ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- It's been 20 years since Anniston Army Depot last held a turkey hunt.
For reference, Michael Jordan was at the top of his game in the National Basketball League and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks had not even yet been franchised into Major League Baseball when the last turkey hunt was offered on Depot.
This year, ANAD is conducting managed turkey hunts for its employees and active duty military during two weekends of Alabama's spring turkey season.
The first weekend was March 20-22.
Friday morning, March 20, hunters filed into the Physical Fitness Center parking lot, ready to call in a gobbler.
Thirty-one hunters came that first day, which saw four birds harvested.
The first reported harvest that morning was a once-in-a-lifetime trophy. It was a four-bearded turkey shot by Zach Harrell that scored 110.25, making it approximately the 25th best turkey score ever reported to the National Wildlife and Turkey Federation in the state of Alabama.
In total that weekend, nine turkey were harvested on depot property.
The average score for all turkey taken, excluding the one harvested by Harrell, was 57.56.
Richard Cooper killed the second best scoring turkey for the weekend, a 69.25. Cooper's trophy had spurs measuring 1.25 inches and 1.4375 inches.
The largest bird, weighing 22 pounds 12 ounces, was harvested by Mark Mullinax.
An additional orientation will be held April 8 at 5 p.m. at the DeSoto Pastime Center. Hunters unable to attend a previous orientation will be able to attend and have the opportunity to hunt on the final ANAD turkey hunt weekend April 17-19.
Only depot employees and active duty military are eligible for these turkey hunts. Hunting passes cost $35. For more information, contact me at 256-235-7549 or Chad Basinger at 256-741-5808.
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