PA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT UNIT SPRING GOBBLER REPORTS
Mary Jo Casalena, Pennsylvania Game Commission wild turkey biologist, prepared a report for each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU), to share more detailed information on spring gobbler hunting prospects.
WMU 1A – Spring harvests remain well above the statewide average, but will continue to be well below average for this WMU. Summer reproduction has been below average since 2005. The Game Commission shortened the fall season to two weeks in 2005 in an attempt to help increase the population in this WMU. Expect the 2010 spring harvest to remain higher than the state average, but lower than last year for this WMU due to the below-average reproduction during the past several years which provided a smaller proportion than normal of older gobblers. The key here is to scout prior to the season.
WMA 1B – Expect harvest to be excellent compared to the statewide average and above average for the WMU. Even though last summer’s reproduction was below average, reproduction in 2008 was excellent providing a high proportion of two-year old males in the population, which typically comprise the largest percent of each spring’s harvest. This age class of adult gobblers are very vocal and readily come to hunter’s calls.
WMU 2A – Still well above the statewide average, but well below average for itself. Fall turkey season was shortened from three weeks to two weeks in 2007, which will allow more turkeys to survive to the 2010 spring season. With the below average proportion of two- year-old males in the population there will be less gobbling heard than normal for this WMU. However, there still may be a good proportion of the older, less vocal three- and four-year old gobblers, so scouting for these birds will be important this year.
WMU 2B – Variable. This WMU is difficult to predict because of the lack of public land. For hunters who secure access to hunting areas, prospects are above the state average for calling in a gobbler, but below average for this WMU due to poor reproduction during the past two summers.
WMU 2C – Spring harvests here have been improving since the low in 2006 and should continue to increase this spring due to a combination of a shorter fall season length from three to two weeks since 2004, and excellent reproduction in 2007 and 2008 providing a higher than average proportion of two- and three-year-old gobblers in the population. These vocal longbeards are what the majority of Pennsylvania turkey hunters seek. Spring harvest densities (harvests per square mile) remain below the statewide average.
WMU 2D – Above average harvest expected compared to the state, but below average for this WMU. Although summer reproduction last year was average, providing a good proportion of juvenile males (jakes) in the population, reproduction in 2008 was poor, providing a below average proportion of the more sought after and highly vocal two-year old gobblers. The fall turkey season here was decreased in 2009 from three weeks to two weeks to help the population increase to its previous high levels.
WMU 2E – Excellent for this WMU for harvesting juveniles (jakes) and three-year-old gobblers, but below average for harvesting the most vocal two-year old gobblers. With the two-week fall turkey season since 2004, spring harvests have been improving, and expect the same this spring.
WMU 2F – The population has increased from that of the last several years due to above-average reproduction in 2008 and the shortened fall season (from three weeks to two weeks from 2007-2009). Expect the spring harvest to increase from last year due to the high proportion of two-year-old males in the population for enjoyable calling. Harvest density (harvest per square mile) continues to be below the long-term average for this WMU and below the statewide average. However, hunters continue to enjoy hunting the extensive public lands in this WMU.
WMU 2G – Excellent for this WMU for harvesting juveniles (jakes) and three-year-old gobblers, but below average for harvesting the most vocal two-year old gobblers. The population is rebounding to the long-term average for this WMU, but spring harvest densities (harvest per square mile) are still below the state average. Hunters continue to enjoy hunting the extensive public lands in this WMU.
WMU 3A – Below average reproduction during the last two springs will result in a below-average spring harvest for this WMU, but the harvest will remain above the state average. There still remains higher than average proportions of three-year and older gobblers, but these present the most challenging age classes to harvest.
WMU 3B – This should be a banner harvest year for this WMU and well above the statewide average. Summer turkey sightings here have been above average during the last two summers translating to a high proportion of juveniles (jakes) and the vocal two-year old adult gobblers, which typically is the most sought after age class.
WMU 3C – Below average reproduction during the last two springs will result in a lower spring harvest than last year, but expect the harvest to remain above average for this WMU and well above the state average. There remains higher than average proportions of three-year and older gobblers, but these present the most challenging age classes to harvest.
WMU 3D – Expect a similar harvest to last year, which was average for this WMU, but above the statewide average. Although there are fewer juveniles (jakes) in the population due to below average summer reproduction last year, the average proportion of two-year old gobblers will provide an enjoyable spring season.
WMU 4A – Expect the harvest to be average for this WMU and similar to the state average. Population of three-year-old gobblers is above average due to the record reproduction in 2007, but this age class typically presents a challenge for spring turkey hunters. The two-week fall season since 2004 may be helping this population to rebound.
WMU 4B – Above the statewide average, but average for this WMU. With the two-week fall season since 2004, spring harvest densities have been increasing even though this WMU has had tremendous fluctuations in summer reproduction recently.
WMU 4C – Second best 2009 spring harvest density (harvest per square mile) in the state and hunters should expect a similar harvest this year. This WMU continues to maintain one of the highest spring harvest densities in the state, even though the summer turkey sighting index trend remains below the statewide average. With the above-average populations of juvenile (one-year old) and two-year old males from above average reproduction during the past two summers in this WMU, hunting prospects again will be excellent.
WMU 4D – Above average for this WMU, below the statewide average. Although last year’s reproduction was only average in this WMU the population of two-year old gobblers is above average, which should provide for an abundance of gobbling. Spring harvest density (harvest per square mile) has been improving for the past four years, and expect this to continue.
WMU 4E – Like WMU 4C, this is another turkey hotspot. Highest spring 2009 harvest density (harvest per square mile) in the state. Also, summer turkey sightings show a record number of jakes (juvenile males) and two- year-old gobblers in the population. Expect this year’s harvest to be even better than last year’s.
WMU 5A – Above average for this WMU; far below the statewide average. Although harvests and summer turkey sightings continue to be some of the lowest in the state, the closed fall turkey season has been aiding in population increase. Even though summer reproduction last year was below average, the above-average reproduction in 2008 means an abundance of the vocal two-year old gobblers this spring for this WMU.
WMU 5B - The data set for this WMU is minimal, but overall, expect an above average harvest compared to itself. Hunters could be very successful if they seek out the younger, juvenile (jake) males due to the above average summer reproduction last year in parts of this WMU. There are below average proportions of two-year and three-year-old gobblers. Harvests and summer turkey sightings are some of the lowest in the state.
WMU 5C – Below average for this WMU and below average compared to the state. Summer reproduction was below average for the last two years in much of this WMU, providing below average proportions of juvenile (jake) and two-year gobblers, which typically comprise the majority of the harvest.
WMU 5D – Data set is too small to predict harvest.
