May 29th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced this week that hunters reported harvesting a total of 3,874 wild turkeys during the 2016 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons that ended on May 23. This year’s harvest is three percent higher than 2015 (3,767), and well above the ten year average of 3,131.

“The high harvest can be attributed to a combination of factors, including growing turkey populations, excellent weather during the first week, and more Sunday hunting opportunities across the state,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said.

Garrett County reported the highest harvest this year with 387 turkeys, followed by Washington with 355. Rounding out the top five were Frederick (299), Dorchester (274), and Charles (265). Hunters in nine counties were able to hunt on Sundays this year, which lead to a harvest of 251 turkeys.

Youth hunters kicked-off the spring turkey season with the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 16 statewide and April 17 in select counties. They took advantage of the pleasant weather and harvested 193 wild turkeys.

The table below shows the overall reported spring turkey season harvest by county for 2011-2016:

Reported Spring Turkey Harvest, 2011-2016
County	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Allegany	287	257	269	258	298	256
Anne Arundel	38	58	82	54	62	45
Baltimore	25	29	37	32	35	52
Calvert	40	50	57	59	69	73
Caroline	132	164	142	141	159	172
Carroll	22	30	33	45	62	76
Cecil	34	43	55	57	67	69
Charles	222	303	270	254	253	265
Dorchester	210	219	245	239	252	274
Frederick	122	140	215	193	256	299
Garrett	339	368	386	383	421	387
Harford	69	98	110	97	102	110
Howard	16	16	16	10	16	34
Kent	97	103	118	150	164	181
Montgomery	47	51	82	68	97	94
Prince George’s	79	92	78	79	87	87
Queen Anne’s	114	152	159	165	183	190
Somerset	114	122	124	120	169	150
St. Mary’s	83	99	127	173	193	188
Talbot	98	102	103	83	68	88
Washington	285	292	309	343	392	355
Wicomico	162	152	124	146	138	206
Worcester	191	192	203	176	224	223
Total	2,826	3,132	3,344	3,325	3,767	3,874

Wild turkey populations are at all-time highs in some areas, with record numbers reported in many counties. Additionally, ideal weather during the first week of the season likely increased hunter participation and helped them locate and call in cooperative gobblers. Nearly 50 percent of the total harvest typically occurs during the first week.