By Connie Mertz
The fall hunting seasons are fast approaching. While there is a great deal of interest in small game hunting, there is even more hype when it comes to pursuing wild turkey, bear, deer and elk.
The seemingly oddball of the four appears to be the wild turkey. It certainly is the smallest of the four, but it ranks up there in popularity.
“Turkey hunting is among the most challenging and rewarding type of outdoor recreation available to the hunting public,” claims Calvin DuBrock, Wildlife Management Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. “Populations are increasing due to careful science-based management.”
The spring estimated wild turkey population was about 335,000. Last fall, there were 162,300 turkey hunters but only 25,300 of them harvested a turkey. Even though hunters can harvest either a bearded turkey or a hen, the number of fall turkey hunters afield have been decreasing since the mid 1990s, according to DuBrock.
“The trend of lower harvests is due to a combination of shorter seasons in almost half of the WMUs (Wildlife Management Units) since 2004, average to below average spring reproduction, fewer fall turkey hunters and abundant fall mast crops, which tend to disperse turkey flocks making them more difficult for hunters to locate,” he explained.
This fall, turkey hunters should experience a good season with the abundance of mast crops.
Bear numbers still strong
About 140,000 hunters will be pursuing a Pennsylvania black bear. “At the statewide level, bear numbers have been relatively stable at 14,000 to 15,000 bears since 2000. This trend continues to be true going into the 2008 hunting season,” said Mark Ternent, Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist.
Since 2006, it is legal to harvest a bear with a bow. “It appears that about 6,000 hunters are participating in this season,” he said. “They have had a success rate near one percent.”
In numbers, this adds up to 79 bears in 2006 and 41 bears in 2007.
Though a record harvest of bears occurred in 2005, it apparently hasn’t put a dent in their population numbers. Factors such as ideal weather, a heavy mast crop, and the extended hunting season in the northeast all contributed to a harvest of over 4,000 bears that year.
Last fall, hunters didn’t fare as well. It was mostly blamed on a heavy wet snow on opening day which limited visibility. The mast crop was also more scattered making it more difficult to locate bears. This year, the expected bear harvest goal is 3,000-3,500.
According to Ternent, “Scouting is critical to success. Food conditions greatly influence movement and activity of bears during the fall. Spend some time before the season arrives evaluating food conditions in your hunting area,” he added.
The top counties that result in the highest bear harvests include Clinton, Lycoming, Tioga and Cameron.
Since understanding the exact locations of the extended season can be confusing, Ternent recommends that hunters check the specifics in the 2008 Hunting & Trapping Digest found on page 29.
Elk population increasing
While only a total of 45 hunters will be pursuing a Pennsylvania elk, the excitement of the hunt drew 17,432 hunters to apply for an elk hunting license. The opportunity to hunt Pennsylvania’s largest game animal is the result of sound management practices. “The population is doing well overall. The herd is slowly increasing in number and range,” said Jon DeBerti, the state’s elk biologist, “and we are doing this with plenty of viewing opportunities and with minimal elk/human conflicts.” DeBerti thinks the estimated number of elk in the state is between 700-800, but the current survey numbers haven’t been released.
Rule of thumb is that the older the bull, the more impressive his antlers.
“The first year they have antlers that are spikes. At age two, they grow their first of branched antlers, a 5x5 or something similar,” he explains. “With age, they increase in size, mass and points until they reach their early teens, then they begin to decline.”
The prime age for the largest antlers is about six to nine years. Hunters from 2001-2006 have harvested elk that are 5.5 years old, including both cows and bulls. Like bears, age is determined by removing the central incisor which is cross sectioned and viewed under a microscope where rings (similar to a tree) are visible.
This year, no local names were drawn for a bull hunt; however, there were three lucky names drawn from Montour, Northumberland and Union counties for a cow.
Deer management still an issue
“The White-tailed deer is today Pennsylvania’s most striking game animal. At the same time, it is also the Commonwealth’s most complicated game problem.”
This statement was taken from an editorial in Pennsylvania Game News dated October 1947.
“The controversy is not new,” said Dr. Christopher Rosenberry, the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Supervising Wildlife Biologist who said the debate goes back to 1928.
While some would beg to differ, he claims that 78-90 percent of hunters agree with the current goals of the deer management plan. These numbers are taken from the Citizen Advisory Committee, a group of citizens throughout the state who come from diverse backgrounds. They make recommendations to either increase, decrease, or stabilize the deer population for a five-year period.
“The deer management plan is intended to protect yearlings,” he said.
