FORECAST FOR 2008
On a statewide basis Godwin feels that 2008 will be a pretty good season and similar to 2007. Early indications were that most regions in 2007 were had a good hatch. However, in terms of gobbling turkeys it is the 2006 turkey hatch that has the biggest impact on this year’s hunting season.

Male poults born in 2006 are now 2-year-old gobblers.

Region 1
What a difference just a couple of years can make in terms of turkey numbers. Really good hatches in this region from 1999 through 2002 had made this area a real hotspot for turkey hunters through 2005. Three consecutive years of poor hatches starting in 2003, however, have taken their toll on turkey numbers and consequently turkey hunting in many of these counties.

The good news is that things are looking up for Region 1. The average number of poults per hen is up from the previous three years. While n average of 1.8 poults per hen doesn’t quite meet the 2-poults-per-hen minimum for Godwin to qualify it as a good hatch, it is significantly better than the 2005 average of 1.06 poults.

Based on conversations with turkey hunters in this region and MDWFP Biologist Brad Holder, apparently some sections of Region 1 are doing much better than others. According to Holder some of the best counties have been Marshall, Panola, Lafayette, Union, and Pontotoc. He also suggested that hunters not rule out Yalobusha, Grenada and Calhoun counties.

Wild Turkey Region 1 is blessed with lots of public hunting opportunities -- among them nine wildlife management areas, as well as national forests and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands.

In the northeast are Divide Section, John Bell Williams, and Canal Section WMAs on Corps land along the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Combined, they have more than 44,000 acres that are worth checking out.

Covering 42,000 acres, Upper Sardis WMA, on the Holly Springs National Forest, is a perennial favorite. Hunters should also check out a part of the Holly Springs NF located in Yalobusha County, west of Coffeeville. While not part of a WMA, it does offer several thousand acres of public hunting with good habitat and good turkey densities.

A short drive away are Malmaison WMA, in Grenada County, and Calhoun County WMA. And Corps lands around Enid and Grenada reservoirs can be productive as well.

Finally, Chickasaw WMA, its 28,000 acres within the Tombigbee National Forest east of Houlka, has also been a favorite. Unfortunately, harvest levels dropped significantly in 2007 and it remains to be seen if that tract will bounce back this year.

Region 2
Region 2 lies in the Mississippi Delta and biologists said that spring flooding in this region has a major impact on wild turkey reproduction. Still, breeding in 2005 was the best on record at 3.34 poults per hens. While the 2006 brood survey data showed a decline to 2.58 poults per hen, that was still the best in the state. Wildlife Biologist Jackie Fleeman of the MDWFP confirmed that the great hatch has been reflected in the success of turkey hunters in this region. Fleeman also expects 2008 to be another good year for Delta turkey hunters.