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The spring turkey season ends today. We will look at the harvest figures next week. Meanwhile, let’s take a look at what the turkeys will be doing when the hunters are gone.

Mating season is also ending and it is time for the hens to prepare their nests. In most areas nests can be found in a shallow dirt depression surrounded by moderately woody vegetation for concealment. Hens look for locations close to food and water and with ample cover to safely conceal themselves and their poults once hatched. Hens are leery of predators such as coyotes, foxes, raccoons, and skunks; but they do leave the nest unattended for brief periods to feed and drink.

Hens will lay a clutch of a dozen eggs or more during a two-week period, usually laying one egg per day. She will incubate her eggs for up to 28 days, occasionally turning and rearranging them, until they are ready to hatch.

A newly-hatched flock must be ready to leave the nest to feed within 12 to 24 hours. For the first two weeks the poults are unable to fly. They will eat insects, berries and seeds; the adults will eat the same plus acorns and small reptiles. Turkeys usually feed in early morning and in the afternoon. The mother turkey will roost on the ground with her poults until they can fly, and they flock together all year, even through the winter.

n Here is another Becoming an Outdoor Woman event for East Tennessee. It will be a BOW Field Day at the John Sevier Range in Knoxville on Saturday, June 20. Women and men age 18 and older are eligible. The clinic goes on rain or shine. The fee is $25, which covers a morning session, then lunch and an afternoon session.
The clinic includes instructions on: Basic archery, introduction to firearms, introduction to pistol shooting, Dutch oven cooking, outdoor perils, women’s self defense, boating safety, and all-terrain vehicle operation. Two of the above activities can be chosen.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is the principle sponsor. Registration is taken on a first-come basis. Apply early. Applications may be obtained from the TWRA Web site at www.tnwild

life.org, or by contacting Donald Hosse, Wildlife Education Program Coordinator, at don.hosse@tn.gov or telephone 615-781-6541.

n The generosity of outdoorsmen for wildlife conservation is remarkable. In 1937 they initiated a federal excise tax, the Pittman-Robertson Act, on shooting, hunting and archery equipment to benefit conservation. After 72 years the contributions have exceeded five billion dollars. Later the Dingell-Johnson Act was enacted to contribute funds through sport fishing equipment.

It doesn’t stop there. On a local level outdoorsmen have a major impact on wildlife conservation with myriad sports banquets, special events and fundraisers through their favorite clubs and organizations. Here are two examples.

Last week I mentioned the Chattanooga Chapter of Safari Club International had donated its second Robo-turkey to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, a poacher-stopper that goes for $1,100 a pop. They have followed that up with more.
Last week the Chattanooga SCI accepted from the TWRA the two bullet-riddled white-tailed deer hides of the club’s donated Robo-deer; the club will get them replaced for about $650 apiece. Then the Chattanooga SCI surprised the TWRA with a donation of two video cameras, three handheld GPS units and five Camelback water backpacks for their use in wildlife enforcement.

The Chapter is also on target, in conjunction with the SCI Conservation Fund, to meet its pledge of $20,000 for the Tennessee Elk Restoration Project.
Thank you, Chattanooga SCI. To other organizations with similar contributions to local conservation, let me know.

n You can enjoy yourself while contributing to wildlife conservation. Plan on visiting Troutfest 2009 in Townsend Friday-Sunday at the Townsend Visitors Center. This is the good times fundraising festival of the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. There is fun to be had for all ages, and admission and parking are free. Enjoy bluegrass music, crafts, food, and games of all kinds.

The activities begin at 6 p.m. on Friday with the banquet and auctions. On Saturday and Sunday the TroutFest outdoor festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Townsend Visitors Center. For more information call 865-558-8782 or go to www.troutfest.org. Banquet and auction tickets can be purchased there.

For the past five years this LRCTU fundraiser has raised more than $50,000, which was donated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department for brook trout restoration projects.

Tom Wiest welcomes news, questions and comments from readers. Contact him at wiest.tom@gmail.com.