27 June 2024
Statewide, wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Pennsylvania declined again last year. Did their status improve in the last 12 months? To answer that question, the PA Game Commission (PGC) is conducting their Annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey from July 1 through August 31 and is asking the public to help. Right now this link shows prior results. Click here to enter data after July 1.
In the survey press release PGC reported:
The Statewide reproductive success last summer, which is measured by the number of young turkeys (poults) seen per all hens seen, was 2.9 poults per hen, compared to 3.1 poults per hen in 2022 and 2021.”
— PGC press release, 20 June 2024
Allegheny County’s predominant Wildlife Management Unit, WMU 2B below, had mixed results. Overall, there were fewer turkeys but reproductive success was higher than in 2022. However, our WMU contributed to the downward spiral as we had only 2.24 poults per hen.
There are many factors that contribute to wild turkey population swings. This 4.5 minute video describes them.
In the next two months count turkeys when you can.
I’ve participated in the past couple of counts. I drive all over western Pa daily, & see lots of turkeys. Plus the ones that turn up in my yard, three were there a couple of weeks ago. I do wish the game commission would make a couple of changes to their reporting page. It would be nice if you could send them a few pictures of the flock you see & report. I am far from an expert on turkeys & really don’t know for sure if I am seeing a tom, jake, hen or whatever. If I could send a pic of what I see, the commission experts could get a more accurate count of the birds. It would be nice if you could post a short comment with each sighting, so that you could describe exactly where, what & when.