Fall turkey season, an annual opportunity to pursue the state’s only big-game bird among the changing colors of the autumn woods, kicks off Oct. 29 in 19 of Pennsylvania’s 23 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs.)
The fall season is closed in WMUs 5A, 5C and 5D.
The remaining WMUs the season lengths are: WMUs 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 4E – Oct. 29-Nov. 5; WMU 2B – Oct. 29-Nov. 18 and Nov. 23-25; WMUs 2A, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D and 4C – Oct. 29-Nov. 12; WMU 2C, 2D & 2E – Oct. 29-Nov. 12 and Nov. 23-25; and WMU 5B – Nov. 1-3. Hunters are advised the three-day Thanksgiving season will run Wednesday, Thursday and Friday where held.
No single-projectile firearms may be used in the fall turkey seasons. Hunters may use shotguns and archery gear only. Fall turkey hunters no longer are required to wear fluorescent orange, but the Game Commission highly recommends the use of orange, especially while moving.
During the fall season, any turkey – male or female – can be harvested. Female turkeys make up about 60% of the fall harvest. Turkey reproduction in 2021 and 2022 was above average across many WMUs.
“This typically results in larger fall flocks,” said Game Commission wild turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena. And there’s plenty of spots where hunters can put themselves in good position to take a bird.
“Expect to find turkey brood flocks concentrated on available food sources, such as areas with acorn production or agricultural areas,” Casalena said.
Everyone who purchases a hunting license receives one fall turkey tag. Successful fall turkey hunters must tag their birds according to instructions provided on the printed harvest tags supplied with their licenses, then report harvests.
Mentored hunters under the age of 7 may receive, by transfer, a fall turkey tag supplied by their mentor. The turkey must be tagged immediately after harvest and before the turkey is moved, and the tag must be securely attached to a leg until the bird is prepared for consumption or mounting.
Within 10 days of harvest, turkey hunters must report harvests to the Game Commission, either by going online to the Game Commission’s website, calling toll-free or mailing in a prepaid postcard.
Hunters who report turkey harvests by phone can call (800) 838-4431 and are advised to have their license and copy of the harvest tag and record the confirmation number for the turkey reported.
Additionally, hunters may harvest a turkey that has been leg-banded for research purposes, and if so, should follow the instructions on the band.
Recently a wild turkey tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). While turkeys are susceptible to the influenza virus, their behavior and habitat use place them at less risk of contracting the disease compared to waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors and avian scavengers.
“This isn’t a concern in terms of affecting the entire turkey population,” said Game Commission Wildlife Management Bureau Director Matthew Schnupp, “but occurrence will be impossible to predict.”
Turkey hunters, and others hunting birds, should take HPAI precautions when handling harvests. In doing so, they not only protect themselves, but help reduce the risk of this extremely contagious disease spreading to other birds.
Sick or dead domestic birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at (717) 772-2852. Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Game Commission at (833) 742-9453 or online at www.pgcapps.pa.gov/WHS.