Fall turkey hunting season opens in Pennsylvania

Today (Oct. 30) Pennsylvania’s fall turkey season got underway with some changes.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), fall turkey season will be shorter in 14 Wildlife Management Units (WMU), and as usual, there is no fall turkey hunting allowed in WMU 5A, here in 5C and 5D because of low turkey numbers. 

The PGC reminds hunters that the 3-day Thanksgiving season will be held only in WMUs 2B, 2C, 2D and 2E and like last year, the season will run the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving. 

The shorter season lengths are as follows: WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E will run Oct. 30-Nov. 6; WMU 2B (shotgun and archery only) – Oct. 30-Nov.19 and Nov. 24-26; WMUs 2C, 2D and 2E – Oct. 30-Nov. 13 and Nov 24-26; WMUs 2A, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C – Oct. 30-Nov. 13 and WMU 5B – Nov. 2-4. 

Unfortunately, the PGC says fall turkey harvests have been declining due to shorter seasons, fewer hunters, smaller flocks and varying mast crops. 

Last fall, the turkey harvest was estimated at 8,500 which was eight percent less than the 2019 estimate of 9,000. Fall turkey success in 2020, they say, was 8.4 percent similar to the previous 3-year average of 8.7 percent and slightly less than the previous 10-year average of 9.3 percent. 
Despite this, the PGC claims turkey reproduction was well above average this past summer, translating to above average fall flock sizes.

PGC field reports indicate oak mast production varies across the state, ranging from acorn scarcity in some areas, average crops in others and bumper crops in many places. The agency says find the acorns and you’ll likely find turkeys. 

Otherwise, and in areas where acorns are scarce, hunters are encouraged to cover a lot of ground to find flocks that likely will concentrate around available food sources. In areas where mast  is abundant, hunters are encouraged to scout to determine turkey movement patterns as turkey flocks will wander more where food is abundant. 

PGC turkey biologists say current turkey densities are below management goals in 15 of 23 WMUs. Unfortunately, this trend has been observed across much of the species’ range besides Pennsylvania. It’s believed the Brood X cicada hatch in most of southern Pennsylvania, coupled with warm and dry-late spring weather, resulted in average to above-average poult survival this past summer in 19 of the 23 WMUs. The 12 WMUs with above average recruitment are projected to hold larger than average flocks this fall. 
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Successful turkey hunters are reminded to tag their birds and report their harvests within 10 days (five for mentored hunters) of harvest. Hunters can report their harvest over the phone by calling 800-838-4431 and include the WMU, county and township where the birds were taken. If taking a leg-banded turkey, follow the reporting instructions on the band. Last winter, the PGC banded 479 turkeys to determine spring harvest rates and annual survival rates by WMU and to track turkey populations.