2021 Spring Turkey Surveys in Southeastern Arizona

The Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation assisted the Arizona Game and Fish Department with turkey surveys in the Huachuca and Patagonia Mountains and Canelo Hills of southeastern Arizona. Survey dates were April 16th through April 18th, 2021. Results are used to determine population trends, recruitment rates, and future hunt permit numbers for Gould’s Turkeys in Department Units 35A and 35B.

Chapter volunteers established Base Camp near Parker Canyon Lake for the 3-day survey. This year grab-and-go breakfast burritos and coffee were available on Saturday morning for the surveyors

John Millican, President of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, offered a Saturday afternoon camp presentation on Gould’s Turkey biology, habitat requirements, translocation efforts, and hunting techniques to the participants. A variety of calls for field use were available, also.

Over 30 turkey enthusiasts worked out of the base camp this year. Participants included representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, private landowners, and permit holders for the upcoming Gould’s hunt.

Per Brittany Oleson, Wildlife Manager with the Arizona Game and Fish, the survey results and tag information were (as of July 12th, 2021):

Unit 35A- up to 25 toms, up to 167 hens and unknowns, up to 22 jakes. Total of 214 birds seen; 30 tags issued with success rate not known yet

Unit 35B- Total of 48 birds seen; 6 gobbler tags issued with 2 birds harvested