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2009 Spring Gobbler Harvest Summary

Spring gobbler hunters reported harvesting 16,611 birds during the 2009 season according to Robert Ellis, Wildlife Division Director. The statewide harvest was 10% higher than last year's total of 15,037. Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains posted a 13% increase with a harvest of 11,103 birds compared to 9,840 birds last year. The harvest in counties west of the Blue Ridge (5,505) was 6% higher than last year's take (5,197). Most (92%) of the birds were taken on private lands. Overall, the spring harvest may suggest an increase in the turkey population.

Gary Norman, Wild Turkey Project Leader, indicated that the increase in the spring kill was partially due to good weather conditions during the 2009 hunting season. Good gobbling requires good weather conditions. Weather conditions were generally favorable throughout the spring season, particularly on weekends. The highest daily kill was reported on the opening day of the season, when 14% of the season harvest was reported.

Additionally, the Department shifted the fall season in many eastern counties last year by starting the late season 1 week earlier. This change was intended to reduce the harvest of adult hens in the last week of the firearms deer season. The goal was to increase turkey populations in these counties with low turkey densities and long-term stable or declining population trends. The regulation change may have increased survival rates for males as well and may have provided more gobblers for harvest in these counties.

Adult gobblers made up the majority (88%) of the birds reported by hunters. Juvenile or "Jakes" comprised 12% of the spring harvest. Bearded females made up less than 1% (0.3%) of the spring bag.

The higher harvest is encouraging in light of the poor reproduction in the turkey population during recent years. Birds that are 2-years old typically make up a significant percentage of the spring harvest. This age class is typically more numerous than the older age classes and they may be more vulnerable to hunting. Birds hatched in 2007 would make up this important age class. The Department's index of reproduction for wild turkeys has been below-average since 2004. The index is based on the proportion of young birds reported in the fall harvest. Age and sex ratios are determined from feathers that hunters submit to Game Check Stations. Reproduction was also below average in 2008 which means the 1-year old age class was proportionally below-average in the population. Therefore, both 1 and 2-year old age classes were below average. Given these data, it is encouraging that the harvest increased and may be due in large part to the good weather and fall season regulation change.

Youth hunters reported taking 365 birds during the early youth spring hunt. Last year youth hunters took 238 birds during the youth season.

For further information contact Gary Norman at (540) 248-9389 or email gary.norman@dgif.virginia.gov.

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