Spring Illinois Recreational Access Program Turkey Applications Out

Here at Capitol Outdoors, we say this a lot, it's that time of year again!  Yep, it's that time of year again, to apply for the turkey hunting on Illinois Recreational Access Program participants land.  Below you'll see the dates, information and how to's of applying for the IRAP hunting opportunities.

Have you ever said to yourself, I wish I had some private land to hunt on?  Well, that's what this is!  IRAP works with landowners, that have specific regulations to help make the best habitat for wildlife, and opens their land up for hunters.  Success rates are high and hunting is fierce.  

IDNR Offers 2019 Spring Turkey Hunting on Private Property Through the IRAP Public Access Program

Youth Hunters and Adult Hunters Can Apply Today

Illinois Archery Turkey Harvest Numbers See Slight Increase

In the hunting, fishing and outdoor community there are so many niches.  Many of those cross, such has hunting and fishing in general.  However, there are those that specifically only hunt deer or in this case turkey.  While some of these may have been harvested through a deer hunt, it's great to see a healthy turkey population.  One of America's most successful conservation stories.

The preliminary numbers are out for the fall turkey.  Below you'll see that the numbers are up slightly but, the number that has me smiling is the consistency of the numbers over the five year average.  If you're interested you can check the county by county numbers HERE.

Through Wednesday, October 31, 2018, Illinois archery turkey hunters harvested a preliminary total of 348 turkeys, compared to 325 for the same period in 2017. The 5-year average harvest total for this time period is 316. 

The top counties for harvest were Cass (12), Jefferson (11), Pike (10), Macoupin (10), Lasalle (10), and Jackson (10). 

Harvest has consisted of 62% hens and 38% toms (205:127) 

(The Fall Archery Turkey Season opened on Oct. 1, 2018 and continues through Jan. 20, 2019)

2018 Illinois Youth Spring Turkey Season Recap Shows Decline

Not much else to say, the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources sums it up! 

A brief summary of the 2018 Illinois Youth Spring Turkey Season from the IDNR Division of Wildlife Resources:

Youth turkey hunters harvested a preliminary total of 1,156 birds during the 2018 Illinois Youth Turkey Season. In 2017, a total of 1,531 turkeys were taken, marking a record harvest. Weather undoubtedly was a factor in this year’s decline in harvest as youth hunters experienced unseasonably cold temperatures throughout the four-day season.

First Youth Season Shows Decrease in Turkey Season

While Capitol Outdoors and countless other high school anglers were being knocked around by high winds on Saturday, the woods and fields had youth striving for that elusive turkey.  Below you'll see the numbers for the 2018 first youth turkey season and as you can see there was a decrease which we believe had a lot to do with the weather.

The calendar says Spring, but Winter holds on for First Youth Turkey Season

Turkey Applications for IRAP Now Available

The sounds of a Tom gobbling into shooting distance are what turkey hunters wait all year for. At the turn of the century the number of the wild turkey were drastically low. Today, that number has turned around because of hunters and conservation groups like the National Wild Turkey Federation.  However, if you hunt turkey, finding a location to go can be difficult. Over the past few years Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) has been wildly successful.  In fact the program was so successful at the start with the youth that they opened it up to adults.  Well that time is back, IRAP applications are being accepted for the spring turkey season.  See below for all the information provided by the IDNR.

Let’s Go Turkey Hunting! IRAP Taking Applications Now for Spring

Youth Hunters Apply by February 23 for Youth Season; Hunters Apply by March 18 for Seasons 3 and 4

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) is encouraging youth and adult hunters to plan now to enjoy spring turkey hunting during the 2018 Illinois Spring Turkey Season, with access to excellent turkey habitat available through IRAP.  

Illinois Archery Fall Turkey Numbers Up

Earlier this week we posted about the Fall Shotgun Turkey Season Numbers.  Now it's time for the archery numbers.  Numbers are up. 

Through Tuesday, November 1, 2017, Illinois archery turkey hunters harvested a preliminary total of 334 turkeys, compared to 234 during the same period in 2016.

The top five county harvest totals were Cass (12), Fulton/Rock Island (11), Knox (10), and Clinton/Hancock/Marion (9), Jefferson/Jo Daviess/Ogle (8).

For those that are interested here is a County by County Break Down.

Illinois Fall Shotgun Turkey Season Numbers In

Deer season is  in full bloom and waterfowl season is kicking off across the state, however many took part  in turkey season, in hopes of adding wild turkey to the table this Thanksgiving.  During October 21st  thru the 29th, 56 counties harvested a preliminary total of 350 wild turkeys.   This is a decrease of 35 birds compared to the 2016 season.  Below you'll see the county by county numbers as well as top counties provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Preliminary Turkey Numbers Show Increase in Harvest

Gobble, Gobble, preliminary numbers are in from Illinois' turkey season and the numbers show an increase from last year.  However, if you read below you'll see the southern zone actually harvest less turkeys this year compared to last. It's because of the youngesters who are included in these numbers why we see an increase in harvest numbers this year.  Check out this years youngsters numbers.   Below you'll see the press release from the IDNR.  If you're interested in just you're county harvest numbers.

Hunters in Illinois Harvested 15,719 Birds During 2017 Spring Turkey Season

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary statewide total of 15,719 wild turkeys during the 2017 Spring Turkey Season, including the youth season. The 2017 total compares with the statewide turkey harvest of 15,484 in 2016. The statewide preliminary total includes the record Youth Turkey Season harvest of 1,541 birds, compared with youth season harvest of 1,045 turkeys in 2016. 

Spring turkey hunting was open in 100 of Illinois’ 102 counties. The 2017 seasons were April 3-May 4 in the South Zone and April 10-May 11 in the North Zone. The Youth Spring Turkey Season was March 25-26 and April 1-2. This was the first year the youth turkey season was open for two weekends statewide, rather than one weekend for the South Zone and one for the North Zone.

Turkey hunters this spring took a preliminary total of 6,842 wild turkeys during all season segments in the South Zone, compared with 6,694 last year in the south. The North Zone preliminary harvest total this year was 8,877 wild turkeys, compared with 8,790 in the north in 2016.

“Weather always plays a big role in harvest numbers and 2017 was no different,” said Luke Garver, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wild Turkey Project Manager. “For the first two-thirds of the season, harvest trends were well above average. The significant rain events we experienced across much of the state slowed harvest considerably. Despite a rainy end to the spring season, this year marked the third consecutive season of an increased harvest total. Additionally, we were encouraged to see the youth season being the success it was.”

The top counties for spring wild turkey harvest in the South Zone in 2017 were Jefferson (412), Jackson (359), Union (359), Randolph (349), and Pope (348). The top five North Zone counties for spring turkey harvest this year were Jo Daviess (610), Pike (404), Adams (395), Fulton (378), and Hancock (325).

The table below includes the preliminary 2017 county-by-county spring turkey harvest results with comparable totals for 2016:

Illinois Spring Turkey Season Harvest County Totals
County 2017 2016
Adams 395 389
Alexander 156 134
Bond 142 135
Boone 74 76
Brown 298 357
Bureau 163 157
Calhoun 239 210
Carroll 213 195
Cass 210 213
Champaign 26 22
Christian 51 41
Clark 181 158
Clay 219 210
Clinton 82 86
Coles 45 39
Crawford 210 166
Cumberland 48 54
DeKalb 16 21
DeWitt 54 45
Douglas 2 6
Edgar 80 85
Edwards 85 96
Effingham 117 86
Fayette 276 233
Ford 10 10
Franklin 166 152
Fulton 378 446
Gallatin 112 129
Greene 147 157
Grundy 56 56
Hamilton 252 234
Hancock 325 325
Hardin 134 145
Henderson 135 139
Henry 75 82
Iroquois 75 60
Jackson 359 313
Jasper 140 131
Jefferson 412 420
Jersey 187 187
JoDaviess 610 568
Johnson 264 278
Kane 5 2
Kankakee 35 34
Kendall 18 15
Knox 274 267
Lake 1 1
LaSalle 117 137
Lawrence 141 117
Lee 116 100
Livingston 26 19
Logan 43 37
Macon 26 27
Macoupin 275 303
Madison 213 241
Marion 337 380
Marshall 82 69
Mason 154 141
Massac 104 103
McDonough 140 137
McHenry 83 62
McLean 68 63
Menard 101 105
Mercer 203 192
Monroe 157 169
Montgomery 188 175
Morgan 126 147
Moultrie 29 24
Ogle 214 189
Peoria 153 153
Perry 252 233
Piatt 8 10
Pike 404 393
Pope 348 356
Pulaski 114 95
Putnam 45 37
Randolph 349 372
Richland 113 106
Rock Island 202 191
Saline 123 125
Sangamon 133 110
Schuyler 277 360
Scott 98 73
Shelby 120 117
St. Clair 126 140
Stark 13 6
Stephenson 248 231
Tazewell 57 65
Union 359 354
Vermilion 133 136
Wabash 56 48
Warren 68 75
Washington 131 149
Wayne 317 297
White 169 153
Whiteside 162 160
Will 73 51
Williamson 309 308
Winnebago 185 175
Woodford 79 103

Total: 15719 15484

https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/IllinoisSpringTurkeyHarvestByCounty2017.pdf

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck and Stay Safe

                       

Illinois Youth Turkey Hunters Harvest Preliminary Record

Looks like the youngsters this year did really well during the youth turkey season.  Below you'll find preliminary harvest report from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Here is a link to the PDF which is easier to compare counties and last year harvest numbers - https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Documents/IDNR-YouthTurkeyHarvest2017.pdf

2017 Illinois Youth Turkey Season Preliminary Record Harvest Totaled 1,541 Birds

2017 Illinois Youth Turkey Season Preliminary Record Harvest Totaled 1,541 Birds

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Youth turkey hunters harvested a preliminary record total of 1,541 birds during the 2017 Illinois Youth Turkey Season. The dates for this year’s season were March 25-26 and April 1-2. This was the first year two youth turkey hunting weekends were open for the entire state. Previously, there was one weekend dedicated for the north zone and one for the south. In 2016, a total of 1,058 turkeys were harvested, combining both seasons and zones. The previous youth season record harvest was in 2012, when 1,300 birds were taken. This year, a total of 5,601 youth turkey permits were issued, including 106 permits for special hunt areas. Last year, 4,761 permits were issued, including 113 for special hunt areas.

More Opportunities for Turkey Hunting Through the Illinois Recreational Access Program

More Opportunities for Turkey Hunting Through the Illinois Recreational Access Program

Ninety percent of land in Illinois is privately owned which leaves it hard, at times, to find places to go hunting.  Could IRAP be the future of the majority of hunting in Illinois? Have you ever used this program to hunt?  Are you a landowner that takes advantage of this program? Comment below and share your opinion.   

See below for IDNR press release:

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP) – a program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – has added adult turkey hunting to its growing list of outdoor recreation activities on private land in Illinois.

 Adult turkey hunting for the 2017 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season’s third and fourth season segments is available in Christian, Clark, Fayette, Greene, Macoupin, McDonough, Sangamon and Schuyler counties to any registered hunter. First-time adult turkey hunters (individuals who have not hunted turkey in the past 5 years) can also apply for Brown and Fulton counties in addition to the counties listed above.

Spring Turkey Hunting Report Summary

Gobble Gobble... The Illinois Department of Natural Resources released their Preliminary Spring Turkey Hunting Report. Numbers seem to be about the same as last year.  How has your season been?

North Zone: Turkey Hunters in the North Zone harvested 2,263 birds first season, compared to 2,343 during first season 2015.

South Zone: Turkey Hunters in the South Zone harvested 1,614 birds first season, and 1,272 birds second season. Last year’s totals were 1,526 and 1,333, respectively. Total harvest through 2 seasons was 2,886, compared to last year at 2,859.

Below is a county by county break down for North Zone first season and South Zone first and second season numbers.

IDNR Releases Preliminary Results of Youth Turkey Season

IDNR Releases Preliminary Results of Youth Turkey Season

Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Paul Shelton released the following information of the preliminary results of the youth turkey season in both zones. South Zone harvest was 450 (354 last year), while North Zone harvest was 599 (547 last year).  Below is a county by county breakdown and the numbers from last year.

County	2015	2016
Alexander	6	7
Bond	8	18
Clay	14	15
Clinton	4	6
Crawford	3	6
Edwards	8	5
Effingham	6	6
Fayette	17	28
Franklin	11	12
Gallatin	12	12
Hamilton	20	22
Hardin	7	4
Jackson	11	21
Jasper	6	8
Jefferson	20	31
Johnson	13	13
Lawrence	2	5
Madison	3	21
Marion	19	27
Massac	2	9
Monroe	15	10
Perry	13	10
Pope	7	6
Pulaski	4	7
Randolph	21	23
Richland	7	10
Saline	9	12
St. Clair	6	11
Union	25	23
Wabash	3	1
Washington	6	8
Wayne	9	16
White	10	11
Williamson	27	26
Total	354	450

Did you take youth out for turkey season this year?  Comment below and share your story if you did. 

Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation Banquets 2016

Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation Banquets 2016

Gobble, Gobble,  Turkey season is always around the corner.  Fall or Spring there's nothing like a turkey strutting into range.  The NWTF has a great program called "Save the Habitat Save the Hunt".  Go to a banquet and support conservation efforts here in Illinois and other parts of the country.  

Make sure to check out the Illinois National Wild Turkey Federation website.

Gobblers At Mcgraw 

1-14-2014

Contact: Brent & Cathy Manning
brent1722@yahoo.com
(217) 720-3683

Location: Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation
14 N 322 Route 25, 60118

__________________________________________

Bureau Creek Gobblers
1-22-2016

Contact: Kurt Freeberg
kurt.freeberg@yahoo.com
(815) 875-4089

Location: Bureau County Metro Center
837 Park Avenue West
Princeton, IL 61356

__________________________________________

5 Tips for Hunting Turkeys

 Everyone has their opinion regarding tips for turkeys hunting.  After hours of research we've come up with our 5 Tips for Hunting Turkeys.

• Research/Planning
• Weather you are a professional or a rookie; you need to do you're research.  Going online looking at maps, forums and other medias will help you come up with your game plan.  You need to visualize the hunt before you go and know where you are going.

• Scout

• Today we live in an online era of technology where information is rapid.  However, to get the Jake into your spread you'll have do some scouting the old fashion way. Get yourself in the hunting mood.  You don't want it to be opening day and not know what your surroundings are.  

•  Pattern your gun
• The reason why most guys miss a turkey is because they didn't pattern their gun.  Get out shoot some rounds and see what your pattern looks like.  We've found that our 20 gauge shoots to the right with the extra full choke in.  Being able to compensate for that will lead to more successful hunts.  

• Camouflage
• Having good camouflage is important to having a successful hunt.  Cover your face hands and stay still.  More important than having expensive camo is matching your surroundings.  If the area you are hunting is still taking its first breath of Spring air don't wear too much greens; instead wear browns. 

•  Calling
• Much like waterfowl hunting you want to practice your calling.  Getting in-tune is critical. If you're not great at calling at least you know that going into the field.  

5 Tips... It could be just as easy to make it 25 tips for turkey hunting.  If you have already searched for tips on turkey hunting and are lost in the how many there are; this list is for you.  When you break it down; these five tips will help increase your odds this turkey season.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors Good Luck and Stay Safe -

Subscribe       Facebook      Twitter     YouTube        Pinterest

Illinois Turkey Hunting - Right Around the Corner

Some of our Turkey Equipment

Illinois Turkey Hunting - Right Around the Corner

Gobble, Gobble. That's right spring is right around the corner and before you know it, turkey season will be here.

Last year was the first time Capitol Outdoors experienced a turkey hunt. Let's say, it was educational. However, with that experience behind us we're excited for our second turkey adventure.

Illinois Spring Turkey Hunting

A few months back Michael and I applied for a Spring Turkey tag.  Well, I got a permit and sadly Michael didn't.  However he looked at me with the biggest smile on his face and said I can't wait until turkey season.  Why I asked with a grin. Because this will be our best episode of Capitol Outdoors, he replied.  He said that I'll be the one hunting so he will be able to record the entire hunt.
I kept thinking to myself my first turkey hunt, I've never been turkey hunting.  I've only watched it on TV and enjoy eating them at Thanksgiving time.  Thankfully Michael has never been either so it will be a learning experience for the both of us.

Like any type of hunting there's a lot to learn.  I began researching, watching turkey 101 on YouTube and even attending turkey seminars.  I found several things that kept getting repeated and some that didn't, however all the information I have gathered will help a first-timer in the field.



Things to Remember:
1. Scout
2. Pattern your gun
3. Have the best camouflage you can afford
4. Calling
5. Research

Out of these five things there's one area I feel is the most important.  Calling!  Since Michael and I are on a budget, we bought a kit with a slate, box and diaphragm call in it at our local sporting goods store.  Now there's people out there that will say these are horrible calls, they don't sound like turkeys.  They very well may not sound like a turkey however, with our research we've found the biggest mistake for new turkey hunters is the tendency of over calling. So, we are going to do our best to not overcall.

We are also going to get out to the area that we are going hunting to Scout the area.  Mostly because I want to prepare myself of where I will be going that day and see what the area looks like to prepare ourselves for what we will need. Let's see if there are any turkeys there!

I have also purchased some new camouflage so that those turkeys aren't able to see me.  It doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to help cover you up and not be seen.

Now, I have never shot at a turkey before and I don't want the first chance I get to be blown by not recognizing how my gun shoots.  So, the first chance you get you should pattern your gun.  It will help you in the long run!

Watch our Youtube Channel for the Video of my First Turkey Hunt.

Remember Enjoy the Outdoors, Good Luck & Stay Safe.
Heather

Attention Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Permit Applicants

Attention Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Permit Applicants

This is an email we received regarding the First Lottery for the 2014 Spring Wild Turkey Permit:

The results for the first lottery for 2014 Spring Wild Turkey Permits will not be available before the deadline for the second lottery application on January 13.