First, let's get back to the record-harvest trends that have been the rule in recent years. Since the harvest of 2003, which was slightly less than the 2002 harvest, harvests in Indiana have steadily increased. Nevertheless, the 2006 harvest increase of 18 percent was exceptional. In 2004, the harvest was at an all-time high and increased by 4 percent over the previous year. In 2005, the harvest became another all-time high, also increasing by 4 percent. So why is it that in 2006 the harvest suddenly exploded?

According to Steve Backs, Indiana's forest wildlife biologist, it was the bountiful hatch of 2004 that contributed most to the exceptional harvest of 2006.

"When we look at the age structure of the harvest, we see that adult gobblers accounted for about 86 percent of the harvest," Backs noted. "Part of what played into the adult harvest was that we recorded our highest production in 2004. Then we turned around and recorded our lowest production in 2005, which kind of skewed down the jake harvest of 2006."

Jakes made up only 14 percent of the total harvest in 2006, while 2-year-old birds accounted for 67 percent. Three-year-old and older gobblers made up 19 percent. When compared with recent years, we see that jakes accounted for a whopping 33 percent of the harvest in 2005, because of the excellent hatch of 2004. In 2004, jakes accounted for 24 percent of the total harvest.

However, Backs said that we can't read too much into the harvest statistics of 3-year-old and older turkeys, simply because 2-year-old gobblers are the ones that typically make up the bulk of the harvest. We also know they do much of the gobbling and become the most vulnerable. It's also true that hunters can seldom be selective when an adult bird comes to the call. If he carries a long beard, he's considered an adult bird.

Of course, hunter selection is a factor when it comes to jakes versus adult birds. Biologist Backs claims that in many regions of the state, particularly those in the southern half where you'll find a larger number of veteran hunters, jakes are often passed on. Whereas, in the northern half of the state, there are newer hunters who are perfectly willing to shoot a jake.

Backs stated that statistics have shown jakes often make up about 50 percent of the harvest in the north, but a far smaller percentage of the harvest in the south. Because productivity of broods is usually no lower in the northern regions, we can assume that jake harvests are higher, primarily because some hunters don't choose to wait for adult gobblers.

Nevertheless, that's not to say we shouldn't shoot jakes. On the contrary, they provide hunting opportunities and often make the difference of harvesting a turkey or coming home empty-handed. It's also true that northern hunters don't have the number of turkeys that we find in the south, nor will they hear as many gobbles.

Because the hatch is vital toward future success, and because the 2004 hatch contributed most to the record harvest of 2006, hunters are wondering what lies ahead. Backs said that early indications of 2006 show many turkeys have been seen.

"Reports are still coming in, so we don't know for sure. But those hens that were born in 2004 were adults in the spring of 2006. We might not have had as high of a poult-per-hen ratio, just because of all the wet weather that occurred. Some of the weather stations reported rain 3 or more inches above normal," Backs explained.

However, Backs still believes that because of the large number of adult hens that the hatch will be good. He also believes that late summer and early fall rains of 2006 will have an effect. The wet weather delays the harvest of crops and could result in more waste grain available to turkeys, which could lead to a higher survival rate of poults, and a higher harvest of juvenile birds in the spring of 2007.

"I've had reports of guys seeing birds where they have never seen turkeys before," Backs said. "This leads me to believe that populations have expanded into new areas. I think overall our turkey population is the highest it has ever been."