GOULD’S TURKEY SURVEY
Huachuca Mountains, Canelo Hills, and Patagonia Mountains
Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona
April 4th through April 6th, 2019
~~~~ Story and Photos ~~~~
What: Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter assisted the Arizona Game and Fish Department with its annual Gould’s Turkey survey in southeastern Arizona.
When: April 4th through April 6th, 2019
Where: Huachuca Mountains, Canelo Hills, Santa Rita Mountains, and Patagonia Mountains in southeastern Arizona
General Information: For another year, the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation assisted the Arizona Game and Fish Department with turkey surveys in the Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains and Canelo Hills of southeastern Arizona. Routes were run in the nearby Patagonia Mountains this year as well. Results are used to determine population sizes, recruitment rates, and future hunt permit numbers for Gould’s Turkeys in Department Units 34A, 35A, and 35B.
The Chapter established Base Camp near Parker Canyon Lake for the 3-day survey. After long hours in the field, the busy camp crew provided hearty meals for the surveyors Saturday and Sunday. Dinner Saturday night was especially tasty. Dave Kemnitz’s mixture of 37 pounds of Boston Butt and 24 pounds of Pulled Pork made great BBQ sandwiches. Added were mixed salads, zucchini slices, ranch beans, homemade French fries, drinks and Bob Pourier’s famous Dutch oven cobbler.
Dinner was followed by a raffle of dinnerware, wine with decanter, mugs, and stuff bag.
Surveyors went afield again Sunday morning to cover a few remaining routes. Camp breakdown began after breakfast later in that morning.
Over 35 turkey enthusiasts worked out of the base camp this year. Most were representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter. Several private landowners participated, also. A number of permit holders for the upcoming Gould’s hunt learned more about the locations of birds as well.
Per Brittany Oleson, Wildlife Manager with the Arizona Game and Fish, the survey results were:
Unit 34A- 16 toms, 44 hens, 12 jakes, 0 unknown Total of 72 birds
Unit 35A- 84 toms, 169 hens, 46 jakes, 33 unknown Total of 332 birds
Unit 35B- 14 toms, 26 hens, 8 jakes, 0 unknown Total of 48 birds
Thanks go to Brittany Oleson (Arizona Game and Fish Department) and John Millican (Huachuca Gould’s Chapter) for organizing the survey.
Special thanks go to Dave Kemnitz, Wayne Kaiser, Joey Fuller, Tom Fuller, Bob Pourier, Toni Sterner, Chris Sterner, Randy Keiller, Stephanie Johnston, Dave Johnston, and Dave Inman for preparing and serving the meals and setting up base camp. They were assisted by John Millican and Tom Deecken. All are active members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter.
And thanks go to all the surveyors and cooperators. ~ and Good luck in the upcoming turkey hunts!
When: April 4th through April 6th, 2019
Where: Huachuca Mountains, Canelo Hills, Santa Rita Mountains, and Patagonia Mountains in southeastern Arizona
General Information: For another year, the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation assisted the Arizona Game and Fish Department with turkey surveys in the Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains and Canelo Hills of southeastern Arizona. Routes were run in the nearby Patagonia Mountains this year as well. Results are used to determine population sizes, recruitment rates, and future hunt permit numbers for Gould’s Turkeys in Department Units 34A, 35A, and 35B.
The Chapter established Base Camp near Parker Canyon Lake for the 3-day survey. After long hours in the field, the busy camp crew provided hearty meals for the surveyors Saturday and Sunday. Dinner Saturday night was especially tasty. Dave Kemnitz’s mixture of 37 pounds of Boston Butt and 24 pounds of Pulled Pork made great BBQ sandwiches. Added were mixed salads, zucchini slices, ranch beans, homemade French fries, drinks and Bob Pourier’s famous Dutch oven cobbler.
Dinner was followed by a raffle of dinnerware, wine with decanter, mugs, and stuff bag.
Surveyors went afield again Sunday morning to cover a few remaining routes. Camp breakdown began after breakfast later in that morning.
Over 35 turkey enthusiasts worked out of the base camp this year. Most were representatives from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter. Several private landowners participated, also. A number of permit holders for the upcoming Gould’s hunt learned more about the locations of birds as well.
Per Brittany Oleson, Wildlife Manager with the Arizona Game and Fish, the survey results were:
Unit 34A- 16 toms, 44 hens, 12 jakes, 0 unknown Total of 72 birds
Unit 35A- 84 toms, 169 hens, 46 jakes, 33 unknown Total of 332 birds
Unit 35B- 14 toms, 26 hens, 8 jakes, 0 unknown Total of 48 birds
Thanks go to Brittany Oleson (Arizona Game and Fish Department) and John Millican (Huachuca Gould’s Chapter) for organizing the survey.
Special thanks go to Dave Kemnitz, Wayne Kaiser, Joey Fuller, Tom Fuller, Bob Pourier, Toni Sterner, Chris Sterner, Randy Keiller, Stephanie Johnston, Dave Johnston, and Dave Inman for preparing and serving the meals and setting up base camp. They were assisted by John Millican and Tom Deecken. All are active members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter.
And thanks go to all the surveyors and cooperators. ~ and Good luck in the upcoming turkey hunts!
001 An Oak Woodland in the Huachuca Mountains was one of the habitats surveyed for Gould's Turkey
003 This must be Base Camp
005 Meanwhile out back Dave Inman (l) and Bob Pourier keep the burgers and hot dogs coming
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002 A water development in upper Bear Canyon was working as designed
004 Just in time for lunch served by Wayne Kaiser (r) and Dave Kemnitz
006 This year homemade fries were added to the menu
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007 On the dinner chow line John Millican does serving duties
009 Be sure to fill your plate!
010 Don't forget to have some of Bob Pourier's Dutch oven cobbler for dessert
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008 Dave Kemnitz's mixture of Pulled Pork and Boston Butt made for tasty BBQ sandwiches
011 The dinner crowd talks turkey
012 Dinner on Saturday was followed by a raffle of several interesting items
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013 Brittany Oleson (l) of the Arizona Game and Fish organizes surveys for Sunday morning
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014 A cozy fire closes out Saturday night in Base Camp
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015 Stephanie and Dave Johnston help breakdown Base Camp on Sunday morning
017 The crew folds up one the canopies
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016 Making sure that campfire is dead out!
018 Bob Pourier puts everything in its place for the trip home on Sunday morning
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019 Did you count me? Or the rest of them hiding?
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020 (Hope to) See you next year and good luck with your hunts!
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