"I honestly can't completely account for that," Olson said. "Our habitat is not any better than some places, but hunters always seem to do real well around here, and that should be the truth again this spring." Sauk Rapids Area

A healthy population of jakes is showing promise in the Sauk Rapids area, according to DNR wildlife manager Fred Bengston. "We had an outstanding spring last year for turkey reproduction, and that should translate to a good spring this year," Bengston said.

Bengston said there haven't been any down surges in the population over the years. "Most of the time, the population has held its own or is increasing, but this year there should be a big jump," he noted.

The Sauk Rapids area is a relatively newer part of Minnesota's turkey range, though it's old enough that the birds have really taken hold. The turkey population continues to expand in the area, and they have occupied almost the entire area with the exception of a few open farmland sections. Because the population has increased, Bengston said they slightly increased the number of permits available for this spring's season. Along with the turkey population, the number of hunters has increased over the years, and it's becoming another traditional hunt for people in the area.

"It's really spreading around here as people who try it and love it introduce turkey hunting to their family and friends," Bengston said.

Bengston said the harvest for his area continues to go up every year, and is among the best in the state. The biggest challenge for hunters is that most of the available hunting land is privately owned. "I'd say 90 percent of the turkeys around here are taken on private land, making it harder for people to get on," Bengston said. "But if you have contacts or the time to make some contacts, you can get on some good places."

WHITEWATER WMA
I took up turkey hunting several years ago and have had nothing but a great time hunting the 27,500 acres this wildlife management area occupies. Some years, I've hunted the top of the bluffs in the many food plots the DNR maintains, while in other years, I've hunted down in the valley of the Whitewater River. The WMA is very accessible to the public, but big enough that you can be the only hunter in your area.

Jon Cole, the DNR's Whitewater area wildlife manager, said this year should be a great one because there has been good reproduction the last two years. That will make for plenty of first-year birds as well as numerous more mature gobblers.