Designating March 18, 2023, as “National Osceola Turkey Day”.

Designating March 18, 2023, as “National Osceola Turkey Day”.

Whereas wild turkey has been an important part of the history and family traditions of the United States;

Whereas wild turkey was on the table at the very first Thanksgiving, and turkey continues to be a mainstay during many holiday traditions;

Whereas wild turkey is a healthy, organic, and delicious source of lean protein;

Whereas 5 subspecies of wild turkey inhabit North America;

Whereas, in the United States, turkey hunters have spent $76,900,000 per year since 1985 with an economic impact of $128,700,000 annually;

Whereas Florida has a rich history of wild turkey hunting, management, and research;

Whereas Florida is home to the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program, which is the largest public-private partnership program in the United States for the maintenance of wild turkey habitat on wildlife management areas and other public lands open to hunting;

Whereas, since the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program began in 1994, upwards of 1,000,000 acres of upland habitat have received funding for turkey habitat management efforts;

Whereas, in the 2022 Florida spring wild turkey season, 25,290 hunters participated in turkey hunting, including 4,744 non-residents of the Sunshine State;

Whereas, in Florida, revenue generated from the sale of wild turkey permits is used for conservation, research, and management of wild turkeys or to promote the cultural heritage of hunting;

Whereas turkey hunters are an important part of the Wild Turkey Cost Share Program, and the money generated from the sale of turkey permits, which are a requirement for hunting wild turkeys in Florida unless exempt, allows the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make significant contributions to the program each year;

Whereas Florida is home to 2 subspecies of wild turkey, the eastern wild turkey and the Osceola or Florida wild turkey;

Whereas the Osceola is 1 of 5 subspecies of wild turkey in North America;

Whereas the Osceola turkey exists only in peninsular Florida;

Whereas the Osceola subspecies of wild turkey is often perceived as mysterious and the most difficult to harvest because of its small geographic range and the often swampy habitat where it is found;

Whereas hunters in pursuit of all 4 subspecies of turkey in the United States, known as a “Grand Slam”, must hunt in Florida; and

Whereas March 4, 2023, is the opening day of turkey harvesting season in part of Florida, and March 18, 2023, is the opening day for the entire state: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,