Wild Turkey Federation continues support for transplant program

[Rick]

Wild Turkey Federation continues support for transplant program

The Minnesota Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) is continuing its support for a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) program to trap wild turkeys from large flocks in southeast Minnesota and release them in areas of the state with suitable habitat.

NWTF CEO Rob Keck and Minnesota chapter President Dave Mahlke presented the DNR with a check for $35,000 for the trap and transplant program at the 10th annual Minnesota chapter convention held recently in Rochester.

"The long-term partnership we've developed with the NWTF has led to an exceptionally strong wild turkey program," said Bill Penning, DNR farmland wildlife program coordinator. "It has allowed us to increase turkey hunting permits again in 2005."

The DNR will be offering 31,864 permits this year, up 15 percent from last year.

The NWTF funding will be used to hire an additional three trappers (for a total of six) this winter. More than 145 birds have already been moved this winter to northern and western Minnesota. To date, approximately 4,200 birds have been released in 60 Minnesota counties.

Minnesota's wild turkey season, which consists of eight five-day seasons, runs from April 13 through May 26. In the spring of 2004, hunters harvested 8,434 birds, which was the 10th consecutive record harvest.

[setterguy]

One of the greatest wildlife reintroduction programs ever..my hats off to the MN DNR and the [PoorWordUsage]. I don't think the DNR in this state gets enough credit for the truley great opportunities we have in this state. Hopfully we can raise that number a bit this year. Good luck everyone that is hunting.