2017 spring turkey harvest was third highest

INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana hunters harvested more than 13,000 wild turkeys during the 2017 spring wild turkey season, according to the Department of Natural Resources.

This is a seven percent increase from the 12,081 turkeys taken during the 2016 spring season and the third-highest spring turkey harvest on record.

The youth season was April 22-23. The regular spring turkey season was April 26 to May 14.

Weather did not appear to be a limiting factor, despite large amounts of rainfall and flooding.

Annual statewide harvest figures have leveled off since a peak in 2010 of 13,742 turkeys. Recent annual spring harvests have ranged from 11,000 to 12,000 birds.

Additional harvest information will be available with the release of the Spring Turkey Harvest Report, which should be online after Memorial Day.