Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 2
2017 Spring Gobbl
FORECAS
A
RE YOU READY? A light turkey
harvest last fall and a mild winter
have set the stage for what could be a
fast-starting spring gobbler season.
The 2016 fall harvest, which will be
recorded as final in July, has been preliminarily estimated at 14,000 to 15,000 birds.
That compares to a 2015 fall harvest of
15,018 and a 2014 fall harvest of 18,292.
What made turkey hunting so challenging last fall was the spotty abundance of
mast, according to Pennsylvania Game
Commission turkey biologist Mary Jo
Casalena.
In some areas, turkeys were forced to
relocate into areas with ample mast.
If you found few turkeys in their usual
spots last fall, there's a good chance they
jumped a ridge or two to forestland with
better mast yield.
"It's about survival," Casalena
explained. "Turkeys move to areas with
good food resources and cover during late
fall if their normal stomping grounds can't
meet their needs. Sometimes that works
for hunters, sometimes it doesn't. It's why
scouting is so important in the fall."
But unfilled fall turkey tags typically
lead to greater gobbler availability in the
spring season. That's always a plus for
hunters looking for a reason to get up
before the sun to sneak into turkey country
and wait for those birds to drop from their
2
roosts as the sun inches over the eastern
horizon.
And mild winters - like the one we're
coming off - are easier on turkeys and
help prepare them for spring breeding.
Gobblers might be inclined to get fired
up earlier, too.
Hens will respond to gobbler calls until
they finish laying and begin incubating
eggs. After hens nest, those rambunctious
gobblers can keep calling, but the hens
won't come because they're committed
to their nests.
The good news is, that early gobbling
doesn't necessarily lead to quieter mornings in the spring season.
"On average, the spring season opens
during the peak of when hens begin to
incubate their nests," Casalena explained.
"At that point, at least half of the hens -
on average - are busy nesting, and those
lonely gobblers are more willing to come
to hunters' calls."
LOOKING BACK
Looking back to the 2016 spring gobbler season, Casalena said the biggest
news was the harvest, which topped out
at 35,966. That's lower than the previous
two spring harvests of about 41,200 each.
Still, the 2016 harvest was similar to
spring harvests from 2010 to 2013.
"Weather was lousy throughout much
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017
Contents
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Intro
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Contents
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 2
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 3
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 4
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 5
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 6
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 7
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 8
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 9
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 10
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 11
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 12
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 13
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 14
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 15
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 16
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 17
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 18
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 19
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 20
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 21
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 22
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 23
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 24
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 25
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 26
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 27
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 28
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 29
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 30
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 31
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 32
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 33
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 34
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 35
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 36
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 37
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 38
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 39
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 40
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 41
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 42
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 43
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 44
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 45
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 46
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 47
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 48
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 49
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 50
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 51
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 52
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 53
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 54
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 55
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 56
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 57
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 58
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 59
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 60
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 61
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 62
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 63
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - 64
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Game News - May 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/annualreport2008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pgc/pagamenews_200809
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com