Spring Gobbler Time

By Bobby Edwards

Few seasons in the Virginia woods really get the blood flowing as much as spring gobbler hunting. Each year I get reports from Biologist Gary Norman our Virginia Wild Turkey Project Leader and they serve up some great pre-season excitement. The reports include harvest trends both fall and spring, population status of the turkey, number of hunters, and research and management activities. Here’s what Norman has for area turkey hunters this spring.

Population Status

Virginia’s estimated turkey population was approximately 150,000 birds in the spring of 2008. Those numbers are based on the assumption that 10% of the population is harvested in the spring gobbler season. The 2008 spring gobbler harvest was 15,037 birds statewide. Virginia’s turkey spring population has been stable over the past 10 years based on the spring gobbler harvest. Virginia is compared to other states in the northeast region of the U.S., which includes 12 others. The eight states reporting stable populations are Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Virginia. The three states reporting increasing turkey populations are Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. West Virginia is the only state out of this region that is reporting a decrease in population.

The highest densities are currently being found in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The turkey population peaked in Virginia in 2002 and has since stabilized over the past six years. The turkey population had an increase in 2006 following the good hatch of 2004 resulting in an abundance of two-year old gobblers. The increase wasn’t sustained as recruitment in recent years has been poor.

Each year Virginia bow hunters are surveyed on turkey sightings. The surveys suggest a relatively stable population in recent years with a slight increase in 2007. Virginia has a diverse geographical layout and is broken into five regions across the state. Even though the state as a whole is stable, there are areas across the state that vary in trends, densities and population.

Norman’s report looks at densities based on cluster analyses of harvest per square mile of forest range. These densities were broken into five categories of (very low, low, moderate, high, and very high). The density categories were then analyzed into trends as either (increasing, stable, or declining). There are 51 counties with very low or low densities showing less than .68 gobblers killed per square mile of forest range that are stable or declining. There were 11 counties with gobbler harvests that exceeded 1.0 birds killed per square mile of forest range. Most of these counties were stable, but two were still increasing. There were 28 counties with moderate densities showing gobbler harvest ranging from .7 to 1.02 birds killed per square mile of forest range. Most of these counties were stable, with five increasing and one decreasing. There were eight counties with very high densities from 1.09 to 1.5 birds killed per square mile of forest range. Seven of these counties were stable with one increasing. One county fell into the very high range with 1.82 gobblers killed per square mile of forest range and showed an increasing trend.

Norman’s report tells us that productivity (recruitment) is estimated by brood and ratios of juveniles per adult female in the fall harvest. The 2007 productivity index was 1.7 juveniles per adult female in the fall harvest, which suggest poor production. Production has averaged 2.2 juveniles per adult female in all harvest over the past 10 years. Suring the past seven out of 10 years the production has been poor. Productivity appears to be declining over time. Production varied by region and ranged from 1.2 in the Tidewater region to 2.7 in the North Piedmont Region. Harvest Data Virginia’s 2008 spring gobbler kill was 15,037 resulting in a 6.7% increase over the 2007 season of 14,090. East of the Blue Ridge Mountains had 9,840 kills in 2008 while the counties west of the Blue Ridge kill was 5,197 in 2008. Poor weather during the 2007 spring gobbler season may have resulted in below average harvest rates. The recruitment in 2006 was below average, so the two-year-old age class was likely under-represented in the 2008 spring harvest.

The increased spring kill of 2008 is believed to be more related to the poor weather in the 2007 spring gobbler season and the 2007 low harvest rate resulted in good carry over of adult males into the 2008 season. The special youth day continues to be consistent despite the weather conditions they have had to endure. Youth killed 238 gobblers during the 2008 season resulting in only three more birds than the 235 killed in 2007. The most resent hunter survey suggests that Virginia has between 60,000 and 70,000 spring gobbler hunters.

From Norman’s report, the survey also estimates that approximately 25% of the Virginia spring gobbler hunters are successful taking a gobbler. So what can we expect for the 2009 spring season based on this information? Spring gobbler kills are primarily (89%) made up of two-year-old birds. The two-year-olds comprise the largest active gobbling birds. Jakes represent about 11% of the annual harvest.

Due to the poor recruitment of 2007 Norman does not expect to see an increase in gobbler kills for 2009. It may even be slightly down. At best it will be about the same as 2008. Weather will play a significant factor this year as good gobbling requires good weather.

Traditionally, the better the gobbling the better the hunter success is in finding and harvesting the gobbler. You can sway those odds in your favor and hunt those silent birds, but most hunters look for the thrill of the gobble which adds a significant amount of excitement to the hunt which is what were really after. A few die hard hunters pay no attention to the weather and hunt anyway. Some of my hunts were on windy /rainy days when it seemed that I had the woods to myself.

Habitat

This factor plays an important role in turkey densities. Get involved with your local Nation Wild Turkey Federation branch, local biologist, foresters or habitat management companies to learn more on how you can improve wildlife habitat. A turkey’s habitat is primarily broken down into three periods known as winter, nesting (spring) and Summer/Fall. A turkey spends about six months in the winter habitat season. The winter habitat is best when it is comprised of at least 50% hardwood forest. The mast crop of acorns, beech nuts, dogwood berries and grape comprise the majority of a turkey’s diet during the winter period. Agricultural crops of residual grain left over also make up a significant portion of the diet. Making certain your area has significant hardwood forest old enough to produce acorns is one way to help the turkeys in your area.

Capture Outdoors promotes and sells Gobbler Sawtooth Oaks to many of its customers. This oak produces an abundance of small acorns that the turkeys love. Most will start producing in 7-10 years after planting. Thinning out non-bearing trees around existing oak trees will help to broaden the crown resulting in more acorns. The same can be done with dogwood trees. Grains like winter wheat, oats, sorghum, Lespedeza, millet, and corn can help to provide food for the turkey during low acorn producing years. Nesting during spring is another crucial habitat factor that can be improved. Hens like to nest near permanent water sources. Field edges, briar thickets, old logging roads and hay fields that haven’t been cut yet are places that hens like to nest.

Capture Outdoors suggest planting native warm season grasses around field edges located near a water source for nesting cover. Prairie bromegrass is one of their favorite mixes to sell for nesting cover along with a percentage of red clover mixed in it makes a fantastic combination of nesting and food during the spring season. Both are drought tolerant to boot.

It’s important to have some open areas for the turkeys in the Summer/Fall period. During this time the hens and poults will need low plant cover to get to seeds and insects. Keep some openings bush-hogged for the turkeys. Try to do this after nesting and just prior to deer fawning to avoid killing them with the tractor. Creating these wildlife openings with mixtures of clover, lespedeza and birds foot trefoil provides high protein during early summer and fall and attracts a wide variety of insects.

Scouting cameras are also making there way into the turkey scene. Capture Outdoors sent us a few pictures of turkeys they caught on camera. Check out the new ScoutGuard series of cameras. Capture Outdoors has a special deal for Woods & Waters readers on their website www.captureoutdoors.com use coupon code “w2co” to get a Scoutview camera, 2gb sd card, batteries, and free shipping. All for $229.95.

Top 10 VA counties Past Four Years Harvest

Spring Gobbler 2007 2008 Bedford 462 Bedford 525 Franklin 404 Pittslyvania 501 Southampton 379 Franklin 446 Pittslyvania 373 Southampton 373 Halifax 336 Halifax 354 Scott 296 Botetourt 311 Botetourt 285 Sussex 306 Dinwiddie 266 Wythe 262 Campbell 256 Campbell 258 Sussex 251 Patrick 256 2006 2005 Bedford 627 Franklin 557 Franklin 539 Pittsylvania 473 Pittsylvania 528 Bedford 427 Southampton 426 Scott 368 Scott 338 Patrick 345 Halifax 336 Grayson 321 Rockbridge 325 Southampton 306 Grayson 312 Giles 275 Sussex 301 Wythe 273 Patrick 298 Botetourt 260 Side Bar: Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Day April 4, 2009 • One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. Seasons: Statewide • April 11-May 2, 2009: o One-half hour before sunrise until 12 noon each day. • May 4-May 16, 2009: o One-half hour before sunrise to sunset. *see VDGIF regulation guide for exact requirements