There has been some chatter about the recent influx of “wild” turkeys in Cook County, and they have now been seen as far north as the Gunflint Trail. These turkeys are the same breed used on game farms and have been raised and introduced to the county by private citizens.
It could be another hunting opportunity if the turkey population was able to survive, but the Minnesota DNR has tried introducing turkeys to northern Minnesota in the past with no success. The semi-domesticated “wild” turkeys that are often used on wild game farms lack the skills needed to elude such crafty predators as the wolf, fox, and lynx that patrol the Northland.
While pheasant hunting in my hometown of Waukee, Iowa, it was common to see wild turkeys feeding along the edges of the cornfields that bordered the woods. They looked like black garbage bags from afar, and when spotted through field glasses they are usually already staring right at me. I preferred chasing roosters in those days, but the wild turkey could be a lot of fun to hunt, and they have made a large presence in central Minnesota with their populations continuing to grow and expand to the north.
Will we ever have a population of turkeys on the Gunflint Trail? It is hard to say, but stranger things have happened. We used to boast about our “tick free” woods, and now I expect to get covered every time I hike through tall grass in the woods. We also used to wish for pan fish on the big Gunflint Trail lakes, which has also been happening.
I was able to wet a line opening day on Saganaga Lake, and was even fortunate enough to catch a hefty 31-inch walleye. The water temperature was a surprising 56 degrees in the bays and fishing was typical for the first week of the season with very few bites producing only big fish. The smaller male walleyes will eventually abandon the spawning grounds and that is when the action gets better.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
Leave a Reply