Hunters reported harvesting a total of 3,132 wild turkeys during the 2012 spring turkey season, an 11 percent increase from last year’s harvest of 2,826. The 2012 numbers nearly surpassed the record harvest of 3,136 set in 2005 and was well above the 10-year average of 2,903. The results indicate that Maryland’s turkey population remains healthy.
“The abnormally warm and dry spring may have encouraged some hens to begin nesting early, leaving gobblers more receptive to hunters’ calling,” said Bob Long, Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) upland game bird biologist. “The pleasant weather early in the season also encouraged hunter participation and aided in locating gobbling birds.”
Hunters in some regions benefitted from an abundance of two-year-old gobblers. DNR turkey brood surveys showed good reproduction in the summer of 2010 in areas where large harvest increases occurred this year, such as in Southern Maryland. One-year-old toms (male turkeys), called jakes, comprised 24 percent of the harvest, below the long-term average and in agreement with surveys conducted last summer that indicated lower than normal reproduction.
The highest harvests traditionally have come from the three western counties. Garrett County reported the highest harvest (368), but a 37 percent increase pushed Charles County to the second slot with 303 turkeys. Washington (292), Allegany (257) and Dorchester (219) rounded out the top five counties.
Hunters were able to pursue turkeys on Sundays in seven counties this spring. Sunday turkey hunting was limited to April 29 and May 6 in Allegany and Garrett counties, but was allowed throughout the season in Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester and St. Mary’s counties. A total of 102 turkeys were harvested on Sundays.
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Reported Spring Turkey Harvest, 2006-2012
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County
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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2011
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2012
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Allegany
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331
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259
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345
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342
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327
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