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Fall turkey hunters harvested only 188 wild turkeys in the three Western Maryland counties during the one-week fall season this year. This is a 44 percent decline from the harvest in 1999, and is the lowest fall harvest since the mid 1980s.
"Department of Natural Resources^ (DNR) field staff reported poor reproduction for wild turkeys in Western Maryland during the summer of 2000," said Mike Slattery, director of DNR^s Wildlife and Heritage Division. "Production indices indicated that summer poult production was at the lowest level in Western Maryland since the department started keeping continuous records in the early 1990s. Fall populations and the corresponding hunting harvest is directly related to turkey poult production during the summer months. Weather conditions were not good for poult survival in Western Maryland, with many rain events occurring during the critical brood rearing time in late May and early June. Turkey populations probably deceased somewhat in these areas as a result, and hunters had reduced chances of taking a bird. Also, the woods were extremely dry during the fall season, making it more difficult for hunters to walk quietly in the woods, thereby decreasing hunter success."
Allegany County reported the highest harvest, with 81 turkeys harvested, followed by Garrett County with 76 turkeys and Washington County with 31 turkeys. Hunting pressure for wild turkeys was light during the week long season, but those venturing afield experienced greater solitude, and enjoyed a rewarding opportunity to harvest one of America^s greatest game birds, whether or not they were successful in their quest to provide a Thanksgiving meal.
The previous ten years^ fall turkey harvests are:
1999 - 336 1994 - 559
1998 - 301 1993 - 427
1997 - 359 1992 - 370
1996 - 349 1991 - 360
1995 - 570 1990 - 340
Uploaded: 12/15/2000
Uploaded: 12/15/2000