Pennsylvania Game News - November 2019 - 28

2018

FALL HUNTERS

FALL HARVESTS

SPRING HARVESTS

WMU 2E ---- 3.8
WMU 4E ---- 3.4
WMU 3A ---- 3.1
WMU 2G ---- 3.0
WMU 3B ---- 3.0
WMU 4C ---- 3.0
Statewide --- 2.3

WMU 2B ---- 0.39
WMU 2E ---- 0.39
WMU 3A ---- 0.36
WMU 1B ---- 0.31
WMU 2D ---- 0.31
WMU 4D ---- 0.28
Statewide --- 0.24

WMU 1A ---- 1.63
WMU 2D ---- 1.51
WMU 2A ---- 1.28
WMU 3A ---- 1.13
WMU 3B ---- 1.06
WMU 2B ---- 0.99
Statewide --- 0.8

(PER SQUARE MILE)

(PER SQUARE MILE)

turkeys are, there's always a chance for a
hunter or trapper to bump them, put them
on edge, or chase them into more-remote
areas. In general, when someone other
than a turkey hunter spooks a flock of
feeding turkeys, they often shuffle away
together. But if they keep getting bumped,
they'll go somewhere else to feed.
So avoid areas where there's other
hunters, or even hikers. Find the food,
look for turkey sign and find the flock.
A wild turkey's daylight hours are
reserved for feeding.
So, if you can't find fresh turkey sign
where you're hunting, you're in the wrong
place. Turkeys make a mess of things in
the search for food in leaf litter. If the
exposed soil is dry where turkeys have
scratched, the birds are gone. Consider
revisiting the area later if mast remains
available.
Field reports vary on mast production
for this fall. There are reports of white
and chestnut oaks with spotty to belowaverage production. Red oaks seem to
be doing better in some places, as are
beechnuts. Wild grape production is off,
but apples and crabapples had a great
growing season.
If you come upon fresh scratches,
the birds likely are near. Following the
scratches while using cover to hide yourself might be the best way to close in. You
might hear turkeys before you see them.
So, go slow, hug cover and listen.
28

(PER SQUARE MILE)

When you encounter a feeding flock,
know that each bird is watching almost
everywhere, because the predators that
hunt turkeys come from everywhere.
Your goal as a stalker is to bust up
the flock and call one back to shoot. It's
always a better strategy than taking a long
shot, unless, of course, you're hunting
with a rifle.

PERSPECTIVE

It's easy enough to switch from fall
turkey hunting to bowhunting, or to justify buying your pheasant permit. Every
hunter has choices to make. But there is
a substantial statewide population of wild
turkeys, and if you can find time to scout,
there's a good chance for you to get into
turkeys. The population is stable and can
provide some of the best fall turkey hunting found in North America.
Pennsylvania's turkeys can sustain fall
hunting. Their statewide population is
twice what Penn's Woods held 30 years
ago. Declining numbers of both spring
and fall hunters, as well as shortened fall
seasons, also have provided turkeys more
annual carryover.
So, if you want to hunt fall turkeys, go.
Sometimes you get lucky on your first trip
afield, sometimes you must work hard for
a fall bird. But it's hard to beat being in
Penn's Woods in the fall, on the trail of
foraging turkeys. So, get out there and
find those birds!
Pennsylvania Game News - November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - November 2019
