The National Wild Turkey Federation and Michigan Department of Natural Resources will introduce the third Turkey Tract in southern Michigan at the Barry State Game Area in Barry County on Friday, April 13.

The event will be at 1:30 p.m. at the new Turkey Tract location, off M-179 (north side) just west of Yankee Springs Road, at 8386 M-179, Middleville.

“We are excited to share this hunting opportunity with everyone,” said Randy Heinze, DNR wildlife biologist for Barry, Eaton and Calhoun counties.

“The partnership between NWTF and the local businesses is extremely important, and we are happy to be working with them.”

A large kiosk, giving hunters area information and local business discounts, will be unveiled at the new Turkey Tract site. Surrounding businesses provide a discount when hunters take a “selfie” with the kiosk. 

“Turkey Tracts are designed to promote and highlight public access to quality turkey hunting, educate the public of ongoing habitat management and the impacts on wildlife and people, and build a connection with the users of these Turkey Tracts and local community businesses,” said Ryan Boyer, district biologist for the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Wild turkeys are found in all 68 counties of the Lower Peninsula and most counties in the Upper Peninsula, where the species has continued to expand its range. In 1977, only 400 turkeys were taken during the Michigan hunting season. However, by 2014, annual numbers of turkeys taken had reached 30,000 birds. Michigan is now ranked eighth in the nation for number of turkeys taken by hunters.//

“We’ve had hunters from all over the country and many international hunters come to Michigan to hunt turkeys,” said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist “The comeback of the wild turkey is one of the greatest wildlife conservation stories, and we are happy to share our success with others!”

Boyer will give a tour of the new Turkey Tracts area, describing habitat management practices that benefit turkeys and other wildlife within the game area. Management practices include timber cutting, selective use of herbicides, invasive species treatment and removal, selective annual and perennial plantings, and prescribed burns.

Boyer will also speak on the importance of partnerships.

“Because of the partnership NWTF has with the DNR and local supporting businesses, we are able to make these Turkey Tracts happen which allows hunters to experience turkey hunting in a way they may not have been able to in the past,” he said.

NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said, “Habitat work is so important to the success of these Turkey Tracts. This work parallels with NWTF’s Save the Habitat Save the Hunt initiative.”