In the survey, hunters were asked about how many turkeys they observed and the statewide average was 12. Combine that with the number of days hunted, and it shows that the "average" turkey hunter sees four to six birds a day. The averages vary widely throughout the state, so that average could be as low as one to two birds a day and as high as almost 20 birds a day.

Another interesting statistic from the survey shows that 75 percent of the harvests came in the morning. The challenge behind this figure is wrapped up in the history of the hunt.

For the first two decades of Minnesota's hunt, shooting hours ran from a half an hour before sunrise to noon. That was expanded to the late afternoon until last year when it changed to sunset. The question remains as to whether or not that morning hunt has become a part of the tradition of turkey hunting or if it truly is the best time to bag a turkey.

The ever-pressing matter of land access is another issue the survey examined. The news is good considering the amount of development and the fact that the majority of Minnesota's turkey hunting habitat is in the southern and western two-thirds of the state where public land is in short supply.

Almost 86 percent of the surveyed hunters said accessing land was very easy or at least somewhat easy. A similar number said they mostly or exclusively hunted on private land, and less than 1 percent reported being denied permission by a landowner. Hunters reported observing very few other hunters in the field other than those in their hunting party and only 13 percent saw more than one person. Interference caused by those other hunters was also reported as being very rare.

Be smart this spring! Turkey hunting has added risks with no blaze orange requirements, the added foliage on the trees and challenge of fooling a turkey. Be sure of your target and keep turkey hunting as safe as it's been for decades.