Individuals wishing to participate may contact the West Virginia DNR, P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241; call (304) 637-0245 or fax (304) 637-0250. An added bonus of participating is that you will receive a copy of the annual Spring Gobbler Survey report.

JOINT GOBBLER SURVEY
The West Virginia DNR and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are in the midst of conducting a joint gobbler survey. The West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has donated money toward helping the DNR purchase radio transmitters and telemetry tracking devices. Gobblers have been trapped and outfitted in each of the state's six districts.

Among the objectives are learning the causes of gobbler mortality and how well toms survive. West Virginia will also compare its season with Virginia's, as the latter state begins its season considerably earlier in April (the second Saturday) and allows all-day hunting the last two weeks of its season.

Toward these objectives, Virginia biologist Gary Norman told me that a prototype data logger has been tested at the West Virginia Wildlife Center. The unit has proved to be 100 percent accurate in detecting gobbling of males wearing the unit. However, personnel have noticed some errors occurring in the unit when a nearby tom gobbles, and the bird wearing the device does not gobble. This "false positive" event may be correctable. If the system cannot be improved, it still may be useful, as it would offer a measure of gobbling intensity.

DISTRICT I
In 2005, District I, which covers northern West Virginia and the Northern Panhandle, ranked second in the turkey harvest category. As noted earlier, Preston County finished third in the state and, as usual, led the district. The harvest was down 86 toms from the 2004 tally of 2,384.

The decrease was not unexpected. Curtis Taylor, chief of the wildlife resources division for the DNR, noted that recent harvest declines, not only in District I but also statewide, have been related to poor wild turkey brood production. During the crucial brooding and nesting periods, Taylor said, cold, wet weather was sadly too common. We simply need to have warm, dry weather during the brooding period and especially when the poults first hatch.

District I features several counties that just missed the top 10 harvest list. Adding to their appeal is that they were much smaller in size than the majority of counties that made the list. This should give you an idea of how good the hunting can be there this spring. Harrison (269), Marshall (264), and Wetzel (242) counties are certainly in this category.

DISTRICT II
District II usually finishes last in the turkey harvest race, and this is partly because of the development that is going on in the Eastern Panhandle but also because many of the eight counties there are on the small side. However, the harvest has also declined for the past four years, decreasing 94 toms from the 2004 kill of 940. Hampshire County (183) led the way and is a dandy destination.

Hampshire features the Wardensville WMA (55,327 acres), which it shares with Hardy County, within the George Washington National Forest. This county also contains the Nathaniel Mountain WMA (8,875 acres). Other counties of note include Hardy (127), Mineral (110) and Pendleton (108).

DISTRICT III
The central mountain counties of District III offer some of the best public-land hunting in the East. The Monongahela National Forest and such well-known public lands as the Burnsville (12,579 acres) and Elk River WMAs (18,225 acres) in Braxton County, Morris Creek WMA (9,874 acres) in Clay and Kanawha counties, Stonewall Jackson WMA (18,289 acres) in Lewis County, and Wallback WMA (11,757 acres) in Clay, Kanawha and Roane counties, are worth checking out during scouting forays.