Virginia Sees Increased Turkey Harvest in Eastern Shore Amid Statewide Decline

Virginia’s wild turkey harvest for spring 2025 reached 20,565, the fourth highest on record despite a 6% overall decline from 2024. Accomack and Northampton Counties reported increases, while concerns about low juvenile turkey numbers impact statewide populations. The DWR stresses the need for habitat improvements to maintain long-term turkey health.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has made its spring 2025 wild turkey harvest numbers public, reporting a total of 20,565 turkeys collected. This figure stands as the fourth-highest in the state’s history for spring harvests. However, it reflects a 6% decline compared to 2024. Interestingly, Accomack and Northampton Counties defy the state trend, showcasing noteworthy increases in their turkey harvests.

In Accomack County, hunters successfully harvested 318 turkeys, marking a 12% year-over-year increase and a 10% rise above the county’s three-year average. Similarly, Northampton County witnessed a rise in harvested turkeys, reporting 86 turkeys taken, which is a significant 16% more than the previous year and 12% above its three-year average. These local boosts offer a glimmer of hope amidst the overall decline.

Despite the decrease across Virginia, it’s important to note that the statewide harvest remains one of the largest on record. DWR officials attribute the decline to lower turkey brood recruitment in the past two years. Surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 revealed below-average juvenile turkey populations, known as poults, which are essential for sustaining robust adult populations in the coming hunting seasons.

This trend of reduced recruitment seems to have had a significant impact, as the percentage of juvenile gobblers, often referred to as “jakes,” harvested rose from 7% last season to 11% this year. This shift likely indicates a trend of hunters taking younger birds due to the scarcity of mature turkeys.

DWR Executive Director Ryan Brown remarked on the situation, emphasizing that Virginia still offers a range of recreational opportunities for turkey hunters, largely due to the resilience of local turkey populations. He pointed out that natural factors like weather, food availability, and hatching success contribute to variations from year to year.

“Even with annual fluctuations based on the hatch, weather, and food conditions, turkey populations continue to provide great recreational opportunities across the Commonwealth,” Brown noted.

However, the DWR also issued a caution about certain regions in the state that are not reaching the population targets set out in Virginia’s Wild Turkey Management Plan. To ensure healthy turkey populations, the agency is focusing on habitat improvements aimed at enhancing nesting success and brood survival over the long term.

In summary, while Virginia’s overall turkey harvest has experienced a decline in 2025, certain counties like Accomack and Northampton have seen positive increases. The DWR points to challenges due to low brood recruitment affecting the population. Nonetheless, officials remain optimistic about the recreational opportunities available, although they emphasize the need for ongoing habitat improvements to support turkey populations’ health and sustainability.

Original Source: shoredailynews.com