SOUTHEAST REGION
Over the past few seasons, the turkey hunting across the Southeast Region has continued to improve. In fact, I have been fortunate enough to fill all of my spring tags around my home in several areas throughout Whitley County for the past several years. In addition, I have also noticed more and more turkeys in the woods during fall squirrel and deer hunts. Many hunters across other counties of the Southeast Region have been reporting similar accounts. This region should continue to yield high numbers of birds and the hunting will only get better.

During the 2005 spring season, there were several counties of the Southeast Region that recorded impressive harvest numbers. For example, Pulaski, Cumberland, Wayne, Rockcastle and Whitley counties all hit around and above the 300-bird harvest mark last year. Hunters in Pulaski County tagged 388 birds, which secured the No. 13 spot in the entire state in total harvest. Cumberland County was not too far behind with 352 filled tags, ranking it as the No. 15 county in the state in total harvest.

Hunters should not overlook Casey, Bell, Jackson, Lincoln and McCreary counties this spring as well. All of these areas reported solid harvest numbers last season and are expected to generate impressive numbers again this April. Are you still wondering how good the turkey hunting is across the state?

Consider this: The Southeast Region, despite its success, was unable to produce a county that broke into the 2005 top 10 harvest counties. Nonetheless, I promise you the turkey-hunting opportunities in this region are still first-rate. These statistics simply show that statewide the turkey hunting is awesome. Hunters can take advantage of 26 different wildlife management areas (WMAs) and countless acres of the Daniel Boone National Forest. In fact, there were 589 turkeys checked in from the Daniel Boone National Forest alone last season.

NORTHEAST REGION
The Northeast Region has turned some heads over the years by putting up some solid harvest numbers. For instance, during the 2005 spring season, Bracken, Pike, Carter, Lawrence and Morgan counties boasted respectable harvest numbers. Bracken County led the region, as hunters bagged 310 birds here last season, which ranked the county as No. 19 in total harvest in the entire state. All of these counties are expected to have repeat performances again this spring.

However, hunters should also be sure to check out Mason, Lewis, Nicholas, Rowan, Floyd and Greenup counties this April. These counties all recorded decent harvest numbers and show a great deal of potential for hunters this season. Expanding turkey populations and excellent hunting opportunities are exactly why hunters need to take a close look at the counties of the Northeast Region. Furthermore, Dewey Lake WMA in Floyd County and Yatesville Lake WMA in Lawrence County provide hunters with some first-rate public-land turkey hunting.

BLUEGRASS REGION
The Bluegrass Region encompasses several counties in the central part of the state that have been red hot in recent years. Did you know that Pendleton County broke into the state's coveted top five total harvest counties last year by recording an astonishing 510 turkeys? Even more impressive is the fact that both Owen and Hardin counties reported harvests well over the 400-bird mark. Without question, the turkey hunting in the Bluegrass Region has been explosive to say the least.

Other counties in the region yielded high harvest numbers as well. In fact, Grant, Nelson, Anderson and Henry counties all hit around or over the 300-bird harvest mark. These numbers simply translate to a target-rich environment for Kentucky turkey hunters. The good news is that these same counties are predicted to be hotspots once again this season. In addition, the Bluegrass Region offers some excellent public-land hunting on the Taylorsville Lake WMA, which encompasses 11,672 acres of land to chase after longbeards.