We hope you are having a great wild turkey hunting season so far!
 Spring wild turkey hunting season is underway and hunters are venturing into the woods to call in a mighty bearded tom, witness nature's awakening, and enjoy time outside with friends and family.
The season is open through Saturday, May 31 with opportunity throughout the state, so grab your turkey permit and make a plan to get outside!
Read on for an avian influenza update, turkey registration reminders, and safety tips.
What should I know about Avian Influenza?
Avian Influenza is a low risk to humans. Since the spring of 2024, several human cases of HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) have been detected in the United States. Most of these people were exposed to domestic cattle or poultry that had been infected with HPAI by wild waterfowl. Wild waterfowl, particularly ducks and geese, are the bird species most likely to be infected with and spread avian influenza viruses.
Although there is a low risk of wild turkeys being infected, you should practice safe hygiene when hunting, harvesting, and processing wild turkey:
- Wash your clothes and boots after coming in from turkey hunting, and before walking around any backyard poultry
- Clean your wild turkey thoroughly as well as any equipment used for processing
- Wash your hands and cook your wild turkey thoroughly (to 165° F) prior to eating
For more information on domestic animal and wildlife cases of HPAI, see the USDA HPAI website.
Turkeys can be self-registered online OR in-person at a registration station
To self-register a turkey online, hunters may use a phone, computer, or any electronic device with internet connection. If a hunter has poor internet connection, they must attach a transportation label (with their name, license number, and address) and drive to a location with better internet connection. Once self-registered, hunters will receive a seal number via email to confirm the wild turkey was registered. The confirmation can be saved to the device or printed. There is no fee to self-register a turkey online.
Hunters will need the following information to self-register a turkey online:
- MOSES ID (found on your hunting license)
- Last name
- Date of birth
- Current hunting license
- Current turkey permit if not included in license
- Current email address
Visit mefishwildlife.com/tagaturkey to self-register a turkey online.
Hunters who prefer to register their harvest in-person at a registration station are encouraged to do so. Click here for a list of in-person registration stations.
For more information on how to register wild turkeys in-person or online and how MDIFW uses harvest data to manage the State's wild turkey population and set bag limits, visit mefishwildlife.com/tagaturkey
|
Hunting safety tips
Hunting is one of the safest outdoor activities in Maine! Let's keep it that way by following these safety tips when heading into the woods:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded
- Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction
- Use safe carrying methods
- Always be certain of your target and beyond
- Flag your hunting area with orange tape or fabric to indicate your location to other hunters - a simple wrap of orange tape around a nearby tree does the trick
- Be aware of your surroundings and others around you - Remember that you will be sharing the woods with hikers, utility workers, woods operators, and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Be courteous, there are millions of acres to share!
- Protect yourself from ticks – consider treating your clothes with permethrin or other tick repellent according to the instructions on the container, tuck the loose ends of your clothing in, and check yourself routinely, learn more about tick prevention
- Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return
- Always bring a survival kit
|
