According to preliminary data released by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, hunters in the Mountain State harvested 12,217 bearded turkeys during the spring gobbler season.
The harvest is 30.4 percent above last year’s harvest of 9,366 birds, 12.6 percent above the five-year average of 10,850 birds and 14.6 percent above the 10-year average of 10,661. It is also the largest harvest since 2018, when 12,287 birds were taken.
“The increased harvest is a testament to the dedicated efforts of our hunters and the successful management of our turkey populations and we’re thrilled to see such encouraging harvest numbers for the spring gobbler season in West Virginia,” said Brett McMillion, WVDNR director. “It’s especially exciting to note that this year’s harvest surpasses both the five-year and 10-year averages, indicating a positive trend in the turkey population. The WVDNR remains committed to maintaining sustainable wildlife management practices to ensure the long-term health and abundance of turkeys in our state.”
Harvest increases were reported in every WVDNR District except District 4, which had a slight decrease. Hunters in District 1 (Barbour, Brooke, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Taylor, Tucker and Webster counties) harvested the most birds (2,563), followed by District 6 (Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties) with 2,206, District 5 (Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Putnam and Wayne counties) with 2,148, District 4 (Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties) with 1,871, District 2 (Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan and Pendleton) with 1,766 and District 3 (Braxton, Clay, Lewis, Nicolas, Pocahontas, Randolph, Upshur and Webster counties)1,663.
The top five counties with the highest turkey harvests were Mason (559), Jackson (416), Preston (390), Harrison (357) and Hampshire (347).
Pendleton County hunters harvested 185 turkeys during the season compared to 126 last year.
Harvests in neighboring counties were as follows: Grant – 207; Hardy – 267; Pocahontas – 193; and Randolph – 261.
“I want to congratulate all of our successful hunters who helped make this year’s spring gobbler harvest the best it’s been in five years,” said James Bailey, West Virginia Department of Commerce secretary. “Our state’s hunting seasons play a vital role in bolstering our economy and supporting local businesses and communities. Together, we will continue to foster a thriving outdoor industry that sustains our natural resources while providing memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.”
During the spring 2023 season, youth hunters harvested 781 turkeys, 490 of which were taken on Saturday and 291 on Sunday. This was the fourth year the youth season has been two days. The youth harvest made up approximately 6.4 percent of the season’s total harvest and is included with county totals.
West Virginia experienced a similar increase in turkey harvests during the fall 2022 season, during which hunters brought in almost 46 percent more birds than the fall 2021 season. To learn more about hunting in West Virginia or to buy a hunting license, visit WVdnr.gov.
