III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 135 

Designating March 18, 2023, as ‘‘National Osceola Turkey Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 29, 2023 

Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself and Mr. RUBIO) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

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; 


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•SRES 135 ATS 

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; 


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•SRES 135 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 18, 2023, as ‘‘National 

3 Osceola Turkey Day’’; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and 

6 activities. 

Æ 


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