Get wild with the Pa. Game Commission’s wild turkey survey

The question isn’t so much where are the turkeys, where aren’t there turkeys?

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is conducting a turkey survey through Aug. 31 and is looking for residents to report their sighting via website and a mobile app.

Observers need only report the number of turkeys, location, date and contact information.

The agency will use the information to make conservation decisions about the turkey and to analyze reproduction success of the birds.

“Many factors affect wild turkey productivity, including spring weather, habitat, previous winter-food abundance, predation and last fall’s harvest,” according to a June 26 press release issued by PGC.

Last year’s statewide turkey population found 229,300 turkeys, which was slightly above the previous 10-year average of 220,050 and three-year average of 218,600, according to PGC.

The state’s turkey population reached a peak in the early 2000s with about 280,000 birds because of agency restoration efforts through wild trap-and-transfer efforts, habitat improvement, and fall turkey hunting season restrictions, according to the agency.

Turkey populations then declined sharply but since 2011 it has been fluctuating between 204,000 and 234,000, depending on summer reproduction and fall harvest, according to PGC.

Learn more about wild turkeys by visiting the PGC website.