Wild Turkey Harvest Increased For The 2009 Spring Season

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Annapolis, Md. - Maryland hunters reported taking 2,910 wild turkeys during the 2009 spring turkey season, registering a 3 percent increase from the 2008 harvest of 2,833 turkeys.

“More than 2,900 birds taken this spring indicate that the statewide population is generally stable and wild turkeys continue to do well in most regions of Maryland,” stated Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Upland Game Bird Biologist Bob Long. “The statewide spring turkey harvest has averaged 2,913 birds over the last 10 years.”

The harvest data is consistent with DNR survey results which documented that young gobblers, called jakes, were less abundant in most regions this year.

“The number of jakes reported was below average, comprising only 19 percent of the harvest,” added Long.

Despite inclement weather, junior hunters took 126 gobblers during the one day youth hunt held on April 11, similar to last year’s youth day harvest of 134 turkeys.

As in the past, the western mountain counties lead the state in harvest; Garrett County reported 364 turkeys, followed by Allegany (342) and Washington (308). Dorchester (236), Worcester (202), and Charles (186) counties also reported good harvest numbers. Approximately 10,000 hunters pursue turkeys annually in the spring season and about 25% are successful in taking at least one turkey.
 

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