"Generally what we find is that any deviation from the average rainfall will have a negative impact," Baumann said. "If there's too much rain, there is a higher mortality of hens on the nest and more poults die from moisture exposure. If there is not enough rain, then the number of insects available and brood range are negatively affected. As soon as we figure out how to control the weather, we can control a lot of wildlife issues!"

Regardless of the weather, however, turkey hunters flock to the woods in March with hopes of bagging a gobbler or three. While most turkey hunters pursue birds on private land -- 69.6 percent, according to WRD surveys -- the state's WMA system also offers some great hunting for those without access to private lands. In last year's survey, 9.3 percent of turkey hunters reported hunting exclusively on public lands and 20.4 percent reported hunting on both public and private property.

During the 2006 season, 13,938 hunted on Georgia WMAs, harvesting a total of 1,042 birds that translates into a 7.48 percent success rate. The total turkey harvest was 0.70 birds per square mile of land open for hunting.

So which places are best for maximizing the chances of taking a gobbler? Let's take a look.

WHERE TO HUNT The Peach State is broken down into five general physiographic regions -- Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, Upper Coastal Plain, and Lower Coastal Plain -- each of which is distinct in terms of soil and habitat makeup.

The most productive areas of the state for turkey hunters in terms of harvest are in the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain, according to Baumann. The habitat is much better in these two areas at this point in time, though Baumann reported that suburban development is threatening much of the Piedmont area. The Upper Coastal Plain is still a largely agricultural area, making it a prime turkey region.

However, since all hunters don't have access to this area of the state, let's examine the top WMAs in each physiographic region.

The Ridge and Valley physiographic region in the extreme northwestern tip of the state is dominated by a series of limestone-derived parallel ridges with a pine or oak/ hickory mix, depending on soil moisture. The soils are fairly productive for wildlife, but sportsmen there must tackle steep ridges that can make hiking in and out of hunting spots challenging. Overall hunter success in this region was 6.5 percent.

Three regional WMAs that generated particularly bountiful harvests last year were Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, Berry College, and Coosawattee. Hunter success was highest on the 15,706-acre Berry College WMA with a 12.1 percent success rate -- a total of 19 birds, or 0.77 birds per square mile. Hunters on the 16,386 Crockford-Pigeon Mountain WMA had a 10.5 percent success rate, with 296 hunters harvesting 31 birds, 1.21 birds per mile. The 398 hunters at Coosawattee WMA harvested 21 birds, or 0.97 per square mile.

Occupying Georgia's northernmost counties, the Blue Ridge Mountain physiographic region features less-fertile soils and very steep terrain. Hardwood forests with white pines on drier sites and ridgetops are typical of the region. As in the Ridge and Valley zone, hunting here can be difficult because of steep terrain. The region's hunter success rate was 7.12 percent last season.