Quantico’s wild turkey population is booming this year, and the first hunters to get a shot at it were youths 15 and younger who participated in Saturday’s youth turkey hunting day. Turkey hunting aboard the base opens to the general population April 13, 2013.

 “We’ve almost completed the preseason turkey count, and the numbers are very strong,” said Tim Stamps, head of the base Natural Resources Section.

For more than 40 years, teams of “listeners” have run designated routes on the base, using calls to prompt turkey gobbles and counting the responses. Only twice before have the number of responses exceeded 120, but this year’s count was already at 119 with a few days before its conclusion.

Stamps credited relatively mild winters and decent acorn crops for the abundant population.

Turkey hunting will be open from 4:45 a.m. until noon every day but Sundays, through May 18. In addition to a state hunting license and a bear, deer and turkey license, hunters need a base hunting license, which can be obtained at the game check station for $20. The station is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., on April 5, 6 and 12 for the purpose of selling licenses, and from 4:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the rest of turkey season.

Licenses are free for youth aged 15 and younger.

Hunters will need to get a background check if they don’t have a common access card, military identification or one of several other types of government identification.

“The base will do that for them with no charge, but it will take a few days to get it back,” Stamps said. He said background checks are waived for those under 18.

Those who haven’t hunted on base in the last year will also need to watch the base hunting orientation video, which is available upon demand at the game check station.

Archery hunting, including crossbow hunting, is allowed in designated areas but requires a separate state license.

Stamps said military training often restricts the areas of the base that are open and thus the number of people who can hunt. “The hunters have to have some patience and keep checking for days the base is relatively open,” he said.

Quantico will host wounded warrior turkey hunts on the mornings of April 19 and 20, with lunches provided by the Quantico Injured Military Sportsmen Association.

For specifics about wounded warrior hunts or general information about turkey hunting, call 703-432-6776, 703-432-6777 or 703-432-6782.

— Writer: mdicicco@quanticosentryonline.com