Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 10, 1990 TAG: 9006110206
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Bill Cochran
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Virginia's tally stands at 7,770, and West Virginia reports 9,253. Both figures are unofficial and could be adjusted as additional big-game tags are counted, officials said.
The top county in Virginia was Franklin with 221, the only one to pass the 200 mark. Westmoreland was second with 197, Bedford had 192 and Carroll reported 191.
"We weren't expecting a big increase," said Bob Duncan, chief of the game division of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. "It was 4 percent. That's pretty close, but we are glad it was that much."
West Virginia's kill leaped by 2,008 birds - more than 20 percent - above last year, which also was a record. The top five West Virginia counties each reported more than 300 toms killed. Summers was first with 551.
Mountain state officials said excellent weather, particularly the first week, and continued growth of the turkey population combined to produce the record.
Virginia officials reported that many of the gobblers killed had exceptional weights, attributed to a good food supply.
Other top counties in Virginia included Grayson with a kill of 177, Halifax (177), Amherst (172), Scott (159), Rockbridge (143) and Giles (139).
by CNB