Turkey season begins with a bang
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
RICH HOPPE, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildife, served as guest speaker at the NWTF dinner held April 19 in Presque Isle.
Staff photos/Kathy McCarty
AUCTION ITEMS at the National Wild Turkey Federation dinner, held April 19 at the Northeastland in Presque Isle, included sculptures, paintings and a model car designed for a child.
MAURICE PELLETIER, of Caribou, holds the shotgun he won at the NWTF dinner in Presque Isle on April 19.
TONY ROBICHAUD, of Presque Isle, was all smiles upon hearing he’d won a rifle at the NWTF dinner in Presque Isle on April 19. This marked his second win from the organization in as many weeks. Robichaud also won the rifle raffle from the group during the Sportsman’s Show.
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Saturday marked the kickoff of spring wild turkey season, with April 27 designated as Youth Day. Two young men from Mapleton were among those lucky enough to get a bird on opening day.
Isaac Adams, 12, and his friend, RJ Gross, 13, joined RJ’s father, Robby Gross, for a hunting trip over the weekend. The group ventured to the Dover-Foxcroft area where both boys were successful in their quest.
“It was Isaac’s first time turkey hunting,” said his mother, Anita Adams.
Despite lacking full tail plumage, Adams said her son was pleased with his bird.
“It only had about half its tail feathers. He said every time it tried to raise its tail the feathers would fall. They think it might have been attacked at some point and lost feathers that way,” said Adams. “He didn’t care. He was pleased with what he got.”
“RJ’s turkey weighed 17 and three-quarter pounds, while Isaac’s bird weighed in at 18 pounds,” said Robby Gross.
Gross and his son were among the nearly 100 people who attended the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, held at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle on April 19.
“Turkey hunting is a great way to spend time with my son. We look forward to the trips,” said Gross.
While turkeys have been released in Aroostook County, hunting is still not allowed, according to Rich Hoppe, wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, based in Ashland.
Hoppe served as guest speaker at the dinner, providing a statewide turkey update for the audience.
“There’s currently a turkey shortage. A turkey virus downstate has created a quarantine situation, stopping the transport of birds north,” said Hoppe, noting that over the past three or four months there hasn’t been much going on with the virus.
“We may be able to start bringing birds up again next year,” he said.
According to Hoppe, the birds previously relocated in Aroostook County are doing well.
“The past four mild winters have helped to get them going. These turkeys are tough. They’re going to make it,” said Hoppe.
He said turkeys have been released in six or seven towns, including Perham and along Route 11, and are doing well.
“We have two or three good populations. We may trap and transport some of them to other locations — move them around,” said the wildlife biologist.
Hoppe said the decision to release along Route 11 was to avoid issues with cattlemen, dairymen and local truck farmers.
“With any complaint, I have to move 20 miles. That’s why I started along Route 11. Then 67 were released in Perham. I’m now looking at a spot in Washburn,” said Hoppe. Once they’re more established, Hoppe said the area may get a hunting season.
Hoppe said while there are birds in the Dyer Brook and Benedicta region, the “population isn’t what’ I’d like.”
“They’ll have to populate on their own,” said Hoppe, since there are no plans to relocate more birds in that area.
Hoppe said he was pleased with the birds’ adaptation to Aroostook but hopes reproduction increases.
“They’ve done awfully well but I’d like to see them expand,” he said. “They’re just not taking off.”
When transporting birds, Hoppe said he likes to have three times the hens to the number of toms.
“I’m loading up 50-60 to a town so they can expand,” said Hoppe.
With hunting season upon us, Hoppe advised hunters to watch for the virus and try to avoid taking birds that are affected. He said the virus could be temporary and is believed to work through the bird’s system.
“This virus causes minor to extreme lesions on the turkey’s head and legs. It can spread between birds by direct skin contact or through the bites of mosquitoes,” said Hoppe. The more common name of the virus is LPDV, which stands for lymphoproliferative disease virus. He said while the meat may be OK to eat, he recommended avoiding it if possible.
Hoppe advised anyone coming across such a bird to save a sample for DIFW.
“If anyone has road kill or should get one spring hunting, keep the foot and send it in,” said Hoppe.
For more information on turkey hunting or LPDV, call Hoppe at 435-3231.
Ben LeBlanc, Tony Robichaud and Maurice Pelletier were among the top winners of the evening, with LeBlanc and Robichaud taking home rifles, while Pelletier won a shotgun. In addition to the dinner, participants also enjoyed both a silent and regular auction, featuring a variety of sport-related items.
