Time to talk turkey as season opens April 29

Hunters throughout Pennsylvania are poised to head out to their favorite turkey woods Saturday morning (April 29) when the state’s 2017 spring gobbler season debuts. Armed with diaphragm, box, push button, and slate calls, hunters will be talkin’ turkey with an array of turkey vocalizations including putts, yelps, clucks, purrs, cackles, and, of course, gobbles, in hopes of enticing one of those coveted big bronze birds within shotgun or bow range. And according to Mary Jo Casalena, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s (PGC) wild turkey biologist, the odds of a close encounter with a lovesick gobbler are excellent this year. Two factors – a light turkey harvest last fall and a mild winter – have set the stage for what could be a faststarting spring gobbler season.

“Fall mast last year was spotty and turkeys responded by moving to those food sources, which in some cases meant they moved away from areas frequented by hunters,” Casalena said. “The fall turkey harvest dropped as a consequence. And while that might have been bad news for fall turkey hunters, it’s likely good news for

spring turkey hunters because unfilled fall turkey tags typically lead to increased availability in the spring.

“Add to that the fact that mild winters, like the one we’re coming off, are easier on turkeys and help prepare them for spring breeding,” Casalena said. “That should lead to a healthier turkey population and might put gobblers on a timeline to be exceptionally fired up when the season begins.”

PGC data reveals that hunters bagged 35,966 turkeys in Pennsylvania last spring, lower than the previous two spring harvests of about 41,200 each. But totals from the 2016 harvest resembled spring harvests from 2010 to 2013.

Casalena said poor weather throughout much of the season, including nagging drizzle on many mornings, played a part in the reduced harvest last spring. “Warm weather also set gobblers on fire early,” Casalena said. “But then the weather turned nasty again and hens struggled with many losing their first nesting attempts. Their renewed availability at the start of the season led to gobblers chasing hens instead of coming in to hunters’ calls.”

About 67 percent of turkeys in the 2016 spring harvest were adult gobblers, 23 percent were jakes, 2 percent were bearded hens and 7 percent were males of unknown age. That compares with the previous longterm average of 71 percent adult gobblers, 19 percent jakes, 4 percent bearded hens and 7 percent unknown-aged males.

Pennsylvania also sold a record 19,796 second spring gobbler licenses in 2016, a 10 percent increase over the previous record of 18,085 licenses sold in 2014, Casalena said. The license led to the harvest of 3,841 bearded turkeys last spring. That’s the secondhighest total since the license first was offered in 2006. In 2014, the license accounted for the harvest of 4,314 turkeys. Hunters should note the second spring gobbler license is available for purchase prior to the start of the season. Once April 29 rolls around, it’s too late.

For hunters down here in the southeastern corner of the state, our local PGC Wildlife Conservation Officer Matt Johnson has been afield scouting out turkey activity and offered his analysis for our region. “For my area, northern Chester County and portions of southern Berks, I am noticing a healthy turkey population in the very northern areas of Chester and all of the townships in Berks I’m covering,” Johnson reported

“For Chester County, I’m hearing reports and seeing signs in the area around State Game Lands 43, East and West Nantmeal Townships, and in the areas around the Schuylkill River east of Pottstown. South of this, the population in Chester County is not robust, with some exceptions in and around Honey Brook and Glenmoore. I did see a small flock in Marsh Creek State Park this fall.

“Getting into Berks County, the area in and around French Creek State Park appears to have a very good population. I saw a very large flock of over 30 birds in the park this winter along with other sightings throughout Union and Robison Townships. I have heard the same from sportsmen and residents for other areas of southern Berks as well.

“About a month ago, I had a spurt of several ‘nuisance turkey’ calls from residents in the areas described above,” said Johnson, “so there are some aggressive birds in those neighborhoods.”

Spring gobbler hunting hours begin one-half hour before sunrise and end at noon for the first two weeks of the statewide season (April 29 through May 13). Hunters are asked to be out of the woods by 1 p.m. when hunting hours end at noon. This helps minimize disturbance of nesting hens.

From May 15 through May 31, hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset. The all-day season allows more opportunity at the point in the season when hunting pressure is lower and nesting hens are less likely to abandon nests.

Casalena urged hunters to purchase their second spring gobbler license before the deadline on April 28. “So hunters who want to ensure their best opportunity to hunt as many days of the season as they can need to buy the license soon,” Casalena said. “There’s promise for a great season.”

TROUT STOCKING THIS

WEEK >> With turkey hunters on deck and trout anglers now up at bat, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission continues their in-season stocking efforts. The following streams in our area are scheduled to be replenished with fresh trout this week: BERKS COUNTY: Tulpehocken Creek (April 24); Perkiomen Creek (April 25); Manatawny Creek, Northkill Creek (April 27). CHESTER COUNTY: Pocopson Creek, White Clay Creek, Middle Branch White Clay Creek (April 24); Beaver Creek (April 25); French Creek (April 26). MONTGOMERY COUNTY: Perkiomen Creek, East Branch Perkiomen Creek (April 25); Manatawny Creek, Pennypack Creek (April 27).

KENNETT TROUT RODEO

>> The Kennett Area Park Authority in conjunction with the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance will host the 22nd Annual Anson B. Nixon Trout Rodeo on Saturday, May 6, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. rain or shine. The ponds at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square will be fully stocked with brook, brown, rainbow, and golden trout. Prizes will be awarded for heaviest trout and highest total weight. Last year’s winners included Nick Foley’s largest trout at 3.7 pounds and Dom Lamborn’s five fish stringer with a total weight of 8.2 pounds. This year’s event will also feature fly tying demonstrations courtesy of the White Clay Fly Fishermen. Food and refreshments will be available. Advanced tickets for rodeo participation are available through the Borough of Kennett Square at $10 for adults, and $5 for children or purchased on site the day of the event for $12 and $7. A fishing license is required for those age 16 and older but the trout stamp requirement has been waived. For more info call 610388-2773 or visit www.ansonbnixonpark.org.