The Top 5 counties statewide were Dickson County at 896, Greene at 826, Maury at 778, Giles at 743, and Montgomery County at 733 birds harvested. Of the Top 5, all were Region II counties other than Greene County from Region IV.

In a region-to-region breakdown, Region I was led by Henry County with a total spring harvest of 675 birds. Hardeman County was second in Region I with a harvest of 622, followed by Hardin County’s take of 591 birds. Hickman County was fourth with a take of 559 turkeys, followed by Carroll County’s harvest of 505 birds in the fifth place slot.

Again, Region II was led by the statewide leader in Dickson County’s harvest of 896 turkeys. Maury County was second in Region II with a harvest of 778 birds, followed by Giles County in third with 743 turkeys taken. Montgomery County was fourth in Region II with its 733 birds, followed by Rutherford County’s harvest of 616 to round out the Top 5 there.

In Region III, Jackson County was the top turkey producer with 487 birds tagged. The second spot in Region II belonged to Clay County hunters with a take of 369 gobblers. The third position went to White County’s harvest of 339 birds, followed by Overton County’s take of 333 turkeys in the fourth spot. Dekalb County rounded out the Top 5 spots in Region II with a total spring harvest of 313 turkeys.

Again, Greene County was the overall leader in Region IV with a harvest way out in front of everyone else there with 826 turkeys harvested. Hawkins County took the second place honors with 585 birds harvested, followed by Claiborne County’s harvest of 415 turkeys in the third spot. Cocke County’s harvest of 367 gobblers was fourth best, followed by Jefferson Country’s kill of 312 birds to round out the Top 5 in Region IV.

Honorable mentions need to go to hunters in Region II in Wilson County for their harvest of 606 birds and Wayne County for a take of 574. Also, Humphreys County deserves a mention in Region I with its harvest of 481 turkeys.

BONUS FALL AND WMA TURKEY OPPORTUNITIES
The fall turkey harvest may seem insignificant numbers wise, but what the fall hunts mean are more opportunities for hunters. There are currently more than 60 counties in Tennessee that feature fall hunts. There is a one-week hunt usually held in November just in time to get that Thanksgiving bird in all of the counties. There’s also an additional five-day hunt in December in 24 of those counties.

In the fall of 2006, Tennessee turkey enthusiasts were able to bag 2,247 birds. Region II was the leader in the clubhouse with more opportunities and more birds tagged at 1,649 of the fall total. Region I hunters took 193 turkeys, and Region II produced 183 fall turkeys, followed by Region IV’s second-best total of 222 turkeys. On the fall hunts, hunters are allowed one turkey of either sex.

The Region II fall kill was led by Maury County with 124 birds. Region I’s best fall turkey county was Henry County with 28 tagged. In Region III, Dekalb County hunters were by far the best with a harvest of 68 birds. Hawkins and Greene counties in Region IV took top fall honors in 2006 with 38 turkeys each harvested.

Fall turkey hunts are also allowed on 19 wildlife management areas (WMAs). On those hunts, a total of 151 fall birds were taken in 2006, with Chuck Swan WMA leading the way as usual with 68 of them.