PA Fall Turkey

[sroc112]

Anyone familiar with population numbers throughout PA to consider when planning a Fall turkey trip? Any counties of preference or any to avoid?

 

[std7mag]

Are you out of state looking for a place to go?

 

[just_jon]

Attached is a link to PGC harvest maps. Looks like 2020 was the last year showing fall numbers. Be sure to check the seasons as some units only have a three day seasons.

Harvest Data and Maps

www.pgc.pa.gov

 

[twooly]

Turkeys seem to be everywhere, but yet they're no where too. Weird birds.

 

[yobuck]

Its a question of being in the right place at the right time.
Turkeys are constantly on the move, so the signs you see are where they were. In another week they might be back.
Ive had my best luck by driving slowly along the many back roads in places like Quehanna. Its best to try to scatter them.
Especially now that rifles are illegal.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

...overall the population is much improved over the last two years buy still recovering from the disasters of 3-4-5 years ago. The hatch this year was fine but the renest was even better, lots of flocks visible in just about all of the normal range but still not like it was 6 years ago.....a few rides early in the morning or late afternoon on game lands and state forests will certainly turn up something...

 

[birddog 68]

If you look at the harvest maps that justjon posted you can see where the numbers were high 4 years ago. As Frank mentioned numbers were down at that time 4 years ago but have rebounded since.
Areas that had high harvest 4 years ago will have better numbers this year.
The numbers of birds throughout the state are good but not 10 years ago good.

 

[yobuck]

If you look at the harvest maps that justjon posted you can see where the numbers were high 4 years ago. As Frank mentioned numbers were down at that time 4 years ago but have rebounded since.
Areas that had high harvest 4 years ago will have better numbers this year.
The numbers of birds throughout the state are good but not 10 years ago good.

Everything is sacred according to the game commission.
Untill that opinion changes, nesting species like turkeys and pheasants will always struggle to survive.
Hunters can have some degree of control over that.