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Maryland's turkey hunters reported taking 2,455 wild turkeys during the 2007 spring turkey season, representing an 18% decrease from the 2006 harvest of 3,008 turkeys.
Annual surveys conducted by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) indicated that reproductive success was below-average across Maryland during the summers of 2005 and 2006. The lack of 1 and 2-year old gobblers was also evident in the age structure of the harvest. An unusually high percentage of gobblers taken in the last 2 spring seasons were adults. Junior hunters harvested 102 turkeys during the 1 day youth hunt held on April 14, down considerably from last year's youth day total of 168.
As in the past, a large portion of the harvest (37%) occurred during the 1st week. While most hunters took their birds on private land, a fair number of turkeys (18%) were taken on Maryland's public hunting areas.
Leading the state in harvest again this year were the western mountain counties of Garrett (303), Washington (269), and Allegany (259). However, Charles (209), Dorchester (205), and Worcester (196) counties also reported respectable numbers.
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