Man-days are not the same as the number of hunters using the WMA or WEA. Rather, each man-day represents one day of hunting by a single hunter on that property. If that hunter stays in the woods for three days, he has generated three man-days of pressure. This provides a more accurate picture of actual hunting effort and success rates.

Perrin noted that some of these areas are not very large, so the number of hunters allowed on them is quite limited. However, if you're fortunate enough to be able to get onto a smaller area, your chances of coming home with a bird are quite good.

LAKE WALES RIDGE WEA
Royce Unit
Perrin pointed out that the Royce Unit that covers 2639 acres in Highlands County had a very high success rate in 2006. Eight turkeys were harvested in a total of 15 man-days of pressure. That means hunters invested only 1.9 days of hunting for each bird harvested.

"There aren't a lot of hunters drawn for the area," Perrin admitted. "But when you get drawn for an area like this, you have a high rate of success.

"In fact, there are only five permits available for each of two hunts, so only 10 hunters get a crack at this area for spring turkey season.

HICKORY HAMMOCK WMA
On this area, the 2006 harvest was eight birds. The hunting pressure amounted to 17 man-days, which worked out to one bird for 2.1 days of effort.

Hickory Hammock WMA covers 3,791 acres, lies in Highlands County and is located on the Kissimmee River. The area contains a number of live oak hammocks along the edge of the old Kissimmee River floodplain. This flat terrain tends toward wetlands, and even more so since the river system is being restored to its old course.

CROOM WMA
This 20,595-acre area is located in Hernando and Sumter counties. The habitat is mainly pine and palmetto with a river swamp.

At Croom, hunters took 10 birds in 22 days of hunting, or 2.2 man-days per gobbler.

SEMINOLE FOREST WMA
Lake Tracy Unit
On the Lake Tracy Unit, hunters needed 23 man-days to harvest seven turkeys. This works out to 3.3 man-days per bird.