The Bowhunter Survey results lag one year behind data from the other surveys, but it is a valuable tool to monitor population and harvest trends of a variety of wildlife species. The wild turkey fall harvest trend has been measured accurately seven years in a row by the survey.

Bowhunter sightings of wild turkeys declined during the fall of 2002 and so did the fall harvest (Table 4). The 2002 rate of 44 wild turkeys seen per 100 hours of bowhunting was 19% lower than the 2001 rate (55) and 2% above average (43).

As time goes by, the Bowhunter Survey will better depict the trend in our wild turkey population, but since 1995, the wild turkey population declined during the late 1990's, started recovering due to good brood years in 1999 and 2001, but is now declining again.

The Bowhunter Survey data serves as a vital check on wild turkey population trends that cannot be obtained solely from harvest data. Annual harvest information can be affected by weather conditions, hunting pressure, etc., so other measures such as the Bowhunter Survey are important in assessing long-term habitat and population changes. Bowhunters interested in helping with this survey may contact Patty Fordyce, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, PO Box 67 , Elkins , WV 26241 , phone 304-637-0245, fax 304-637-0250 or email pattyfordyce@wvdnr.gov . Interested individuals can also contact any DNR office in their area if they wish to participate in the survey. Cooperators receive an annual report of the results that contains valuable and important information on bowhunting and wildlife.

Click On Link Below For PDF Version of Table 4.

Table 4. Fall Harvest of Wild Turkeys In West Virginia, 1999-2003. - (PDF format, 5.36KB)

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