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2,455 Wild Turkeys Reported Harvested During The 2007 Spring Season
ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s turkey hunters reported taking 2,455 wild turkeys during the 2007 spring turkey season, representing an 18% decrease from the 2006 harvest of 3,008 turkeys.
Annual surveys conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) indicated that reproductive success was below-average across Maryland during the summers of 2005 and 2006. The lack of 1 and 2-year old gobblers was also evident in the age structure of the harvest. An unusually high percentage of gobblers taken in the last 2 spring seasons were adults. Junior hunters harvested 102 turkeys during the 1 day youth hunt held on April 14, down considerably from last year’s youth day total of 168.
As in the past, a large portion of the harvest (37%) occurred during the 1st week. While most hunters took their birds on private land, a fair number of turkeys (18%) were taken on Maryland’s public hunting areas.
Leading the state in harvest again this year were the western mountain counties of Garrett (303), Washington (269), and Allegany (259). However, Charles (209), Dorchester (205), and Worcester (196) counties also reported respectable numbers.
Maryland’s reported wild turkey harvest, 2001-2007.
County
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Allegany
364
336
332
337
328
331
259
Anne Arundel
51
67
59
75
70
65
47
Baltimore
11
14
20
21
24
28
27
Calvert
120
94
110
64
53
59
40
Caroline
44
42
50
47
66
75
79
Carroll
19
17
13
10
28
24
15
Cecil
25
13
8
10
17
10
24
Charles
190
223
198
183
213
227
209
Dorchester
334
322
325
289
332
265
205
Frederick
156
159
171
136
163
148
115
Garrett
567
490
431
325
365
342
303
Harford
27
26
37
44
47
59
37
Howard
3
3
2
5
3
7
1
Kent
29
41
39
36
44
50
47
Montgomery
45
44
40
31
56
56
50
Prince George's
84
102
92
78
83
95
55
Queen Anne's
51
68
60
59
80
82
73
St. Mary's
36
45
43
61
96
62
59
Somerset
165
201
230
169
215
204
137
Talbot
42
46
62
42
49
80
74
Washington
278
296
325
305
340
322
269
Wicomico
168
192
169
164
180
164
134
Worcester
266
286
304
269
284
253
196
State
3075
3127
3120
2760
3136
3008
2455
June 18, 2007Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.