They always surprise me – sometimes good and sometimes bad,"
Garver said.
Even people who have never hunted before can get out in the
woods with a shotgun or a bow and have fun. Garver said INDR has
improved the online lottery application process for permits. He
said INDR has made it easier than ever for hunters to go online
to secure permits.
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