Florida Outdoors Digest: Report Wild Turkey Sightings

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is asking residents to keep tabs on the state’s wild turkey population.

The agency urges Floridians to report all sightings of turkeys—hens, poults, males—to the state through Aug. 31.

“Our goal is to reach 5,000 observations by the end of August, and we’re about 80 percent of the way there,” said Juliana Ofalt, FWC Wild Turkey and Furbearer Management Program Coordinator in a news release. “This survey is important for determining wild turkey nesting success, poult survival, and population distribution and abundance, and is used to manage Florida’s wild turkey populations for future generations.”

Florida’s annual summer wild turkey survey is part of a broader multi-state initiative aimed at better understanding the reproductive success and abundance of wild turkeys. This information is crucial for FWC biologists to manage and sustain healthy wild turkey populations for years to come.

To learn more and start reporting, visit MyFWC.com/Turkey.

SEPT. BIRD HUNT PERMITS

Phase I applications for September Waterfowl, Merritt Island Waterfowl, and Dove Permits in Florida are now open. A September Waterfowl Permit is required to participate in early season wood duck and teal waterfowl hunts on Guana River, Ocklawaha Prairie, T.M. Goodwin/Broadmoor Marsh and Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) Public Waterfowl Areas. A Merritt Island Waterfowl Permit is required to participate in waterfowl hunts on Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A Dove Permit is required to participate in scheduled dove hunts at Caravelle Ranch, Frog Pond, Hilochee, and Punta Gorda wildlife management areas.

Apply online at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com by signing in and selecting “Apply for Limited Entry/Quota Permits.” For more information about limited entry hunts, visit MyFWC.com/License and select “Limited Entry and Quota Permits.”

NEW MANATEE, TURTLE DECALS

You can help protect Florida’s manatees and sea turtles with newly designed decals from the FWC for 2024-25. The vibrantly illustrated decals can be placed on watercraft and vehicle bumpers and look equally great on water bottles, coolers, tackle boxes and laptops. New, waterproof decals featuring original artwork are released every year in July and are available for a $5 donation at your local tax collector’s office. Donations for decals go directly to funding manatee and sea turtle research, rescue and management efforts.

• “Protect Your Waterways, Protect Their Home” provides a reminder that manatees are found throughout Florida’s waterways including rivers, bays, canals and coastal areas. Keeping track of trash and keeping Florida’s waterways clean can prevent manatees from ingesting and becoming entangled in marine debris and waste.

• “A Generation of Protection Brings Record Results” highlights Florida’s efforts to protect sea turtles that resulted in record numbers of loggerhead and green sea turtle nests in 2023. Everyday actions such as keeping beaches clean and free of debris, removing recreational equipment at the end of beach visits and keeping beaches dark at night can protect nesting sea turtles and hatchlings from life-threatening situations.

You also can contribute to manatee and sea turtle conservation through purchasing a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” specialty license plate at your local tax collector’s office.

For more information on manatee and sea turtle conservation in Florida, visit MyFWC.com/Manatee or MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle. If you’re out of state or the new decals are unavailable at your tax collector’s office, or to view and collect decals from previous years (1992-2023), type “decals” into the search bar at MyFWC.com.

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