Spring turkey season will open Tuesday

Turkey season in Mississippi will open Tuesday.

The youth turkey season began March 8 for hunters ages 15 and under and concludes Tuesday. Turkey season ends May 1.

The bag limit for the season is one adult gobbler with at least a 6-inch beard each day, not to exceed three during the season. Youth hunters may harvest one gobbler of choice a day, not to exceed three for the season.

Spring turkey season is closed in Coahoma, Quitman, and Sunflower counties.

Turkey numbers were low in 2015, but Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks officials expect a strong year. A main reason for improved numbers are the jakes, one-year gobblers from 2015. The birds are now 2 years old and legal for harvest this spring.

"Any time we see jake observations go up, we usually see an increase in harvest the following year," MDWFP Wild Turkey Program Coordinator Adam Butler said. "On top of the numbers of jakes seen last spring, most of the state had an average to good hatch last summer, so overall turkey numbers should be steady or on the uptick."

Spur lengths determine the age of a harvested gobbler. Spur lengths are classified into four length categories based on the longer of the two spur measurements for each. Spurs less than a half-inch long are classified as jakes or 1-year-old gobblers. Lengths between ½-inch and 1 inch are generally two years old. Gobblers with spurs of 1 to 1¼-inch are considered 3 years old. Birds with spur lengths over 1¼-inch are considered 4 and older.

The state is divided into five turkey Regions. Turkey Region 5 consists of 18 Southeast counties, including Harrison, Hancock, Stone, George and Jackson counties.

Delta, Southwest Mississippi, Northeast and East-central regions remain the state's top spots for turkey hunting.

This story was originally published March 12, 2016 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Spring turkey season will open Tuesday ."