Help track wild turkey populations
- by Guest Contributor
- February 24, 2023
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Have you seen a group of turkeys on your last hike? Or maybe you just spotted them crossing the road on your commute to or from work? By simply reporting those turkey sightings to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, you can help track wild turkey populations and gather necessary data.
You are encouraged to report any turkeys observed until March 15. You can submit a report with this form.
You’re asked to please submit a separate report for each flock of turkeys observed or lone turkeys. Record the sex for all turkeys present, and age of males, if possible. If you’re unsure, this graphic can help identify ages and sex. Make an attempt not to report the same flock multiple times. Numerous duplications will bias the results.
Why collect this data on wild turkeys? The information submitted helps the agency analyze annual survival rates and annual spring harvest rates.
Trapping and leg banding turkeys during winter is part of ongoing population monitoring as well as a large-scale turkey study, which you can learn more about here.
“It is the largest turkey project we’ve ever conducted, with the hope of answering many questions regarding current turkey population dynamics,” says Mary Jo Casalena, Pennsylvania Game Commission wild turkey biologist.
Participants are asked to report the number of wild turkeys they see with this form, along with the general location, date, and their contact information if agency biologists have any questions. You can also access results from previous years under the “Winter Sightings Total” menu at the top of the form.
About the Pennsylvania Game Commission:
For more than 100 years, the Game Commission has managed the Commonwealth’s wildlife resources for all Pennsylvanians. With the help of more than 700 full-time employees and thousands of part-timers and volunteers, the agency provides a host of benefits to wildlife, state residents, and visitors. The organization’s mission is to manage and protect wildlife and their habitats while promoting hunting and trapping for current and future generations. Learn more at the PA Game Commission website.
