When Georgia’s turkey hunting season opened March 24, hunters had expectations of 2017 being a stronger turkey season than 2016.
To verify the season meets expectations, hunters can volunteer to participate in the annual Turkey Hunting Population Index Survey. Also known as the Harvest Card Survey, the survey provides data on hunter effort and success, and serves as an important index of the turkey population.
They survey has two components—the turkey production index survey and the turkey hunting population index survey.
For each hunting trip, hunters are asked to record the date, number of hours hunted, county or physiographic region hunted, the number of gobblers seen, the number of hens seen, the number of gobblers heard, the number of gobblers killed, and if they hunted or guided someone.
To participate, hunters can print the survey and fill in the information each they go hunting. Print the survey by clicking here.
At the end of the season, hunters can turn in their survey by taking a picture of the completed form with a smartphone and emailing it to bobby.bond@dnr.ga.gov.
To mail the printed survey form, send it to: Bobby Bond, GA DNR, 1014 MLK Blvd, Fort Valley, GA 31030.
Hunters with questions about the survey can send an email to bobby.bond@dnr.ga.gov.
All successful turkey hunters, including those under 16 years of age, landowners, honorary, lifetime, and sportsman license holders, are required to have a Harvest Record for the current season, even if they are not required to purchase any license or a big game license, or their big game license has not expired.
All harvests must be reported within 72 hours through Georgia Game Check.