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Virginia 2008-2009 Fall Wild Turkey Harvest Summary

Robert Ellis, Wildlife Division Director, reported that fall turkey hunters harvested 3,505 birds in the 2008-09 season. This harvest was 26% percent below last year's reported kill (4,759). The harvest decreased 24 percent in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,576 vs. 2,077). Counties east of the Blue Ridge decreased 28 percent (1,929 vs. 2,682). Bedford led all counties with a harvest of 134 birds. Caroline, Giles, and Augusta were new to the top 10 county list of fall harvested birds while Amelia, Cumberland, and Floyd dropped out of the top 10.

Gary Norman, Wild Turkey Project Leader, indicated the harvest decline was a result of several factors including poor reproduction, good mast conditions, and fall season regulation changes. Production has been poor in recent years. The Department examines feather samples from hunter-harvested birds to estimate reproductive success. Biologists examine the feathers to determine age and sex of harvested birds. Higher ratios of juveniles in the harvest suggest better reproduction. The ratio of juveniles per adult female in the 2008-09 fall harvest was 1.8. The long-term average is 3.1 juveniles per adult female. To make matters worse, we've had a string of 4 poor reproductive seasons in a row, which has likely resulted in a declining turkey population in most counties. There are numerous factors that influence reproductive success, but weather is believed to be a limiting factor. The Department would like to thank those hunters and game check stations for providing these samples so reproduction can be monitored. These data help the Department gain a better understanding of turkey population trends and harvests.

Good mast (primarily acorns) also has a dramatic influence on fall turkey harvest rates. Generally, mast conditions were above-average across most of the state this year. Wild turkrey harvest rates decline when there is more food available to turkeys. With good mast conditions birds tend to spend more time in woodlands than open areas. Under these conditions, turkeys are typically more difficult for hunters to locate and hunt successfully. White oak is one of the wild turkey's most preferred foods. White oak production was particularly good this year in every region except the North Mountain Region. Red oaks are also an important food source for turkeys. Generally red oak production was near the long-term average across the state. Wildlife Division staff and Foresters with the Virginia Department of Forestry monitor acorn and other food crops annually across the state.

Finally, the Department adjusted the late segment of the fall season to reduce adult hen harvest in areas east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Previously as much as 1/3 of the adult female harvest in these eastern counties was coming during the last week of the season. Because adult females are largely responsible for population growth, we wanted to reduce mortality on these birds to grow turkey populations and harvests, primarily in the Piedmont region of the state. Turkey populations have declined to very low levels in many Piedmont counties and this concerns Department staff. The harvest in counties with the 6-week fall season east of the Blue Ridge Mountains declined 32%, while the harvest only declined 13 percent in counties with a 4-week season and it actually increased (31%) in counties with a 2-week season. Hopefully, the reduction in harvest in Piedmont region counties results in higher survival of adult females which could stimulate population growth in this region.

Although the fall harvest was reduced this year, the proportion of birds harvested with a muzzleloader increased, particularly in counties west of the Blue Ridge (WBR) where the early deer muzzleloader season was expanded to 2-weeks in length. This resulted in a week overlap of early muzzleloader deer and fall turkey hunting seasons WBR. This change resulted in a significant reallocation of turkey harvest WBR between years. Nine percent of the 2007-08 WBR turkey harvest was reported by hunters using muzzleloaders. In 2008-09 the percentage of fall turkeys killed WBR with a muzzleloader increased to 31% of the harvest. This reallocation of the turkey harvest may result in a reduction of "traditional" fall turkey hunting effort.

Forty-three percent of the fall harvest was reported in the first 2 weeks of the 6-week season. Ten percent of the harvest was reported on Thanksgiving Day. Only 26 birds were checked on the fall youth hunting day.

Most birds were taken on private lands (89%) with the balance coming from federal (9%) or state-owned (2%) lands. Archers took 3% of the harvest in the early part of the archery season.

In summary, the fall turkey harvest decline was likely the result of a combination of factors including:

1. a string of poor reproductive seasons resulting in low population growth,
2. good mast crops resulting in lower harvest rates,
3. regulation changes aimed at protecting adult females in the Piedmont Region, and
4. expanded muzzleloader seasons in areas west of the Blue Ridge which may have resulted in a shift of effort from turkeys to deer hunting.

Top 10 Counties

• 2008-2009 Virginia Fall Wild Turkey Harvest by County (PDF)