"The Green River Region has the greatest proportion of quality turkey habitat in the state," reports Dobey. "As such, turkey numbers are highest in these counties because there is enough food, cover, roosting habitat, and nesting habitat."

For hunters who don't have access to private land in one of these two counties, over 60,000 acres of public land are available in the form of the Peabody Wildlife Management Area (WMA). During the 2006 spring season, hunters harvested 329 birds on this WMA, with 296 of them being mature gobblers. That accounted for nearly 15 percent of the entire public-land harvest in Kentucky.

Peabody WMA is a unique area in terms of its terrain. Much of the acreage is reclaimed coal-mined land, with numerous excavated ridges and water-filled strip-mine pits. The terrain can be rough and varies from swampland to high ridges and deep pits. Over the last several years, a lot of habitat work has been done on the WMA, creating an ideal mixture of open grasslands and timbered woodlots.

Peabody WMA is located along the Western Kentucky Parkway and has numerous access points from state Route 70 and 369, and U.S. Route 62. There is an intricate system of gravel "haul" roads throughout the area as well, so be sure and obtain an area map before heading out.

Hunting Peabody WMA requires a $12.50 user permit that you can purchase wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold, and Peabody is one of the few WMAs where primitive camping is permitted. Be aware that portions of the area are closed as a waterfowl refuge, so be sure to obtain a map and check your hunting guide for additional regulations. Questions regarding the WMA can be directed to the local KDFWR office at (270) 273-3568.

PENDLETON COUNTY
Pendleton County, known as the land of meandering rivers and rolling hills, had the third highest harvest during the spring of 2006. It is the only county in the Northeast Region to make the top 10 list. Hunters in that county managed to harvest 591 birds -- an increase of 15 percent from 2005, and an incredible 31-percent increase from the 450 birds harvested in 2004.

No WMAs are currently located in Pendleton County, so hunters will have to rely on private-land opportunities to fill their tags there.

BUTLER COUNTY
Located in the Green River Region, Butler County borders both Ohio and Muhlenberg counties, sharing much of the same topography and habitat that makes those two counties so productive for turkeys. Last year, hunters harvested 581 turkeys in the county, up 13 percent from the 515 birds harvested in 2005, and 4 percent from the 556 taken in 2004.

Unlike Ohio and Muhlenberg counties, Butler does not have any public hunting land to speak of. Instead, hunters will have to seek permission on private lands to take advantage of this county's great turkey-hunting opportunities.

BRECKENRIDGE COUNTY
Breckenridge County also falls within the Green River Region, bordering Ohio County to its southwest and the Ohio River to the north. Like Pendleton County, Breckenridge has been a rising star over the last few years, going from the 12th-highest harvest of 433 birds in 2004, to its fifth-place finish in 2006 with 562 birds.