According to preliminary data released by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, hunters harvested 12,006 bearded turkeys during the spring gobbler season, a 12.3 percent increase over the 2025 season.
The 2026 spring harvest also exceeded the five-year average of 10,812 by 7.3 percent and the 10-year average of 11,243 by 6.8 percent.
“This year’s spring gobbler season was a resounding success, highlighting the incredible hunting opportunities available in West Virginia,” said Brett McMillion, WVDNR director.
Harvests in all six districts increased over last year. Hunters in District 1 (Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Taylor, Tucker and Whetzel counties) harvested the most birds, 2,838. District 6 (Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roanke, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties) harvested 2,072, with District 4 (Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleight, Summers and Wyoming) 1,983, District 5 (Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne counties) 1,981, District 3 (Braxton, Clay, Lewis, Nicolas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties) 1,783 and District 2 (Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton counties) 1,394.
The top five counties with the highest turkey harvest were Mason (523), Preston (436), Jackson (404), Harrison (372) and Marshall (335) counties.
This year, Pendleton County hunters harvested 190 gobblers, compared to 150 in 2025, 157 in 2024, 185 in 2023 and 126 in 2022.
Harvest in surrounding counties was 175 in Grant, 194 in Hardy, 178 in Pocahontas and 318 in Randolph.
During the two-day youth season, youth hunters harvested 875 turkeys (607 on Saturday and 268 on Sunday), which is a 28.3 percent increase over the 2025 season. The youth harvest made up approximately 7.3 percent of the total harvest. Youth harvests are included with county totals in the table linked below.
“We are excited to see such a significant jump in youth participation,” McMillion said. “Passing down these outdoor traditions to the next generation is vital to the future of conservation in our state, and this season shows that the future of hunting in West Virginia is bright.”
The WVDNR is also reminding hunters that there is still time to report their spring gobbler hunting activity for inclusion in the 2026 Annual Spring Gobbler Survey. For more information about the survey, visitWVdnr.gov/surveys.
To learn more about hunting in West Virginia or to buy a hunting license, visit WVdnr.gov.
