III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 602 

Designating March 16, 2024, as ‘‘National Osceola Turkey Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 20, 2024 

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

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating March 16, 2024, 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, in the United States, turkey hunters have spent approximately $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; 


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•SRES 602 ATS 

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 2023 Florida spring wild turkey season, 

25,056 hunters participated in turkey hunting, including 

4,761 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 promoting 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 Wild Turkey 

Cost Share 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 beVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:49 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR602.ATS SR602

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•SRES 602 ATS 

cause 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’’, are required to hunt in Florida; and 

Whereas March 2, 2024, is the opening day of turkey harvesting season in part of Florida, and March 16, 2024, 

is the opening day for the entire State of Florida: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates March 16, 2024, as ‘‘National 

3 Osceola Turkey Day’’; and 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to observe National Osceola Turkey Day with appro6 priate ceremonies and activities. 

Æ 


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