"We have continued to see the population grow, which is why we increased our permit numbers from 110 to 140 two years ago," Cole said.

It is a very popular place to attempt to secure a permit and it can take years of preference to be drawn for one of the early-season hunts. I usually put in for one of the May hunts and have only missed one drawing in the last three years. Of course, it was last year I missed, so I'm chomping at the bit to get out this year. There are many huge toms throughout the WMA, but the increased number of jakes will help fill the tag just in case one of those big boys refuse to come into shooting range. Lac qui Parle WMA

Just shy of 24,000 acres in size, the Lac qui Parle WMA is usually noted for its excellent waterfowling and deer hunting opportunities. Many hunters don't know that it's also a great place to hunt turkeys ever since they were first introduced here over 10 years ago.

"This has been one of the better production areas in the state over the last decade, but this past spring and fall, I personally saw more hens with broods and jakes than ever before," said Dave Trauba, wildlife manager for the LQP WMA.

Even though LQP is thought of as nothing but marshes and grasslands, there are many deep ravine areas and drier oak forests where turkeys thrive.

"We have old woodlots that most of the hunters use to turkey hunt, though the valleys of the Chippewa and Pomme de Terre rivers are good spots as well," Trauba said.

There are plenty of food plots throughout this WMA, and finding turkey roosting grounds near those spots is a great place to start.

"We have a very active food-plot program here that sustains the pheasants and deer throughout the winter, but it is a major food supply for turkeys as well, and I'm a true believer in the system," Trauba said.

Trauba invited hunters to stop by the LQP office for the locations of those food plots, though they show up on the aerial photography available on the DNR's Web site at no cost. The DNR also has ground-cover maps for all state WMAs on its Web site that show the different types of ground cover and vegetation.

"We are working on a more detailed map, but if you stop by our office, we're more than happy to tell you what's going on," he said. Detroit Lakes Area