How Turkey Camo Makes More Turkeys
Brenden Gallagher for SPLIT REED
As bird hunters, we have become well aware of the keen eyes that most birds possess. Whether we’re hiding in dry fields, on the edge of small water, or ducking behind cypress in the flooded woods, bird hunters have become accustomed to hiding and hiding well.
This same principle stays true for most bird hunting but it is especially true when it comes to hunting turkeys. With the ability to see nearly 340 degrees, turkeys have incredible vision and every good turkey hunter knows that the keys to success lie in good camo and remaining as still as possible. One of and if not the first, true turkey hunting camouflage to hit the mainstream market was undoubtedly Mossy Oak’s Original Bottomland pattern. Bottomland was inspired by the Mississippi dirt, sticks, and leaves, a vision and idea that came from founder and CEO Toxey Haas. This pattern would quickly become a revolutionary step forward in hunting camouflage and one that is still widely used today. Although Mossy Oak has come out with subsequent renditions of bottomland, such as Greenleaf, as well as other camouflage patterns, many turkey hunters would likely argue that the original Bottomland is still one of the best turkey hunting camouflages ever created.
Mossy Oak has not only advanced how hunters pursue turkeys and other game but has long pledged to “leave things better than we found them”. They have consistently funded conservation efforts across the country and support a host of different conservation partners. From Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation to the Bone Fish & Tarpon Trust and the Quality Deer Management Association, Mossy Oak, whether you know it or not, has played a vital role in wildlife and habitat conservation. One such effort recently put forth is the introduction of the first-ever Mossy Oak Wild Turkey Stamp. This initiative earmarks 100% of the proceeds generated from the sale of these stamps, towards wild turkey research projects that will help ensure the preservation of our nation's wild turkey populations for future generations. The turkey stamp initiative is modeled similarly after the duck stamp, which if you aren’t aware is a program that creates additional federal funding for conservation, research, and habitat work for migratory birds.
Although it was not dedicated solely to the benefit of the wild turkey, the first-ever “turkey stamp” was issued in May of 1956 by the U.S. Postal Service, a stamp that celebrated the conservation efforts by state and federal agencies and aimed to spread the word about the vital role that wildlife and habitat conservation play. The first dedicated wild turkey stamp would come later in 1976, put forth by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF). This stamp was a voluntary purchase and portions of the proceeds would go towards funding the newly formed NWTF as well as for the benefit of the wild turkey itself. Today, however, most state agencies do not require hunters to purchase a dedicated turkey stamp. Unlike waterfowl, turkeys are managed at the state level. Most game species and wildlife are managed this way with the exception of endangered species and migratory birds that carry additional federal management and protections. Most hunting license sales usually come with added fees such as habitat, base hunting, or invasive species control “stamps”, all of which at some level benefit the whole of each state's wildlife, and to some degree turkeys.
Wisconsin is one of the few states that does in turn, require hunters to purchase a wild turkey stamp. Annually, this $5.25 turkey stamp brings in around $750,000, while Wisconsin's waterfowl stamp funds average only around $520,000 of funding revenue. Wild turkeys underwent a massive population decline across the nation in the early-mid 1900s but careful regulations, management, and reintroduction efforts have seen populations spring back like never before. Reaching a height of nearly 6.7 million birds, the wild turkey has been one of few conservation success stories with our nation's wildlife. Today, however, this number is decreasing. Factors including carrying capacity, suitable nesting habitat, and decreased production have many hunters and conservationists worried about the future of our wild turkey populations.
The best thing that any hunter or non-hunter can do to help ensure wild turkeys stay on the landscape is by supporting conservation and habitat preservation efforts. Whether it's through your local NWTF chapter or by purchasing Mossy Oaks’ new Wild Turkey Stamp, your time and resources can help keep these incredible birds around not just within your own lifetime, but for future generations down the road. Initiatives like Mossy Oaks’ new turkey stamp have the possibility to support real, on-the-ground change for our wild turkey populations.
To purchase your Wild Turkey Stamp or learn more about the history of Mossy Oak visit Mossy Oak’s website. Also, make sure to check out Jason Worley’s Mossy Oak article on the full History of Wild Turkey Stamps!
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