1. 2008 Pennsylvania Turkey Hunter Survey Mary Jo Casalena, Robert C. Boyd & Christopher S. Rosenberry Pennsylvania Game Commission Bureau of Wildlife Management

2. Background Fall & Spring Seasons Big Tradition Harvest = 65,000 Spring: 40,000; Fall: 25,000 Hunters = 300,000 200,000+/season Conducted Every 5+ Years

3. Spring season May, after peak breeding Closes @ noon 4 weeks, 5 Saturdays 1 gobbler, 2 if purchase special license Youth season; Sat. before regular season

4. Fall Season 1 bird limit No restrictions on hunter distribution, Only season length Set by WMU 0 to 3 weeks, November Rifles permitted in 70% of PA Shotgun, Bow/Arrow, Crossbows permitted in all WMUs Seasons established in April, prior to nesting.

5. Methods Surveyed 9,105 hunters (8,605 turkey & 500 non-turkey hunters) Determined from annual Game-Take Surveys Standard mail survey protocols (Dillman 1979) Frequency data analyses Chi-square tests α = 0.05 Overall estimates ± 2% 70% Response Rate

6. Survey Characteristics Random sample “equal chance” Similar to 1995 & 2001 surveys comparable Representative sample license type

7. Results – Turkey Hunters 97% male 68% live in rural areas/small towns 32% college or graduate/prof. degree 6% in 1995.

8. Results – Turkey Hunters Average, 50 yrs. old Retirees: 1% in 1995 24% in 2008 20 yrs. turkey hunting But, 34% < 10 yrs. turkey hunting - - - - Recruitment!!

9. Seasons Hunted - changed over the years 38% fall hunters harvest other game

10. Satisfaction with PGC Satisfaction decreased since 1995: Safety/Education Overall Management Most hunters still satisfied

11. Sporting Arm Used in Fall

12. Sporting Arm 199520012008 Agree rifles should be legal for fall 39%44%50% Disagree crossbows should be legal -48%45%

13. Where Turkeys are Hunted Decreased hunting on public land since ’95 (45%) Increased hunting on private, not posted, since ’95 (19%)

14. Hunter Safety Feel Safer if see fewer turkey hunters 2008 Avg. : 2 Hunters Seen  0 : 50%  1 – 3 : 29%  4 – 5 : 13%  6 – 9 : 8% 20012008 Agree49%40% Disagree27%33% Undecided25%27%

15. 199520012008 Manage number of turkey hunters Agree12%16% Disagree77%61%57% Undecided11%24%27%

16. Turkey Hunters Support Fluorescent Orange 199520012008 No fluorescent orange 37%20% Some fl. orange 50%71%69% 100 sq.in. while moving 66%70%69% Fl. orange reduces chances 25%30%

17. Turkey Hunting Related Incidents per 100,000 Hunters

18. Start Spring Season Earlier

19. Spring: 2 Bird Limit

20. All-day spring hunting, evenly split Agree 2001: 42% 2008: 43% Disagree 2001 45%, 2008: 43%

21. Open Spring Season May 1 st - about 1/3 undecided

22. 2007 Fall Turkey Seasons 2 weeks 3 weeks 6 days Closed

23. Fall Season Too Short - opposite than previous years

24. Hunting Impacts Willing to give up 1 week fall season if future populations, harvests & seasons would increase Control fall harvest to prevent overharvest of hens 199520012008 47%51%54% 199520012008 Agree Not 31%35% DisagreeAsked44%40% Undecided25%26%

25. Reporting Turkey Harvest Less than 1/3 of harvest is reported 67% forget to mail harvest report card 45% do not think reporting is important 61% would report harvest via Internet 13% do not have Internet access

26. Conclusions Turkey hunters in Pennsylvania generally are not initially supportive of regulation changes gradual acceptance over time Education & Time needed to garner support for changes. 1/3 of turkey hunters, < 10yrs experience With the constant recruitment, agency’s educational efforts must be persistent over time. Hunters may not understand relationship between turkey populations & fall harvest.

27. The End For additional information contact the PGC: ra-comments@state.pa.usra-comments@state.pa.us or 717-787-4250