This is certainly potentially good news, not only for more jakes being present this spring but also for those treasured 2-year-olds being about in 2009. Regarding long-term trends, Norman forecasts a 2.9 percent annual growth rate based on the spring gobbler harvest as a population index. The greatest room for improvement is in our North Piedmont and North Mountain regions.

This year, Youth Day will be on April 5, and the regular season will run from April 12 through May 17. From May 5 through May 17, hunting will be allowed from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. The limit will remain one bearded turkey per day. Hunters may take one, two or three bearded turkeys depending on how many turkeys were killed in the fall season. However, no more than two turkeys can be taken in the fall. Last words from Gary Norman?

“Take a youngster hunting during the youth hunt,” he said. “Have hunters interested in our spring gobbler season survey contact me at Gary.Norman@dgif.virgina.gov or (540) 248-9389.”

I have participated in the survey for well over 15 years and thoroughly enjoy not only doing so but also receiving reams of data about Virginia turkey hunting from Norman in the form of a booklet. The publication comes in the mail right before the season begins.

WHERE TO GO
Traditionally, outdoors writers have compiled top 10 county lists so as to give sportsmen insight on where to go afield. But Norman emphasized that the kill per square mile of forest index is a far better indicator of any county’s turkey population. Much of what a top 10 list indicates is which counties are large and have at least fair numbers of birds -- but the lists do not necessarily indicate dense populations of birds in the larger counties. So, this year I will not even list the top 10 counties and will concentrate on which counties are producing plenty of birds for their size.

In 2007, the overall kill per square mile of forest figure was .56 with the ratios west of the Blue Ridge being .55 and east of the Blue Ridge .57. Alphabetically, the only counties topping 1.0 were Bedford (1.03), Floyd (1.05), Isle of Wight (1.10), Lancaster (1.48), Northampton (1.13), Northumberland (1.46), Richmond (1.02) Southampton (1.00), Surry (1.19) and Westmoreland (1.24).

Interestingly, only one west of the Blue Ridge domain was among the 10 counties that met the 1.0 requirement -- Floyd. In the western reaches of the state, Floyd County has developed a sterling reputation as a turkey hunting paradise, and gaining private land access there is much prized. In the Piedmont, Bedford is the sole representative and this county is a historically major producer of gobblers.

All the other counties rest in the Tidewater with Northampton lying on the Eastern Shore. Old Dominion sportsmen living in or near this region would do well to visit rural properties in any of these counties with the hope of gaining permission. Of course, there are several downsides to trying to find access. One is that probably no other region of the state has as many rural properties under lease as the Tidewater does. Two is that many of the farms here have been broken up into smaller tracts, meaning that hunters may have to gain access to two or three contiguous smaller farms in order to realistically pursue birds. In addition, three, the Tidewater has less public land than any other part of Virginia.

Counties sporting a ratio of better than .83, which is still an impressive number, include Carroll (.86), Charles City (.85), Cumberland (.81), Franklin (.90), Frederick (.80), Grayson (.85), Middlesex (.87), Prince George (.92), Scott (.83) and Wythe (.95).

I enthusiastically look forward to every spring gobbler season and will hunt every day until I tag out or the season ends. It’s true that turkey hatches have been disappointing for much of this decade, but with a likely good hatch in 2007 and at least fair numbers of 2005 hatch members still around, the season to come should offer us plenty of opportunities to punch tags.

Find more about Virginia fishing and hunting at: VirginaGameandFish.com