West virginias statewide fourweek spring gobbler season opens monday, april 15, and runs through may 11. In addition to having over 2 million acres of public hunting land, virginia s spring hunting season lasts for five weeks, and has a threebird bag limit. Wild turkey north carolina wildlife resources commission. Spring turkey season one per day, bearded turkeys only. West virginia 2018 spring turkey harvest largest in 15 years wv dnr. Episode 2 virginia spring gobbler season with bent mountain game calls. Spring gobbler season opens april 15 sports register. Spring turkey hunting season news, sports, jobs marietta. Persons ages 16 and older may not hunt turkeys during the youthonly season.
This can include wildlife from birds to bears, or a meadow of blooming flowers on a wma to the hardwoods of a state forest. Each recommendation includes specifics on conservationrelated work with wild turkeys, and other game animals, in mind. Spring turkey hunters harvest 3,861 gobblers may 30, 2018 five counties report record harvests the maryland department of natural resources announced today that hunters reported harvesting 3,861 wild turkeys during the 2018 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons. In addition to having over 2 million acres of public hunting land, virginias spring hunting season lasts for five weeks, and has a threebird bag limit. See your county listing for season dates and special requirements. West virginias spring gobbler season opens april 20 woaytv. Hunters can harvest one bearded bird per day with a season bag limit of two. Wild turkeys killed in the spring gobbler season must be checked using the telephone or internet checking system. Randy invites his good friend and deer30 outdoors teammate, adam keffer, to join him as he pursues his last virginia gobbler of the 2018 spring turkey season on public land. Photo courtesy of the west virginia department of commerce. Charleston when west virginias spring turkey season opens on monday morning. Spring turkey season dates bag limit youth private and authorized state and federal public lands. West virginia spring gobbler season opens in west virginia monday, april 27 and runs through saturday, may 23.
Wild turkeys now exist in all 100 counties in the state and all 100 counties now have a spring gobbler season. Virginia offers a list of larger sized animals for hunters such as deer, elk, bear and turkey, as well. The estimated harvest for spring 2019 was 17,078 birds. The date of the season was based on the earliest time a season could be opened and still provide some protection of wild turkey hens. West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 west virginia offers several big game hunting seasons through the beautiful appalachian mountains.
Gobbling rates decline as the spring season progresses tagged birds and hunting pressure are cited factors. Spring turkey hunters needed for ruffed grouse drumming survey. The spring 2019 season could be a challenging one for us turkey chasers. Apr 09, 2020 in past years, the youth turkey season was on the saturday before opening day of the regular spring turkey season. Special season for eligible junior hunters, with required license, and mentored youth april 25, 2020. Rules, seasons and reporting requirements for trapping beaver, bobcat, marten, mink, raccoon, and more. Although the number of young birds may be down this spring, many 3yearold toms from the last cicada year will still be in the woods. Checking fall and spring turkeys wild turkeys killed in the fall except those killed in january must be checked at a game check station. Wild turkey weight certification form pdf how to score your gobbler. West virginias spring gobbler season opens april 15 wv. Turkey hunting is a tradition in the mountain state, and the spring season can be both challenging and fun for hunters of all ages. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during this hunt.
Aptly named the mountain state, west virginia gives hunters the opportunity to hunt in majestic solitude while pursuing deer, bear, turkey and small game. Spring gobbler season starts april 15 west virginia. Hunting seasons and regulations washington department of. Children ages 15 and younger may hunt turkeys during the youthonly hunting weekend and the general spring season.
A free residentsonly access permit is required to hunt archery turkey in adams homestead and nature preserve in union county and good earth state park near sioux falls. May 18, 2018 randy invites his good friend and deer30 outdoors teammate, adam keffer, to join him as he pursues his last virginia gobbler of the 2018 spring turkey season on public land. Peak gobbling typically coincides with peak nest incubation. On may 2nd, 2018 went on a public land spring gobbler hunt. Turkey hunting regulations virginia hunting seasons. Check the 20182019 west virginia hunting and trapping regulations. After you have received your license, the access permits may be applied for only.
When using a shotgun it is unlawful to use or have in possession any shot larger than number 2 fine shot during spring turkey season. Winners for each category will be selected at the end of the season, may 19, 2018. The wild turkey population has increased from an estimated 2,000 birds in 1970 to an estimated 265,000 birds in 2015. Shutterstock image many west virginia hunters experienced some great mornings during the 2018 turkey season, as the kill of 12,274 was the best in 15 years. Its also important for traveling hunters to note, spring turkey hunting closes at 1 p. As part of our comprehensive guide to us hunting seasons by state on this page you will find out when is hunting season for west virginia. Three adult gobblers or gobblers with at least a 6 beard. There is also general information on the different hunting seasons for a wide range of wild game species. The combined bag limit for the 2019 fall and 2020 winter seasons is one turkey of either sex. Hunters reported 9,645 spring gobblers in game check. Find virginia hunting seasons, information on deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game and special hunt dates. The season will open monday, april 15, and runs through saturday, may 11. It is unlawful to hunt roosting turkeys by any means at any time or to release turkeys without. By the end of the spring turkey season on may 15, 2017, a total of 427 turkeys were checked.
This year, the youth turkey season will be saturday and sunday, april 1819. Youth at least 8 years old and younger than 18 can harvest one bearded bird which counts toward their season bag limit of two. General spring youth a hunt in game management units open to general season turkey hunting see page 18 for age requirements and open in. The spring turkey permit is valid for the general spring season and allows a hunter to harvest up to the spring season bag limit of turkeys. May 03, 2018 episode 2 virginia spring gobbler season with bent mountain game calls late season turkey hunting duration. Southwest virginia family hunting adventures 1,789 views 5.
Nov 01, 2019 all counties with an open fall season sept. Virus hangs giant question mark over wvs spring turkey season. During both spring and fall seasons, you must report taking a turkey within 7 days, via the decals online harvest reporting system or by calling 18664263778. For years the department has conducted a statewide survey of spring turkey hunters to collect their observations and opinions, but participation has been declining. Whether youre looking for a new subspecies of wild turkey to hunt or youre researching. By adding an extra day to the youth season, we wanted to give kids more opportunities to get out and enjoy a hunting adventure, peters said. Licensed hunters are allowed to harvest three bearded turkeys during the season. General information bag limits general one per day, three per license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall. In addition to having over 2 million acres of public hunting land. Rules pamphlet for hunting aprilmay for merriams turkey, rio grande turkey, and eastern turkey. This is a decrease of 11% from 2018 and is below the fiveyear average spring harvest 19,600 birds. Sportsmen bagged,374 toms during the fourweek season the sixth highest total on record, and respectable by any estimation.
Youth spring gobbler season a special oneday youth spring gobbler season will be held on saturday, april 14, 2018. Class qqq and class xs license holders are not eligible. On an upside, west virginia does have good public land opportunity with 500,000 stateowned acres and another million under u. When west virginias spring turkey season opens on monday morning. Peters said the brood count in 2018 came in 16% above the 5year average, so there should be more 2yearold gobblers in. Participation decreased about 15% from 2018 to 2019, which is likely due to the cold, wet weather we experienced during the first two weeks of the season. West virginias 2019 spring gobbler season begins april 15 and runs through may 11. Archery and fall firearms season one per day, either sex may be taken. Turkey hunting regulations have changed for several conservation areas. Spring 2020 season information is found in the 201920 hunting digest on pages 14 and 5861 and below. West virginias statewide fourweek spring gobbler season opens april 15 and runs through may 11. The aforementioned rainy, cool weather not only hurt turkey hunting in 2018 but.
West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. West virginia dnr setting of spring gobbler season. Virginia offers some of the best early season turkey hunting opportunities in the eastern region. Canadian hunters see rules for importing firearms for hunting. Apr 10, 2019 in just a few days, west virginias statewide spring gobbler season will start. Turkey hunting regulations and information 20192020 pdf, 475kb. Across the state, the numbers are already 18,269, beating last years season total of 16,950. Taking elk counts towards a hunters deer permits and bag. The bag limit is one bearded turkey, and the harvested bird will count toward the hunters annual bag limit. Hunt takes place on the cavalier wildlife management area in chesapeake.
Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest 1 gobbler of choice any age per day, 3 per spring season. The fourth monday of april spring gobbler season opening date was designed to protect the wild turkey hen resource in west virginia and to permit spring hunting recreation on bearded wild turkeys. The 2018 spring hunt guide provides you with all the useful information needed for turkey hunting in your state, plus public land recommendations from nwtf regional biologists. The oneday youth season will be held april, the saturday before the regular season. April 23 may 19, 2001 shooting hours onehalf hour before sunrise to 1 p.
Comment on 20202021 migratory game bird hunting seasons federal frameworks and staff recommendations. That, in turn, caused a significant increase in 2yearold gobblers in 2018. Sep 29, 2010 west virginia s turkey hunters could find little solace in last years decentbutnotgreat spring gobbler harvest. Turkey eneral regulationsg west virginia division of. All hunters are required to submit a hunter report, even if they didnt hunt. Virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Fall turkey season daily shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. Bear, deer and turkey tag validation and checking requirements. For more information on hunting dates in your region, visit the virginia. Episode 2 virginia spring gobbler season with bent mountain game calls late season turkey hunting duration. Once youve been to the mountaintop, its hard to come back down. Peak gobbling in virginia normally occurs in early may based on field surveys. West virginias spring gobbler season opens april 15.
1349 1604 552 927 316 1486 108 1268 1527 168 137 1079 211 633 1261 1317 1511 1549 1062 115 1299 83 1212 1056 1565 340 1299 916 1385 871 1043 266 848 1345 141 176 801 715 291 904 909