Turkey harvest numbers by county

[PA Bandit]

(2) of (54)............I feel pretty accomplished. I have never realized the difference between Ohio and PA Harvest. My guess would be it is accredited to the lack of public land as well as just a general observation the lack of people who actually hunt in the state but I am just surprised at the low harvest for counties in comparison to a state that is right across the border.

 

[MK111]

I'll throw this idea out for thoughts. For most of the counties the present day hunters were raised with NO turkeys. The present day of turkeys in all 88 Counties is a new thing in the last 15-20 yrs. I sorta think it's just a lack of interest of a new tough hunting experience.
Just my thoughts. What's everyone's thoughts?

 

[hickslawns]

It has only been the last couple years I have had turkeys on properties I can hunt. They are growing steadily in my area which I am thankful for. I simply don't have much desire to hunt them. If opportunity to get out is there AND I feel like waking up early. . . I hunt them.

 

[motorbreaker]

I didn't even hunt turkey this year because there are few left in our area. a couple years ago we had plenty. So many that the ODNR were seen trapping turkey's in our area.
Anyone have any advice on what to do about the Amish poaching everything?

 

[Bigslam51]

I didn't even hunt turkey this year because there are few left in our area. a couple years ago we had plenty. So many that the ODNR were seen trapping turkey's in our area.
Anyone have any advice on what to do about the Amish poaching everything?

The Amish is a whole other bag of worms. Unfortunately I feel your pain on this subject, I caught 2 of those bastards on my land last gun season after they killed a doe on my property. Are the Amish wreaking havoc on the turks in your area?

 

[giles]

Yes, Amish are taking more than they should in this area. You can't hardly take a kid fishing either. So bad that I haven't fished at all this year around here. I'm growing to hate them...

 

[brock ratcliff]

I didn't even hunt turkey this year because there are few left in our area. a couple years ago we had plenty. So many that the ODNR were seen trapping turkey's in our area.
Anyone have any advice on what to do about the Amish poaching everything?

I think your area is southern Highland, correct? If so, about 5 years ago I hunted a friend's farm opening day of turkey season. I shot my bird around 7, and saw a total of 11 gobblers by the time we finished chasing another for my buddy. I've never had a better hunt. His farm is just north of Belfast. I have another buddy that lives close to the area and has been an avid hunter his entire life, successful too. He completely quit hunting a couple of years ago due to Amish. His claim is there is not enough wildlife left since they have moved into the area. They bought up the majority of the land around his farm and do not recognize property lines or bag limits, season dates too, according to him. He must be serious, he QUIT hunting!

Turkey numbers are down all over the country from what I have read, but they do exist in areas they did not just a few years ago. The fact that I could hunt them in Fayette and Pickaway county know just blows my mind, I never thought I'd see that happen when I was a kid!

 

[motorbreaker]

Yes, southern Highland. The Belfast Amish are a different bunch. Were about 8 miles west southwest of Belfast. The Amish numbers are growing like mad here. This Amish bunch started in 2010-11 They bought 400+ acres. Now there everywhere.
Wasn't nothing to hear 15 or more toms fly down behind my house every morning, When I sold my house 2 years ago you were lucky to hear a tom. Our lease property is less then 2 miles away, same thing. Any property that borders them is there's to hunt, So they think.
The owner of the farm we lease knows the elders of this group and promised us he would have a talk with them. I told him to tell them that we will be shooting back this year.
They do not follow the rules. They are poachers. I'd guess the turkey numbers are down 90% in the areas around them.

 

[PA Bandit]

I didn't even hunt turkey this year because there are few left in our area. a couple years ago we had plenty. So many that the ODNR were seen trapping turkey's in our area.
Anyone have any advice on what to do about the Amish poaching everything?

Where I used to live in Western PA was heaven on earth for turkey hunting. There used to be literally 100's of turkey per farm with every field maintaining at least one flock. For years it was a hidden secret then a lot of guys start showing up for about 3 seasons (2003-2006). In 2004 the PA DCNR started an extensive trapping of turkey for transport to other states from my area (I say extensive in that I literally saw a whole flock netted on more than one occasion). This lasted from the Summer of 2004 until the Summer of 2006. This in conjunction with the "Random" significant increase in predator populations and by 2008 I can honestly say there was hardly a turkey to hunt.

To be honest I don't have a lot of respect for the PA DCNR and there means of "population control". What I will offer is that although there are few birds to left to hunt there basically no hunters as they left with the storm. Fast forward to 2015 and I can honestly say that after almost 10 years I can start to see the population on a significant rise from that dismal time period. It is still no where near what it was but I can only hope that by the time my son is old enough it will be back.

Kind of a rant but moral of the story is yes I am sure the amish have some to do with the decrease in population but from personal experience I would offer that ODNR probably played a large role in the decrease. When they trap they don't do it lightly its like they assume the place they take from can rebound quick.