"After three years of slightly declining harvests, last year's increase was a welcome sight to most turkey hunters in the Commonwealth," said Steven Dobey, Turkey Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).

"These fluctuations in numbers, however, are typical of growing or expanding wildlife populations that are approaching carrying capacity in some portions of their range," the biologist continued.

In recent years, Kentucky has started to become a real turkey hunting hotspot in the eastern United States. With reasonable license fees, over-the-counter tag sales, nearly 250,000 birds, and a success rate that consistently runs over 30 percent, it's not hard to see why hunters from all over have begun targeting the Bluegrass State to take their eastern wild turkey.

Their immense success today makes it hard to believe that in 1954, biologists estimated that only 850 wild turkeys existed in Kentucky, statewide. But through an intense 19- year restoration project, which resulted in the release of 6,760 birds across 430 sites, that number has grown to over 200,000 birds, with turkeys present in all 120 counties of the Commonwealth.

With such a tremendous season last year, can hunters expect a repeat for 2007? Unfortunately, three previous years of lower-than-average reproduction could finally catch up with us this spring.

"The effect of 2005's poor reproductive success was evident (last spring), as jakes comprised only 14.5 percent of all birds harvested," Dobey explained. "This is down from 21 percent in 2005."

Fewer jakes last year, of course, means fewer 2-year-old birds available this spring. And since 2-year-old birds do most of the gobbling and comprise the bulk of the harvest, hunters might find it a little tougher to fill their tags this spring.

That's not to say that it still won't be a good spring for many Kentucky turkey hunters.

"Kentucky's turkey flock appears to be in exceptional condition," said Dobey. "And while we have potential for exceptional harvests every year, fluctuations will likely be the norm for Kentucky as the turkey population stabilizes."

So just where should the Commonwealth's turkey hunters turn for some great turkey hunting action this year? Try one of these top 10 counties from last year, and you're sure to get in on some of the best turkey hunting that Kentucky has to offer.

OHIO & MUHLENBERG COUNTIES
Ohio and Muhlenberg counties have long reined supreme when it comes to spring turkey harvest numbers. In fact, hunters were harvesting over 600 birds per season in Ohio County, and nearly as many in Muhlenberg County, when no other county in the state reported a harvest over 400. Last year was no exception, as hunters bagged 689 and 593 birds, respectively.

Ohio and Muhlenberg counties border one another in what is known as the Green River Region of Kentucky. This region of the state seems to have just the right mix of woodlands, crop fields, and pasture for turkeys to thrive. In fact, for last year's spring turkey harvest, seven of the top 10 counties are all located in this same geographic area.