(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Southeast Indiana was a haven for turkey hunters this past spring.

Wild turkey

The 2010 Spring Wild Turkey Harvest Check Station Results report from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources shows 13,742 turkeys were taken statewide – the highest total since the spring hunt began in 1970. The previous high of 13,193 came in 2006.

Southeast Indiana accounted for about 24 percent of this year’s harvest with 3,340 turkeys being taken in 14 counties in the region.  Thirteen counties in the south-central part of the state bragged 25 percent of the harvest with 3,406.

The top ten counties for the turkey hunt which lasted April 21 to May 9 were Harrison (607), Switzerland (508), Jefferson (451), Dearborn (426), Warrick (368), Franklin (366), Marshall (363), Steuben (363), Perry (355), and Clark (347).

Thirty counties had more than 200 birds harvested including Ripley County (269).

Ohio County finished near the middle of the pack with 180 turkeys taken by hunters.

LINKS:

IDNR 2010 Spring Wild Turkey Harvest Report - http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-MR_1000_Spring_Wild_Turkey_Harvest.pdf