PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Members of the National Wild Turkey Federation kicked off 2013 by attending the annual Sportsman’s Show at Gentile Hall in Presque Isle on April 6-7, meeting with turkey hunters of all ages. Activities for the organization are in full swing this month, with a dinner in the Star City on Friday, Youth Day and the spring season just around the corner.
“With spring quickly approaching hunters in Maine will be preparing for the upcoming wild turkey season. It officially begins April 27 with Youth Day for children less than 16 years of age. Then on April 29, the statewide spring season for wild turkey begins and runs through June 1,” said Paul Camping, of Caribou, local chapter president.
Camping said with the population of wild turkey growing in this region and with the likelihood of a statewide season, more hunters are seeking out these feathered prey.
“The Crown chapter of the NWTF has a busy year planned and is looking for local support,” he said.
“The first event scheduled is our annual Hunter Heritage Banquet on Friday, April 19, at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle. We put on a great meal, games, raffles, auctions with chances to win exclusive NWTF merchandise and on average we give out one gun per 10 adults at the event. I don’t know of any other organization that has a ratio that’s that high,” Camping said.
The organization’s members work to promote responsible hunting, recognizing the importance of education in preserving the hunt for future generations.
“Recognizing the future of our conservation efforts begins with the education of our youth, NWTF has an active JAKES — Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship — program. We have plans to use a brand new trailer that was donated to the state, filled with shooting supplies aimed at young people to start developing their interest in hunting,” said Camping.
He said the Jakes Take Aim trailer includes an indoor shooting range where youngsters can learn to take aim and fire with BB guns.
“There is also equipment for an outdoor range where older kids can use air rifles to fire at targets,” said Camping. “We are planning to partner with the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club for this event that will allow kids to learn to shoot at no charge.”
Dates for the shooting days will be set later this spring.
The organization continues its effort to increase the turkey population throughout the state.
“Our chapter plans to increase wild turkey populations by continuing our trap and transfer program. Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has been trapping turkeys from areas of southern Maine where they’re very plentiful and transferring them to release sites in our local area,” said the president.
To lure birds out into a suitable situation for netting, bait is set out by state employees. Once a flock of birds begin using a bait site regularly, a trapping crew — comprised of state officials and volunteers — sets up the rocket net.
“A trapper waits in a blind for the birds to come in, and when they settle onto the bait, the net will be detonated and three small rockets will quickly shoot the net over the turkeys. Crews then remove the birds from the net and place a leg band on each bird and put it into a specially-made turkey transport box that ensures safe transport to a release site,” explained Camping.
Camping said the Crown chapter will be working on local habitat improvement projects that will not only help support wild turkey populations but will also benefit grouse, deer and many other wildlife species that share the habitat.
“As we work towards this goal, we will focus our efforts based on the priorities established by science: work in areas where it is possible to have a meaniful impact on habitat and wildlife populations; begin the process at the local level, which will then build to support the regional and national goals; and focus on four key habitat types: forest, streamside corridors, fields and meadows, scrubland and grasslands,” said Camping.
He said NWTF members are working with other organizations to improve the quality of wildlife in the region.
“As we team with other local conservation groups such as the Aroostook County Conservation Association (ACCA), Presque Isle Fish & Game Club, Ducks Unlimited — to name a few — and develop partnerships, we can improve the quality and availability of turkey hunting in northern Maine. Then, everyone wins — the hunters, the habitat and the wild turkeys too,” Camping said.
Over the past few years, Camping said numbers in the local chapter have been on the decline — in large part due to the low number of turkeys in Aroostook County.
“I think that probably has a lot to do with the numbers of birds we have in the area at this point,” said Camping. “People may not feel like there’s anything else to do.”
Efforts are made year-round to build interest in the organization and like-minded groups.
“With the help of volunteers, we plan year-round activities that offer education to the general public, camaraderie with like-minded outdoor enthusiasts, and management help to area landowners. Money raised at NWTF banquets and other events is used for this purpose,” he said.
“These initiatives will only succeed with the dedicated support of hunters, sportsmen and NWTF members and volunteers. The Crown chapter of NWTF and its committed volunteers believe in doing what’s necessary to establish more wild turkeys in our area and are committed to creating vibrant and healthy upland habitat,” said Camping.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Crown chapter of the NWTF or joining can call Camping at 498-6120 or find the group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NwtfCrownOfMaineChapter.
Doors open for the dinner at 5 p.m., with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Northeastland,436 Main St.; Ben’s Trading Post, Parsons Road or at the door the night of the event.
