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Wild Turkey
Fall wild turkey hunters reported a harvest of 4,143 birds in the 2006-2007 season. This figure was 6 percent below last year’s reported harvest. In the counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains the harvest declined 2 percent., Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains saw a 9 per-. cent drop in harvest.
The decrease in the fall turkey harvest was likely due to a combination of effects.; Population levels in wild turkeys have declined in recent years with poor recruitment, or reproduction, since 2001. Department research has identified inclement weather during spring nesting and brood rearing as factors related to poor recruitment. Cold March temperatures are believed to delay the onset of breeding and nesting, which can result in diminished reproductive effort in turkeys. Additionally, high rainfall amounts in April have been associated with poor nest' success.
Nest predation may be higher under these conditions as predators are likely to find birds in cool, moist environments. Reproductive conditions
See ANIMALS, Page A13
85.6%