Except for 2005, harvests have remained fairly steady on the Wardensville WMA. From 2002 through 2006, the tallies have been 24, 28, 24, 8 and 27, respectively. As one would expect, the terrain is quite mountainous, but 61 miles of highland rills do provide some variety to the landscape. Also, as expected, oak-hickory forests predominate.

For the Shenandoah, the harvests for the same time period have been 13, 8, 9, 12 and 15, likewise being quite consistent. The habitat on this national forest WMA is very similar to that of the Wardensville, except it is even more remote. Elevations top 4,300 feet and oak-hickory forests predominate. Both public lands offer a number of campgrounds.

Mike Donahue, a biological technician for the national forest, is actively involved in habitat improvement projects that benefit turkeys and a host of game and non-game species.

"Looking at the big picture, one of the most beneficial things we are doing for wild turkeys right now is conducting prescribed burns," Donahue said. "One thing a prescribed burn accomplishes is a reduction of fuels. There has been quite a buildup of dead trees because of the gypsy moth infestation, particularly in the northern reaches of the George Washington.

"For turkeys, the benefits of prescribed burns are numerous. They create grassy openings, open forest, and keep an area in the early successional stage longer. Turkeys love to nest and rear their broods in places like these, and these same areas are also attractive for grouse and many edge favoring species of songbirds."

Interestingly, Donahue said that a prescribed burn is something that turkey hunters and bird watchers both can see immediate benefits from. Such songbirds as golden-wing warblers and chats, which are suffering from declining numbers, profit from this activity as well.

To keep the areas that have been burned open longer, Donahue said that Forest Service personnel are conducting such activities as removing locust trees that sprout and eliminating the mile-a-minute plant. The technician described this invasive species as being similar to kudzu in its ability to suffocate wildlife habitat.

Donahue said that in the future the Forest Service wants to create more savannahs on the George Washington. The native warm-season grasses that can grow in this open land are very appealing to turkeys, especially during the summertime when flock hens bring their poults to look for high-protein insects.

For more information on the Wardensville and Shenandoah WMAs, call the forest service at (540) 265-5100 or go online to www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf.

How-To Tips
Earlier, I mentioned finding an area on the national forest that contained scratchings of various ages and made the determination to set up there. The point is that West Virginia's fall turkey hunting brigade need not always hear the panic-stricken sounds of jakes and jennies uttering kee-kees to know that birds are in the area.

For example, in addition to scratchings, other solid signs to look for are the J-shaped droppings of jakes and the popcorn-like scat of jennies. Fresh droppings often take on a wet, greenish hue, whereas older ones typically feature a dry, grayish color. As is true with scratchings, if a hunter can locate droppings of various ages on a mountainside, he may have found a place that turkeys are using consistently.

Droppings of differing ages can also indicate a roost site. For instance, last October, I found a grove of chestnut oaks along a sheltered hollow. Beneath the hardwoods were numerous concentrations of both fresh and old droppings -- a strong indicator that turkeys had been repeatedly using the area as a roosting site. That evening, I listened as the birds flew up to the oaks, and the next morning I scattered the gang. Although I was unsuccessful at calling in and killing any of the birds that morning, sign observation had been helpful in my formulating a game plan.

Another sign that is worthwhile to look for is a dusting bowl. These round areas typically have feathers in or around them. If these feathers are of differing ages, they indicate that birds have been regularly utilizing the area.

Last year, I spent time on both public and private lands pursuing fall turkeys. Having both public and private places to go afield is a plus for any sportsman, but this is especially true for the fall turkey hunter who typically has to range over quite a bit of ground in order to find his quarry. The five public land options mentioned here are just a few of many available for Mountain Staters.