About The Pa. Gobbler Season

                                                          IN ITS TIME, the Game Commission has collected many wildlife management laurels, but few were such immediate successes as Pennsylvania's first spring gobbler season in May 1968. It was one of those programs that made us glad we are professional game managers; and it was particularly gratifying to those who helped promote and assure its successful conduct.

Naturally, the usual complaints from skeptics were heard when this new sport was proposed, but now we hear only praise from those who actually tried spring hunting. Surprisingly, hunters who didn't bag a bird or even see one were satisfied simply to hear a gobbler sound off at daybreak. This vocal display by the tom turkey to let hens and, unintentionally, hunters know he's available is apparently the key to this sport's great appeal. Turkey hunters, particularly those disheartened after going through the previous fall season without so much as a glimpse of their elusive quarry, were amazed at the abundance of gobbling birds that populated our prime turkey range in the spring.

Although enough gobblers were taken to make spring hunting mighty interesting, the harvest was often not the main measure of success. Just to hear sportsmen enthusiastically compare tales of gobblers heard or seen was indeed a refreshing experience. And to those hunters who had the added good fortune of calling one of these fanned-out monsters into range, the shooting was almost anti-climatic to this magnificent sight. This was quality hunting at its best.

The Game Commission was especially happy it turned out this way because it proved quality isn't necessarily lost in the process of providing recreation for increasing numbers of sportsmen; and also because the success of this experimental hunt could be credited largely to the hunters' attitude and behavior.

As you may recall, the Game Commission had done its part to ensure success by exhaustive investigations before spring turkey hunting was recommended feasible for Pennsylvania. The experiences of other states that already had spring hunts enabled us to make predictions on the probable outcome of our own season. But to make sure we were on the right track, our studies continued through and after the spring hunt. In all, we had five separate surveys in operation to determine hunting pressure, hunting success, hunter behavior and effects upon the turkey population.

The first of these was a count of hunters conducted over established routes throughout the turkey range by Game Commission and Allegheny Natioanl Forest biologists. The findings showed spring hunting pressure was less than half of that occurring during any comparable day of the fall turkey season. Also, pressure was least in the vast northcentral turkey range and greatest in range nearest the heavily human populated regions of the state.

Much as we had expected, 50 percent more hunters were counted on the last Saturday of the 6-day season than on opening Monday. This initial season was opened on Monday purposely to avoid the possibility of excessive pressure that might have occurred on a Saturday opening.

The next survey was completed by you, the hunter, who found post cards left on your car windshield or were given one directly by a game protector. A good percentage of you took time to include your hunting results on the card, and we are grateful for the care taken to record this information accurately. As a result, an extremely high 99 percent of the data cards were usable in our analysis.

Computer processed, the cards revealed the average spring hunter spent two mornings afield, heard 3.3 gobblers and saw 1.4 turkeys. Twelve percent of the respondents reported bagging a turkey. Hunter success was greatest in the prime range of northcentral Pennsylvania and least in the southeast section, where turkey range is limited and hunting pressure is highest.

The third survey involved findings from game protectors throughout the commonwealth's turkey range. They noted that hunter behavior was generally good. Reports of only six illegally killed hens were verified, and two of these were voluntarily turned in by hunters for payment of one-fourth penalty. Only 36 turkey nests were reported accidentally encountered by hunters. Of this total, most were known to have hatched successfully.

Game protectors examined 275 gobblers and two legal bearded hens. Their counts and estimates total 1,636 turkeys bagged in Pennsylvania's first spring season.

The results of the last two surveys weren't available until later in the year. One of these is the annual game bird reproduction census, or brood count, conducted by all Game Commission field personnel during the summer. In the case of turkeys, all sightings of hens and their broods of poults are counted and recorded. Brood counts have been carried on through a long period of years to establish a base line for normal or average reproduction to which each individual year's crop of young turkeys can be compared.

The other survey is the annual winter census of turkeys on certain research study areas. This involves locating and counting the flocks by their tracks in the snow while they are concentrated on their winter range.

Obviously, these surveys were most important because they could determine if spring hunting had harmed the turkey population. If it had, regardless of the great sport provided, future spring hunts could not be justified.

The results, after the last brood reports were compiled and analyzed, and the winter census was completed, showed no evidence of harm to turkey reproduction by spring hunting. In fact, turkey populations had increased in some areas, even where spring hunting pressure had been greatest.

Because of the clean bill of health given to the 1968 spring hunt by these turkey population inventories, and also by the good behavior of the participating hunters, the Game Commission has set another season in May 1969. We intend to scrutinize the effects of the second season just as closely as the first, but now with the experience of one season behind us, we can be even more confident of its outcome. Consequently, the 1969 season was increased to seven mornings by including a Saturday as opening day to provide more hunters an opportunity to enjoy this season.

The 1968 spring hunt followed most of our predictions quite closely. But we did underestimate (to the tune of about 40 percent) the 1968 gobbler harvest simply because we did not fully appreciate the extraordinary skill of our Keystone hunters. They learned this new sport quickly.

Fortunately, the gobbler harvest is the one thing we can afford to underestimate in planning for a spring hunt. At least three times the 1,600 surplus toms bagged in 1968 could be taken annually and scarcely be missed by the remainder of the turkey population.

We did overlook something important, however, when we forgot to explain how gobblers develop swelled chests in the spring, much like the swollen necks of bucks during the fall rut. Thus the "diseased" or "infected" gobblers that were reported invariably turned out to be healthy birds with a perfectly normal growth called the "breast sponge." This is a layer of gelatinous fat that forms beneath the breast skin of each male turkey each spring to serve as a nutritional reserve during the mating season. This does not harm the bird in any way, but should be removed before cooking.

On the positive side to the benefit of the hunter, this fat reserve also makes bragging-size trophies. Toms that weighed 18 pounds in the fall were pushing 20 pounds in the spring. We had reports of a few in the 25-pound category, but it takes a mighty big turkey to beat 20 pounds in the fall. This was a rather pleasant surprise to many hunters who, expecting turkeys to be skinny after a long winter, found they were plump and good eating, too, unless the trophy was an unusually old bird.

Now that Pennsylvania's first spring season is history, the "veteran" of the first hunt is looking forward to the next with considerable excitement and anticipation. But the beginner may be somewhat apprehensive, because spring hunting for gobblers is an entirely different sport than he's ever been exposed to. Consequently, his past experiences with other game, and even fall hunting for turkeys, might not be of much benefit. The best the novice can do is read up on the subject or pick the brain of a veteran.

Just to brush up on some spring hunting methods: First of all, calling gobblers is the name of the spring hunting game, so learn to use a turkey call. Most experienced hunters wear camouflage clothing. After locating a tom by listening for his gobbles, sneak up within 200 or 300 yards of his location. Then take special care in selecting a good hiding spot, such as a natural depression, where the turkey can't readily see your position. Now you are ready to call. Wait until the gobbler approaches close enough for a sure shot - less than 40 yards is recommended - aim carefully, and he's yours. At short range, under 30 yards, say, the vulnerable head-neck area is the best aiming point.

Above all, avoid any chance of killing an illegal beardless hen. Besides the tom turkey's distinct beard and larger size, there's no reason to mistake the white-crowned blue head on the gobbler's bright red neck for the drab-headed hens. Remember that the future of spring gobbler hunting seasons depends upon how well you mind your hunting manners and, especially, how well you follow the hunting regulations. These regulations are necessary safeguards for the future of your sport.

Another spring hunting tip worth passing on to the beginner may help solve the frustrating problem of the reluctant tom that can't be lured in with the hen yelp imitation, especially when he's with a harem of real hens. Try gobbling. Hunters who tried it last spring sometimes had toms come running with blood in their eyes to challenge the interloper. Seems like gobblers can't stand competition any more than a spring turkey hunter can.

Speaking of competition, the bane of the spring hunter's success, we can expect it to increase with the popularity of this sport. There is a way to lower the odds, however, simply by applying this law: "Spring turkey hunting success is greatest where gobblers are most and hunters are least." So go north, young man, where there's plenty of elbow room and the turkeys aren't quite so call shy . . . yet.

- Jerry Wunz, PGC Biologist, Retired