Recent statistics show that Kentucky turkey hunters experienced a remarkable 31 percent success rate last spring. Furthermore, the level of turkey hunting in Kentucky has improved immensely over the past few years, generating an explosion of participation among our state's hunters. Ask any turkey biologist or hunter and they will tell you that Kentucky offers some sensational hunting.

Just about everyone who turkey hunts knows and has a deep respect for Harold Knight of Knight and Hale Game Calls when it comes to the topic of hunting, especially turkey hunting. Knight has over 50 years experience chasing after longbeards to his credit. In fact, this Kentucky native has successfully harvested gobblers all across our great nation. Knight secured a piece of turkey-hunting history by taking the first official world-record turkey in Butler County back in 1979. Harold's knowledge, experience and woodsmanship skills make him a longbeard's worst nightmare!

As a prominent member of the outdoor industry, Harold Knight has hunted just about everywhere and anywhere you can find turkeys. With that in my mind, how does Knight rate the turkey hunting in the Bluegrass State in comparison with other areas?

"I would have to say that the turkey hunting in Kentucky is topnotch. Without question, my home state has to be one of my favorite places to hunt each spring. It's just the atmosphere; I love the sound of a spring whippoorwill before daylight, the long hardwood ridges, winding creek bottoms, and the open green fields that serve as a reminder that I am home," Knight explained.

"Furthermore, Kentucky has excellent resources and solid populations of turkeys across the state. During the reintroduction-stocking program, the last set of birds that were released came from Missouri. These gobblers are beautifully marked, large in size, and very vocal in the spring. This is the type of bird that a turkey hunter dreams about running into in the spring. I started hunting turkeys in Kentucky back in the 1960s at the Land Between The Lakes. I have watched the turkey hunting in the Bluegrass State develop over the years and grow into a turkey-hunting powerhouse. Kentucky turkey hunters have access to some of the best turkey hunting around," Knight said.

Knight has traditionally focused his turkey hunting in the western counties of the state close to his home. However, he has always wanted to try other regions, especially the mountainous counties of the Southeast Region. The Knight and Hale team have tagged more than their fair share of Kentucky longbeards over the years. Last spring, Knight was able to fill one of his Kentucky tags with a bow on film. This hunt created some awesome footage that you can check out on the Knight and Hale video series this season. Harold is already fired up for this spring and you can bet your bottom dollar he will be hitting the turkey woods of the Bluegrass State hard this April.

I don't know about you, but I can relate to how Harold Knight is feeling. I am pretty pumped up for this season myself. With that in mind, what can turkey hunters expect this spring across the Commonwealth?

All indications are pointing toward another productive upcoming season this April. With solid hatch recordings and results from the 2005 spring statewide harvest report, the state's current turkey population is holding steady at around 200,000 birds. The KDFWR turkey biologists rate Kentucky's wild turkey population as stable and secure. With impressive turkey numbers like these, where exactly are the best places in the Bluegrass State to fill a tag this spring?