Pennsylvania Game Commission forecasts for the Northwest Region for the fall turkey season that begins Saturday:
WMU 1A (Mercer and Lawrence counties and parts of Crawford, Venango, Butler and Beaver counties): Expect the fall harvest to be similar to last year with the only setback for hunters being the abundance of fall foods, which will disperse flocks. Hunters who have scouted and patterned flocks will have the most success. Flock sizes should be mixed as some areas had great reproduction while it was below average in other areas. Hunter success last fall (14 percent) was slightly below the state average (16 percent).
WMU 1B (Erie County, most of Crawford County and parts of Warren and Venango counties): With the excellent reproduction this summer, expect turkeys everywhere and great hunter success like last year (22 percent) compared to the state average (16 percent). The abundant fall food source will disperse flocks so scouting will be important for a successful hunt.
WMU 2D (Parts of Venango, Clarion, Butler, Armstrong, Jefferson, Indiana and Westmoreland counties): Turkey hunting prospects should continue to be better than many other units, but the fall harvest could be down slightly from last year’s hunter success of 15 percent, which was average for this unit, due to this summer’s lower turkey sighting index. However, spring and fall harvests continue to be above the statewide average.
WMU 2F (Allegheny National Forest region): The agency shortened the fall season to two weeks in 2007 to help this population reverse its long-term decline. This management action, coupled with slightly above-average recruitment, should provide the jump-start this population needs to rebound. Hunters can help, too, by harvesting a young turkey rather than an experienced adult bird, as there are ample juvenile birds in this fall’s population. The above-average acorn crop will cause the birds to be more dispersed, so preseason scouting will ensure success.
For reports for all species from around the state, visit the Game Commission's Field Officer Game and Furbearer Forecasts.