Beaver County also has the Beaver River coursing across its boundaries and boasts the largest concentration of turkeys in the Panhandle with 900 birds. I’ve hunted the rolling hills of this sagebrush-strewn landscape, and found the area to be rich with wildlife. Like Texas County, Beaver County is home to turkeys with a penchant for riparian habitat, so it’s no surprise that most of the area’s roost trees are found near the river.

Western Region
The western part of the state is home to diverse landscapes. One thing’s for certain: This is a dandy place to bag a big Rio Grande gobbler. Most counties in the region abound with turkeys. While much of the area is leased, some outstanding public hunting lands are available.

According to Steve Purviance, operator of Mt. Hide Outfitters near Laverne, this spring’s turkey season should be outstanding. “We have been seeing good numbers of toms, and since we harvest primarily longbeards on our hunts, I am encouraged. A good number of jakes carried over and should have nice beards this season.”

My wife and I have hunted with Purviance and can testify to the numbers of turkeys in the northwest. My hunt ended early when I rocked a nice tom with a long thick beard, while my wife Donna took her first tom on a separate hunt there.

Last season the western region was a favorite spot for many turkey hunters -- no surprise, as an estimated 61,000 turkeys inhabit this prime area. Hunters aren’t required to check in turkeys west of Interstate 35, so no harvest figures were available. This year’s flock is estimated at 64,500 birds -- representing nearly a 6 percent increase.

The county turkey flock estimates were: Alfalfa, 1,615; Beaver, 900; Beckham, 3,600; Blaine, 3,695; Caddo, 3,455; Cimarron, 185; Comanche, 2,485; Cotton, 3,050; Custer, 330; Dewey, 2,235; Ellis, 2,980; Greer, 4,000; Harmon, 4,000; Harper, 2,401; Jackson, 1,975; Jefferson, 1,282; Kiowa, 1,169; Major, 3,610; Roger Mills, 3,000; Stephens, 1,450; Texas, 665; Tillman, 4,400; Washita, 1,800; Woods, 3,568; and Woodward, 6,725.

Central Region
While hunting near Stillwater with Brandon Risley last season, I tagged a tough tom. The stubborn bird strutted in a meadow and refused to come closer than 75 yards until a pair of jakes threatened to move in on his turf. Risley’s smooth calling coaxed the wary longbeard to a range of 53 yards, and I whacked it with a load of Hevi Shot. The battered monarch sported a tail missing a few feathers and a 9-inch beard.

Turkey hunters in the region can expect to find good numbers of turkeys in most counties, with the total estimated at 40,315 turkeys -- up 1,395 birds from last season.

The central counties east of I-35, where turkeys were required to be checked, reported a harvest of 2,815 turkeys -- slightly down from the number harvested in 2005. That number contained 1,653 adult toms, 1,143 jakes, and 19 bearded hens.

County flock estimates run to 40,315 and break down thus: Canadian, 2,000; Carter, 1,200; Cleveland, 650; Creek, 2,000; Garfield, 1,300; Garvin, 800; Grady, 1,200; Grant, 750; Hughes, 2,800; Johnson, 2,750; Kay, 1,515; Kingfisher, 3,200; Lincoln, 300; Logan, 3,000; Love, 1,500; Marshall, 75; McClain, 800; Murray, 2,250; Noble, 725; Okfuskee, 1,000; Oklahoma, 200; Okmulgee, 700; Osage, 2,750; Pawnee, 200; Payne, 1,150; Pontotoc, 1,500; Pottawatomie, 1,000; and Seminole, 3,000.