1999 Turkey Harvest Report  

Fall turkey harvest much higher than 1998

The fall wild turkey harvest grew to 2,923 in 1999, 74 percent above the 1998 harvest of 1,678 birds, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.

The top five county harvest this fall were Randolph (416), Preston (384), Greenbrier (271), Pocahontas (243), and Nicholas (199). The eastern mountains enjoyed the highest harvest with 970 birds, according to Jim Pack, wild turkey biologist for the division's wildlife resources section.

The counties traditionally open for the 2-to-4 weeks of fall hunting accounted for 90 percent of the harvest. Six counties opened to limited permit hunting accounted for the remainder. The combined 1999 spring and fall harvest of 14,164 was the seventh highest total on record for the state.

The increase was a result of larger broods and higher visibility, Pack said.

"The higher harvest this fall reflects excellent brood conditions this past spring and summer. Warm and dry weather during the nesting period and the first month in the life of a young turkey result in higher survival because of reduced losses due to exposure.

"Spotty mast conditions this fall were also a contributing factor to the higher harvest and it resulted in birds being more concentrated and easier for hunters to locate."

1995-99 WEST VIRGINIA FALL TURKEY HARVEST

County

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Brooke

C

19

25

29

44

Hancock

C

8

14

17

13

Harrison

C

43

C

C

C

Marion

C

36

C

C

C

Marshall

C

85

34

27

66

Monongalia

C

47

34

34

86

Ohio

C

18

23

11

30

Preston

380

274

239

237

391

Taylor

C

24

31

C

C

Tucker

116

38

83

50

117

Wetzel

C

45

C

C

C

Dist. I Subtotal

496

637

483

405

747

Berkeley

53

30

39

35

18

Grant

178

99

173

90

160

Hampshire

156

179

231

107

137

Hardy

131

149

259

93

145

Mineral

113

113

109

51

73

Morgan

59

49

55

24

48

Pendleton

265

131

168

86

138

Dist. II Subtotal

955

750

1,034

486

719

Lewis

C

48

24

C

C

Nicholas

207

109

216

68

200

Pocahontas

288

141

217

112

242

Randolph

524

161

291

133

370

Upshur

C

55

C

C

C

Webster

130

49

92

19

112

Dist. III Subtotal

1,149

563

840

332

924

Greenbrier

311

262

384

147

282

Monroe

300

289

331

172

168

Summers

C

66

109

31

61

Dist. IV Subtotal

611

617

824

350

511

Mason

C

75

60

44

C

Dist. V Subtotal

C

75

60

44

0

Jackson

C

61

C

C

C

Pleasants

C

11

7

C

C

Ritchie

C

41

C

C

C

Tyler

C

31

20

C

C

Wirt

C

23

37

18

C

Wood

C

61

80

43

C

Dist. VI Subtotal

C

228

144

61

0

State Total

3,211

2,870

3,385

1,678

2,901

C = Closed to Fall Hunting