2020-2021 Hunting Forecast: Wild Turkey and Squirrels

Fall Firearm

There is no question that the Fall Firearm Turkey Season is the most underutilized of the three turkey seasons. The season falls in late October and the dates are set by rule-of-thumb; this year they are October 24^th through November 1^st. Fall is a time of year when many hunters are getting into the full swing of archery deer hunting or are gearing up for the waterfowl season. Believe it or not, however, in much of the country fall turkey hunting has a deeper tradition than in the spring. Whether it was because hunters were trying to secure that Thanksgiving bird, or just were already out hunting other species, fall was the preferred time to pursue turkeys.

While traditions have obviously changed in modern times, the 10-day fall shotgun season offers a unique and challenging opportunity to chase these birds during a wonderful time of the year. County quotas are far from being filled every year, making odds of securing a permit for your favorite county a virtual sure thing. County-specific permits are available over-the-counter, allowing hunters the opportunity to use the lottery to apply for site-specific permits which can be much more competitive. Just like the Fall Archery season, hunters can purchase up to two permits apiece and they are good for one turkey of either sex. The season is open in 56 counties on the western edge of the state.

Fall Archery

The Fall Archery Turkey Season provides the most opportunity of the three turkey seasons. The season is by far the longest, (Oct. 1 2020 – Jan. 17, 2021) and is open in every county in the state. In addition, permits are available over-the-counter and are valid statewide. Participation in this season has decreased over the last 15 years, but not relatively as much as the Fall Gun season. Many hunters hunt wild turkeys opportunistically during this season while also archery deer hunting. However, for the dedicated archer, there are few hunts as challenging and rewarding as pursuing a turkey with a bow or crossbow.

The reproductive index calculated from the 2019 Brood Survey was extremely low, indicating a bad hatch. A partial explanation for the low number of turkeys could be a result of changes in data collection and analyzation for the 2019 season. Nonetheless, turkey hunters may see slightly fewer birds this fall compared with last fall.

Spring

It’s always difficult to predict what the next Spring Turkey Season will be like this far out and, for a multitude of reasons, the 2021 season may be even harder. Harvest totals for the 2020 season were way up. The Youth Season saw a record harvest and the Regular Season posted the highest total seen since 2012. However, harvest totals were up across the country and are almost certainly a reflection of stay-at-home orders and increased hunter effort and not necessarily a reflection of improving turkey populations. Furthermore, harvest totals may have been up to 10 percent higher were it not for statewide closures of state-run public hunting sites.

The brood survey during summer 2019 resulted in a record low poult:hen ratio, indicating a very poor hatch. However, the methodology of the survey was updated, which may account for a small portion of the dramatic decrease. The percentage of jakes in the harvest fell quite a bit relative to last year which further implies poor reproduction in 2019. The 2020 brood survey is currently under way, but weather for nesting and brood rearing has been relatively favorable across the state. Fingers are crossed for greater reproductive success this summer. With most public hunting sites essentially acting as refuges this spring, we can only hope it boosted turkey populations in and around those areas as well.

Squirrels

The season on Illinois’ most accessible game mammal is nearly upon us. Squirrel season opens statewide on August 1 and runs through February 15.

“Forecasting” the season of Illinois’ most accessible game animal is difficult as fox and gray squirrels are very abundant and the season is underutilized. Squirrel season opens statewide on August 1^st and runs through February 15^th. Squirrel hunting is a popular first-time hunt for many, and a great way for even the seasoned hunter to perfect their skills early in the season. Learn more about by reading Squirrel Hunting Opportunities in Illinois are Abundant.

For additional information on turkey and squirrel hunting consult the latest Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

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Luke Garver is the Wild Turkey Project Manager with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources.