Illinois' Spring Turkey Outlook
Turkey hunting success in the Prairie State should be about the same as last year. Here's how your county rates.
Photo by Bruce Ingram
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By Daniel D. Lamoreux
According to Paul Shelton of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, turkey production rates last year were "off somewhat" from those experienced the year before, but populations statewide have been doing so well that he doesn't anticipate any serious repercussions.
Some specific areas have seen minor declines while the west-central and northwest portions of our state have been experiencing good growth. Approximately nine or 10 sites across Illinois have been listed for additional supplemental turkey stocking. Due to financial constraints and other priorities, however, stocking efforts may not necessarily take place in the immediate future.
On the whole, Shelton expects to see spring turkey harvest results consistent with recent seasons.
The following represents our county-by-county rating for potential hunter success. Five categories were used to weigh three factors impacting your hunting potential: population strength, historical hunter success and accessibility to hunting land.
One point was awarded to each county that has experienced three consecutive years of increasing harvest totals; that had a total harvest last season greater than it's five-year harvest average; that has a turkey population strong enough to support a fall hunt; that has public ground available upon which turkeys can be hunted; and that issues permits specifically for a hunting unit within that county independent of, and in addition to, the county's general permits. The highest possible score is five points.
ADAMS - 4 Ranked third in the state for total harvest last season (518) and for five-year average harvest (499). Extensive public access.
ALEXANDER - 4 Stable harvest last three seasons with 107, 104 and 105 birds taken, respectively. Access on the Shawnee National Forest.
BOND - 2 Steadily increasing annual success, from 58 birds in 2000 to 119 last year. Low score due to lack of public access.
BOONE - 1 Five-year average kill of 24 birds, though last season spiked at 32.
BROWN - 4 Last season's harvest was right at the five-year average, with 273 birds bagged. This was down from the previous year by three-dozen toms. Expect similar results.
BUREAU - 2 Showing good potential with harvest totals climbing from 55 in 2001 to 100 last season but still a relatively small population and no public access.
CALHOUN - 1 Scored low because of erratic harvest results and a lack of public access, but ranked fourth in the state for total harvest last season (397) and for five-year average (416).
CARROLL - 3 Slight drop in harvest last season hurt their score but still remains relatively close to the five-year average of 236 birds. Public ground a plus.
CASS - 5 Sixth consecutive year of increasing harvests. Climbed to 205 last season from the previous 182 and the five-year average of 175. Plenty of public access.
CHAMPAIGN - N/A This will be the third spring season. The 2002 and 2003 spring results were 23 and 28, respectively.
CHRISTIAN - 4 Though numbers are small, harvests continue to increase. Last spring saw 48 kills, and the five-year average is 36. Public access to 2,300 acres.
CLARK - 1 After a four-year climb, last season's harvest dropped by nine percent to 106 birds. No public access and still a relatively small population.
CLAY - 2 Excellent harvest numbers, climbing from 120 in 1999 to 214 last season but no public access available.
CLINTON - 2 Slight drop in harvest last year (87) from previous high of 90. Numbers still unstable with moves both up and down over last four seasons.
COLES - 3 Last year was best in six with 30 toms in the bag. Five-year average is 24 and some public access is available.
CRAWFORD - 4 Good potential as filled tags increased again to 158 from the 1998 total of 63. Five-year average is 117 and access to public ground is a bonus.
CUMBERLAND - 2 Starting to show a positive trend with increased harvests over three seasons from 33 in 2000 to 70 last year.
DE KALB - N/A This will be the fifth spring season here, so they'll qualify for a score next year. Unexceptional performance experienced so far with harvests of 10, 13, 12 and 15 birds in each of the last four years.
DE WITT - N/A This will be the fourth spring season. To date, harvest numbers have been falling from 36 in 2001 to 27 last year.
EDGAR - N/A Last season was best in only four spring seasons, with 43 in the bag. Previously the totals have been 36, 27 and 32, respectively.
EDWARDS - 1 Numbers recovered last season (62) to the 2001 level (60) with a five-year average of 50. No public access.
EFFINGHAM - 1 Relatively stable over last five years with an average of 56 kills. No public access.
FAYETTE - 4 Showing excellent harvest increases to 131 last year from 57 in the 2000 season. Some public ground available.
FRANKLIN - N/A With three spring seasons under the belt, shows good potential. Harvest numbers have been 64, 83 and 104, respectively.
FULTON - 5 The 1998 season saw 191 toms taken. Numbers have climbed every year since then to reach last season's high of 418. Some public ground is available.
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