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Wildlife - Wild Turkeys

2017 Turkey Harvest Report Wild Turkey

The 2017 Turkey Harvest Report is provided in (PDF) format.

Introduction

Ranking only behind the white-tailed deer in popularity among hunters, the Eastern wild turkey is an important natural resource in South Carolina. The 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey represents the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Wildlife Section's ongoing commitment to conduct pertinent research related to the state's wild turkey population. The primary objectives of this survey research were to obtain valid estimates of; (1) the statewide spring gobbler harvest in 2017, (2) the harvest of gobblers in the constituent counties of the state, and (3) hunting effort related to turkeys. Information on hunter's opinions of the turkey resource and other aspects of turkey hunting are also presented.

Due to the importance of turkeys as a state resource, DNR believes that accurately assessing the harvest of turkeys, as well as hunter participation in turkey hunting, is key to the management of this species. Proposed changes in turkey-related laws and regulations should have foundations in biology, therefore, the population dynamics associated with annual hunting mortality cannot be ignored. Similarly, when issues arise that do not involve biological parameters, it is important to have information related to turkey hunter activities afield because they too form an important basis for managing wild turkeys.

Since the inception of the Statewide Turkey Restoration and Research Project (Turkey Project) the methods used to document the turkey harvest have changed. Historically, turkey harvest figures were developed using a system of mandatory turkey check stations across the state. This system yielded an actual count of harvested turkey and was, therefore, an absolute minimum harvest figure. Shortcomings in this system included deterioration of check station compliance, complaints from hunters regarding the inconvenience of check stations, and costs associated with the check station system. The requirement to check harvested turkeys in South Carolina was eliminated following the 2005 season. Prior to eliminating the check-in requirement, DNR conducted surveys in order to document the rate of noncompliance, as well as, to determine the relationship between harvest figures obtained from check stations and those obtained from surveys. As would be expected, harvest figures obtained from surveys are higher than those from check stations due to lack of compliance with the check-in requirement.

Survey Methodology

The 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey represented a random mail survey that involved a single mail-out. The questionnaire for the 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey was developed by Wildlife Section personnel (Figure 1). The mailing list database was constructed by randomly selecting 30,000 individuals who received a set of 2017 Turkey Transportation Tags which are required in order to hunt turkeys in South Carolina. Data entry was completed by Priority Data, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska.

Results from the mail survey were corrected for nonresponse bias using data collected during 2007-2013 by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Virginia using a Computer Assisted Telephone Interview program (CATI).

Statistical analysis was conducted using Statistix 7 (Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL).

Results and Discussion

Turkey Harvest

During the 2017 spring season it is estimated that a total of 17,093 adult gobblers and 2,078 jakes were harvested for a statewide total of 19,171 turkeys (Table 1). This figure represents a 14 percent increase in harvest from 2016 (16,783). Combined with a 10 percent increase from 2015 to 2016 the statewide turkey harvest increased 24 percent the last two seasons. These recent increases in harvest may be partially related to better reproduction and recruitment in turkeys since 2013 (Figure 2). Recruitment in 2013 was the lowest ever documented by the annual Summer Turkey Survey which has been conducted since 1982. With an expected two-year time lag, in 2015 this poor recruitment resulted in the lowest spring harvest in nearly two decades. Recruitment has been somewhat better since, therefore, recent improvements in harvest are not surprising.

However, legislative changes that went into effect in 2016 provided an earlier starting date and increased number of days in the turkey season in 34 of 46 South Carolina counties. The effect of this season change was a 50 percent increase in opportunity (days) for the majority of the state. Hunter effort statistics indicate hunters have taken advantage of the increased opportunity. Statewide man/days of effort were at an all-time high in 2017 and represent a 27 percent increase over 2015 which was the last season prior to the changes being initiated.

With slightly higher recruitment and significantly higher hunter effort the last two years it is difficult to determine which is more responsible for the dramatic increase in harvest since 2015. On one hand, better recruitment has historically been followed by higher harvests, i.e. more turkeys on the landscape generally equals a higher harvest. On the other hand, more hunter effort can clearly increase the harvest, to a point, regardless of the number of turkeys on the landscape. It will likely take several years for these relationships to become clearer.

Harvest Per Unit Area County Rankings

Comparisons can be made between turkey harvests from the various counties in South Carolina if a harvest per unit area is established. Harvest per unit area standardizes the harvest among counties regardless of the size of individual counties. One measure of harvest rate is the number of turkeys taken per square mile (640ac. = 1 mile2). When considering the estimated turkey habitat that is available in South Carolina, the turkey harvest rate in 2017 was 0.9 gobblers per square mile statewide (Table 2). Although this harvest rate is not as high as it once was, it should be considered good and is similar to other Southeastern states. The top 5 counties for harvest per unit area were Union (1.8 turkeys/mile2), Cherokee (1.4 turkeys/mile2), Williamsburg (1.3 turkeys/mile2), Charleston (1.3 turkeys/mile2), and Newberry (1.3 turkeys/mile2) (Table 2).

Turkey Harvest Rankings by County

Total turkey harvest is not comparable among counties because there is no standard unit of comparison, i.e. counties vary in size and are, therefore, not directly comparable. However, some readers may be interested in this type of ranking. The top 5 counties during 2017 were Williamsburg, Orangeburg, Berkeley, Colleton, and Union (Table 3).

Turkey Harvest by Week of Season

South Carolina historically had two spring turkey season frameworks. Throughout most of the state (Game Zones 1, 2, and 4) the season was April 1 - May 1. This season was based on a recommendation from DNR following gobbling and nesting studies that were conducted in the 1970's. The other season framework was March 15 - May 1 and was only in effect in 12 counties in Game Zone 3 which comprised the lower coastal plain. This early opening season was socio-politically based.

Due to legislation passed in 2015, the spring 2016 season was the first with a single statewide season of March 20 - May 5. In past years it was customary to compare the harvest trends between the two season frameworks. With the single statewide season now in place, this comparison is no longer available. Nonetheless, Figure 4 depicts the harvest trends over the course of the season.

Number of Turkey Hunters

Even though all individuals receiving a set of Turkey Transportation Tags were licensed to hunt turkeys, only 62 percent indicated that they actually hunted turkeys. Based on this figure, approximately 52,429 hunters participated in the 2017 spring turkey season, a 1.5 percent increase from 2016 (51,867). Counties with the highest estimates for individual hunters include Newberry, Fairfield, Orangeburg, Berkeley, and Union (Table 4) and all of these counties other than Berkeley were in the top 5 in 2016.

Hunter Effort

For the purposes of this survey hunter effort was measured in days with one day being defined as any portion of the day spent afield. Turkey hunters averaged approximately 5.9 days afield during the 2017 season (Table 4). Successful hunters averaged significantly more days afield (7.1 days) than unsuccessful hunters (4.9 days). Extrapolating to the entire population of turkey hunters yields a figure of 277,300 total days of spring gobbler hunting, up 2.2 percent from 2016 (271,302 days).

The number of days devoted to turkey hunting in South Carolina is significant and points not only to the availability and popularity of turkeys as a game species, but to the obvious economic benefits related to this important natural resource. Figures generated by a 2003 Survey by the National Wild Turkey Federation estimate that approximately 35 million dollars are added to South Carolina's economy annually from turkey hunting. The top 5 South Carolina counties for overall days of turkey hunting during 2017 were Newberry, Union, Fairfield, Berkeley, and Chester counties (Table 4).

Hunting Success

For determination of hunting success only those individuals that actually hunted turkeys were included in the analysis and similarly, success was defined as harvesting at least one turkey. Overall hunting success in 2017 was 26 percent (Figure 5). Unlike deer hunting which typically has high success, turkey hunting can be an inherently unsuccessful endeavor, relatively speaking. As would be expected, the majority of successful hunters take one gobbler (Figure 5). However, the percentage of successful hunters who take two birds is quite high as well. This indicates that successful hunters had essentially the same chance of taking two birds as they did one bird.

The statewide bag limit in South Carolina is 3 gobblers. Obviously, most successful hunters harvest only one or two birds. However, it is interesting to note the relative contribution to the total harvest of turkeys by the few hunters that harvest 3 birds. Ironically, the percentage of hunters taking 3 birds was only 2.9 percent, however, this small percentage of hunters harvested an estimated 28 percent of the total birds taken in the state (Figure 6).

Hunter Opinion Regarding Turkey Numbers

The 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey asked participants to compare the number of turkeys in the area they hunt most often with the number of turkeys in past years. Participants were given 3 choices; increasing, about the same, or decreasing. Approximately 46 percent of hunters indicated that the number of turkeys in the area they hunted most often was about the same as in past years. A higher percentage of hunters (38%) believed that the turkey population was decreasing than increasing (16%). On a scale of 1 to 3 with 1 being increasing, 2 being the same, and 3 being decreasing, the overall mean rating of 2.2 suggests that hunters viewed the turkey population as decreasing. The opinion among hunters that the turkey population is decreasing is been consistent the last few years.

Turkeys Shot but not Recovered

Harvesting game signals the end of a successful hunt and although most hunters do a good job of preparing their equipment and mental state, it goes without saying that a certain percentage of game is shot or shot at and not killed or recovered. This point is no different when turkey hunting.

In order to estimate the prevalence of errant shots at turkeys, the 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey asked hunters to indicate the number of turkeys that they "shot but did not kill or recover during the 2017 season in South Carolina." Approximately 10.8 percent of hunters indicated that they shot but did not kill or recover at least one turkey in 2017 (9.8% in 2016). There were approximately 52,429 turkey hunters in 2017 meaning that approximately 5,245 turkeys were shot or shot at and not killed or recovered. Therefore, approximately 22 percent of the total number of turkeys shot at were not killed or recovered. These results have been consistent since this type of data has been available.

This data is certainly not indicative of "dead and unrecovered turkeys," however, it is clear that some percentage of the 5,245 turkeys that were shot at did eventually die. Although shot shells for turkeys have become increasingly sophisticated, accurate, and lethal it is a fact that the pattern of a shotgun is relatively broad and contains between 200 and 400 pellets. Therefore, a "clean miss" is not as clear-cut for turkeys compared to other big game like deer where there is typically a single projectile. Additional research is needed on this topic.

Turkey Harvest in the Morning vs. Afternoon

The typical spring turkey hunt is characterized by attempting to locate a gobbling bird prior to or just after sunrise. Once a gobbler is located most hunters position themselves as close as they can to the gobbler without scaring it away. Various types of callers that mimic the sounds of wild turkeys are then used to attempt to call the gobbler into gun range. This technique of locating a gobbling bird, setting-up, and calling is repeated as necessary.

Traditionally, spring turkey hunting was primarily carried out during the first few hours of the day. As the popularity of turkey hunting has increased, many hunters now hunt in the afternoon as well. Gobblers are generally not as vocal in the afternoon but they can be stimulated to gobble using the various turkey calls, particularly late in the afternoon near areas where turkeys frequently roost.

In order to gain a better understanding of the distribution of harvest with respect to time of day, the 2017 Turkey Hunter Survey asked hunters to identify the number of birds harvested in the morning compared to the afternoon. Results indicate that approximately 78 percent of gobblers were harvested in the morning compared to 22 percent in the afternoon. This data may be useful if discussions arise concerning the relative importance of morning compared to afternoon harvest of gobblers in the spring. These results have been consistent since this type of data has been available.

The tables and graphs referred to in this report are provided in (PDF) format.


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