Huachuca Gould’s Chapter Assists in
2022 Spring Turkey Surveys in Southeastern Arizona
What: Annual Gould’s Turkey survey in southeastern Arizona.
When: April 8th through April 10th, 2022
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, Patagonia, and Canelo Hills of southeastern Arizona. Results are used to determine population trends, recruitment rates, and future hunt permit numbers for Gould’s Turkeys in Department Units 35A and 35B.
The Chapter established Base Camp near Parker Canyon Lake for the 3-day survey. This year marked the return of a full-service camp with a covered dining area and breakfast, lunch, and dinner offered to surveyors and volunteers. There was even a fund-raising raffle on Saturday evening.
Surveyors went afield again Sunday morning to cover the few remaining routes. Camp breakdown began after breakfast later in that morning.
The weather was very cooperative. Temperatures over the 3-day period ranged from highs in the 80s to a low one morning of around 32º F. Skies were mostly clear with strong winds holding off until after camp breakdown on Sunday morning.
In addition, John Millican, President of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter, offered a Saturday afternoon camp presentation on Gould’s Turkey biology, habitat requirements, and hunting techniques to the participants. Even some slate calls were available for field use.
Around 20 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 permit holders for the upcoming Gould’s hunt learned more about the locations of birds as well.
To complete the survey, remaining routes (especially on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains) were covered the following week.
Additionally, the survey offered an opportunity to visit many of the water developments and habitat improvement projects in the area that the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter has built over the past 20-plus years. Information gathered will be used to schedule needed maintenance during the rest of 2022.
Survey results will be added when compiled by Brittany Oleson of the Arizona Game and Fish.
Overall, conditions could be considered as dry or even drier that last year at this time. For the most part, available water was much reduced compared to previous surveys.
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 and family, Wayne Kaiser, Tom Fuller, Joey Fuller, and Tom Deecken for assembling and tearing down base camp and preparing the meals. They were assisted by John Millican, Brittany Oleson, Brad Fulk, Laura and Ray Zoratti, and Paul Campbell. Most are active members of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter.
And thanks go to all the surveyors, cooperators, and volunteers.
Good luck in the upcoming turkey hunts!
001 The Location
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002 First Day Survey Routes Assigned
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003 Upper Turkey Creek Catchment Inspected
005 Friday Evening Dinner and Survey Route Discussion
007 Water Available for Wildlife Inside of Neighbor Spring Exclosure
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004 Float Adjustments on Upper Turkey Creek Catchment
006 Grab ‘n Go Breakfast Burritos Ready Saturday Morning at 0430 Sharp!
008 Dinner is Served Saturday Night
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009 Good Looking Spaghetti Sauce
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010 And look at all of those desserts with ice cream to go on top!
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011 Let the Raffle Begin
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012 Items Offered in the Raffle and what a selection
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013 Muffins and More Breakfast Burritos for Last Day of Survey
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014 Sunday Morning…...Turn Out the Lights, The Party’s Over
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