WCBC

June 9th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Four Counties Report Record Harvests

Maryland hunters reported harvesting 4,002 wild turkeys during the 2019 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today. This year’s harvest was the second-highest on record, and reflects a 4% increase compared to the 2018 harvest of 3,861 birds.

“A combination of abundant wild turkeys throughout most of the state and good weather during the season contributed to the increase in harvest,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said.

Garrett County reported the highest harvest numbers this year with 429 turkeys, followed by Washington County with 414. Rounding out the top five were Charles County with 348, Frederick County with 304, and Allegany County with 278. Baltimore, Cecil, Charles, and Prince George’s counties each reported record harvests for their locations.

Hunters in 10 counties were able to hunt on Sundays again this year, leading to a harvest of 314 turkeys.

Youth hunters kicked off the spring turkey season statewide on April 13 with the Junior Turkey Hunt, with additional junior hunting on April 14 in select counties. In total, junior hunters harvested 232 wild turkeys.

Total harvests by county are below:

County	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Allegany	298	256	293	250	278
Anne Arundel	62	45	58	49	74
Baltimore	35	52	51	55	56
Calvert	69	73	59	76	68
Caroline	159	172	149	135	152
Carroll	62	76	103	103	73
Cecil	67	69	87	69	89
Charles	253	265	320	336	348
Dorchester	252	274	303	212	221
Frederick	256	299	332	313	304
Garrett	421	387	429	412	429
Harford	102	110	127	105	124
Howard	16	34	24	36	33
Kent	164	181	174	168	166
Montgomery	97	94	135	149	135
Prince George’s	87	87	91	76	105
Queen Anne’s	183	190	160	115	145
Somerset	169	150	163	145	129
St. Mary’s	193	188	202	191	188
Talbot	68	88	94	80	87
Washington	392	355	426	459	414
Wicomico	138	206	175	139	155
Worcester	224	223	220	188	229
Statewide	3,767	3,874	4,175	3,861	4,002