Whether individuals spend or save their tags come autumn, state hunters certainly have been faced with the fact of fewer turkeys being present. Norman shared with me a very important statistic: The annual and averaged annual poult/adult hen ratios are determined from feathers of harvested birds. Over the past 28 years, the state average is a respectable 3.1. However, the 10-year average is a poor 2.2, and the five-year average is an even worse 2.0.

When the ratio is broken down by region, the figures continue to be disturbing. The regions (with the poult to adult hen ratio in parentheses) for 2005 and 2006, respectively, are as follows: North Mountain (2.2 and 2.2), South Mountain (1.6 and 2.5), North Piedmont (1.6 and 2.0), South Piedmont (2.3 and 1.4) and Tidewater (0.9 and 0.8). The ratio from the Tidewater region stands out as being particularly abysmal, and the South Piedmont figure is discouraging, too.

In short, Norman proclaimed that production was below average this past year. He added that Virginia and West Virginia have been working cooperatively on a gobbler survival study.

"We're finishing our gobbler study this year and will have a lot to add next year on gobbler survival and movements," the biologist said.

The results of the study certainly will be a plus on helping state biologists better manage the turkey flock. After the study becomes published, sportsmen in the Old Dominion and Mountain State will also have a better idea on the science involving wild turkeys.

This fall, we will have the standard split season. The early season will run from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9. The season will reopen for one day on Thanksgiving and the late season will run from Dec. 10 through Jan. 5. Please note that these dates are tentative at press time. For more information, consult the game department's Web site at www.dgif.virginia.gov.

WHERE TO GO
Last year, the top 10 harvest counties were heavily located within the Mountain and Piedmont regions. The harvest tallies are as follows: Bedford (157), Botetourt (138), Scott (138), Amelia (132), Halifax (129), Pittsylvania (117), Franklin (105), Shenandoah (102), Dinwiddie (90) and Alleghany (86).

Any of these counties, providing a sportsman has or can obtain access to private lands, can be excellent places to seek out fall birds. Public land is also a very viable option. Norman lists the 1.7 million acres of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest as a major opportunity.

"As you know, the national forest offers a lot of opportunity for many hunters that otherwise don't have a place to go," he said. "Management on national forest areas is needed, however, to maximize turkey potential as we desperately need brood habitat on this land. It (the lack of brood habitat created through timber cutting and other types of forest clearing) is likely a limiting factor. National forest lands adjacent to private lands with good brood habitat are probably the best bet."

Yet again, Norman offered some sound advice for fall turkey fans. One of the best situations for an individual to strive to accomplish is permission to private land that borders either the national forest or a state wildlife management area. One of my favorite farms to hunt on is a Botetourt County one where a horse enthusiast owns several hundred acres that back up to the George Washington and Jefferson.

Last September, on a scouting expedition, I watched as a flock hen and 11 poults milled around the owner's garden -- and my vehicle -- for some 15 minutes. Later in the autumn while I was bowhunting, I observed 36 turkeys feeding in the gentleman's field. The birds usually roosted in a national forest hardwood hollow about 200 yards from that field. It was in that hollow one November morning last year that I scattered the flock. Unfortunately, the bust resulted in too many of the assemblage flying off together, and I was unable to call in any of its members.

Nevertheless, Norman's point on the importance of good brood rearing land near public land bears repeating. For more information on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, consult the forest service's Web site at www.fs.fed.us/gwjnf. The phone number is (540) 265-5100.

National forest land is certainly a quality public option for sportsmen that live west of the Blue Ridge. Individuals that dwell in the Piedmont have some fairly close-to-home possibilities. Among the possibilities are the Cumberland and Appomattox-Buckingham state forests and the Powhatan, Amelia and Turkeycock WMAs. For a complete listing and description of the state WMAs, consult the VDGIF Web site listed earlier.

For some state sportsmen, no better autumn sound exists than the kee-kees of a jake or jenny that we have just separated from the flock hen. With any luck, nesting and brooding conditions have been such that we can hear plenty of such music this autumn.