What's that sound, was it thunder? To many outdoor enthusiasts the call of the male wild turkey may sound like rolling thunder. What many consider the "King of American Game Birds", the wild turkey is quite vocal during the spring breeding season. The call (gobble) of the wild turkey in the east Tennessee mountains is an unforgettable sound.

Male turkeys (Tom or gobbler) usually begin attracting female (hen) turkeys by gobbling in late winter or early spring. This thunderous sound is a sure sign that spring is in the air. Gobblers are very competitive and become quite vocal at times.

Turkeys can be found throughout the Cherokee National Forest, but that has not always been the case. At the turn of the 20th century, unregulated hunting, human encroachment and poor land management practices greatly reduced wild turkey populations throughout the nation. Nationwide, only 30,000 turkeys remained in isolated flocks. Today, the wild turkey population is estimated to be over seven million birds in 49 States. This achievement is a tribute to the support and dedication of State and Federal agencies and countless individuals and organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF.)

Through continuing partnerships the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and organizations including the NWTF, and the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, considerable effort has been made to create, improve and protect wildlife populations and habitat in the Cherokee National Forest. The majority of the 640,000 acre Forest is open to hunting and is managed jointly between the Forest Service and TWRA as a wildlife management area (WMA.)

The 2008 Tennessee statewide spring wild turkey season opens March 29. Many outdoor enthusiasts believe the Cherokee National Forest (Forest) offers the ultimate turkey hunting challenge. The steep rugged terrain and remoteness of much of this area makes it a unique place to hunt. Although turkeys can be found in most of the Forest, they can be difficult to hunt.

Much of the Forest is rugged and steep with elevations ranging from 1,200' to near 5,000'. Experienced hunters must rely on topographical maps and a compass or a global positioning system unit to make the most of their hunts. Approximately 50% of the roads within the Forest are closed to vehicular traffic but are open to foot travel unless posted otherwise. Some hunters use these roads to get closer to more inaccessible areas. Many of the closed roads are maintained as linear wildlife openings that provide food for a variety of wildlife and “bugging" areas for poults (young turkeys.) Insects are an important source of protein for young birds.

Doing pre-season scouting, knowing how to read a map, knowledge of turkey habitat and habits, physical stamina and "stonewall" determination are keys to a successful turkey season in the Forest. Hunters often walk ridge tops and closed roads in hopes of hearing a turkey gobble. That's the easy part. When a hunter hears a turkey gobble it often requires a cross-country trek to get into position to hunt the bird. This sometimes forces hunters to drop off into deep hollows and climb steep rugged slopes. It is not uncommon to hike an hour or more once a hunter has heard a turkey gobble just to get close to the bird.

For the determined hunter a typical morning hunt in the Forest covers from three to six miles. Experienced hunters say there's just no easy way around it - you have to be willing to work hard at turkey hunting in the mountains!

Many people hunt the Forest because of the challenges it offers. Many believe that if it was easy it wouldn't be as rewarding. Harvesting a turkey is only one aspect of a hunt. Using your map reading skills, going into places that most other hunters don't, and enjoying the sights and sounds of the spring woods are all part of why many people hunt the Cherokee National Forest. Even though the Forest is extremely rugged some people wouldn't dream of going anyplace else.

With the Tennessee spring turkey season just around the corner Forest Service officials remind hunters to check with the TWRA for specific hunting regulation information. The TWRA is responsible for setting seasons and bag limits, and for licenses/regulations. TWRA offices in Crossville (1-800-262 6704) and in Morristown (1-800-332-0900) can provide this type of information, or visit the web site: www.tnwildlife.org.

General national forest information and maps are available at Forest Service offices in Greeneville (423-638-4109,) Unicoi (423-735-1500,) Tellico Plains (423-253-8400,) Benton (423-338-3300,) and in Cleveland at (423) 476-9700, or visit the web site: www.fs.fed.us/r8/cherokee.

The next time you visit the Cherokee National Forest in the spring be on the lookout for the King of Game Birds, and listen for the thunder!