Virginia 2011-2012 Fall Wild Turkey Harvest Summary
In Virginia, 3,470 turkeys were harvested during the 2011-12 fall turkey season. This harvest was 29% above last year's reported kill (2,687). The harvest increased 15% in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,267 vs. 1,102). Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains increased 39 percent (2,203 vs. 1,585). Botetourt led all counties with a harvest of 119 birds. Most of the harvest was reported on private lands. Thirty-seven birds were harvested on the Youth Fall Turkey Hunt Day.
The 2011-2012 season the first year a separate January season was offered. Virtually all of the comments received on the January season were positive. The harvest in the thirteen day January season was 273 birds.
This year also marked the first time fall turkey kills could be checked using the phone or on the internet. Hunters reported 57% of their harvest using either method.
Gary Norman, Wild Turkey Project Leader, indicated the increase in the harvest was expected given good reproduction and spotty mast crops. Turkey harvest rates typically increase when acorns are scattered. Birds tend to travel further with low mast crops in search of food which oftentimes takes them near or in openings or fields. As a result their home ranges increase and birds become more visible, easy to locate, and easier to hunt.
Additionally, it appears reproduction was higher than average, although the increase was not uniform across all regions. Turkey reproduction is typically highly variable and may be influenced by many variables; the greatest is believed to be inclement weather during the 2 weeks following hatching. Juvenile birds typically make up a majority of the fall harvest, so a good hatch can add to the fall take. Taken together, average mast crops and above-average reproduction likely contributed to the harvest increase.
Data presented in this summary are preliminary.
Top 10 Counties
| 2011 | 2010 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Botetourt | 119 | Bedford | 92 |
| Bedford | 108 | Botetourt | 88 |
| Franklin | 98 | Shenandoah | 85 |
| Halifax | 80 | Pittsylvania | 85 |
| Cumberland | 78 | Franklin | 76 |
| Pittsylvania | 74 | Scott | 76 |
| Scott | 74 | Caroline | 74 |
| Caroline | 73 | Halifax | 74 |
| Dinwiddie | 71 | Augusta | 70 |
| 2011-2012 Fall Turkey Harvest by County (PDF) | |||
