New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife

For more information contact:
Bob Eriksen at 908-735-8793

According to the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, Garden State spring turkey hunters had yet another outstanding season. An estimated 2,492 gobblers were harvested during the 1999 season which began on Monday, April 26 and ended Friday, May 28.

"Spring gobbler hunting has become increasingly popular over the years since our first season," said Division Director Bob McDowell. "As wild turkey populations have expanded, our agency has been able to provide additional hunting opportunity to sportsmen and women throughout the state. Our first season, held in 1981, was open for three weeks and was limited to 900 hunters. This year, we held a five-week season and more than 14,000 hunters were able to participate. The success of wild turkey re-establishment has exceeded our expectations."

The Division operates more than 60 wild turkey checking stations to collect data on harvested birds. Turkey research biologists called check stations on the closing day of the season to obtain a harvest estimate. Based on these calls, an estimated record harvest of 2,492 gobblers was taken during the 1999 Spring Gobbler Season.

"These figures are likely to change as we begin to edit and analyze the data collected by our check stations, but we definitely have a record harvest in the vicinity of 2,500 gobblers," said Wild Turkey Project Leader Bob Eriksen. "Hunters reported 2,420 gobblers in the 1998 season, our previous record. Outstanding weather throughout much of the season contributed to good hunter success. There was some rain in the second week which appears to have affected hunting conditions, but for most of the other weeks the weather was perfect."

Trap and transfer operations effectively restored turkey flocks to 20 New Jersey counties between 1977 and the present. The birds disappeared in the mid-1800s because of habitat changes and over-exploitation. Division biologists and technicians have live-trapped and relocated more than 1,500 wild turkeys since 1979. The restoration program has resulted in an abundance of wild turkeys throughout much of the state. Biologists estimate that the thriving turkey flock numbers more than 16,000 birds.

"This represents one of the greatest wildlife management success stories in the history of the state," said Eriksen said. "Wild turkeys are thriving today, because hunters paid the bills for the work required to re-establish the birds. Hunters are benefiting from the restoration effort, but so are many other New Jersey residents who enjoy seeing these beautiful birds. We are especially pleased to see increases in the harvest of gobblers in parts of South Jersey where we have focused attention over the past few years. Parts of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland and Gloucester counties where wild turkeys were struggling just a few years ago have really improved since 1995. Our restoration energies, supported by the New Jersey Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, have certainly been successful with added help from a series of mild winters. Gobblers taken this spring were in great condition."

Estimated figures on the 1999 spring gobbler season harvest appear below. Information from the 1998 season is presented for comparison purposes.

Spring Gobbler Harvest by Segment

Hunting Segment	1998 Harvest	1999 Harvest
A (April 26- April 30)	762	788
B (May 3- May 7)	528	519
C (May 10- May 14)	352	390
D (May 17- 21 and May 24- 28)	415	408
E (Saturdays May 1, 8,15 & 22)	363	387
Total	2420	2492

Spring Gobbler Harvest by Turkey Hunting Area

Turkey Hunting Area	1998 Harvest	1999 Harvest
01	111	124
02	168	154
03	44	60
04	162	183
05	182	195
06	148	163
07	151	141
08	283	256
09	184	164
10	72	81
11	191	219
12	53	51
14	24	22
15	32	45
16	34	57
20	379	379
21	128	129
22	74	69
Total	2,420	2,492