ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 15, 1996 TAG: 9604160114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
Spring turkey hunting is big business in Virginia. Big fun, too, if you aren't afraid of getting up at 4 a.m. day after day. Here are facts on gobbler hunting from a survey conducted by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The season opened Saturday and continues through May 18.
The economic value of spring gobbler hunting in Virginia is estimated at $9.1 million annually.
Turkey populations are increasing. Last year, the number of toms heard by hunters increased 39.5 percent. This year should be a record season.
Gobbler rates are highest on private land.
Toms did the most gobbling during the past season the first and second weeks of the season. A cold winter and early spring could delay activities this season.
Some hunters don't miss a single day of the five-week season.
The average daily hunt is 3.3 hours.
Growing numbers of hunters are using decoys. Last season, 46-percent reported using them. Before 1992, They were used by only 20 percent.
Hunters averaged hearing 20 birds last season, the highest number since 1987.
Just calling a tom in doesn't mean certain success. Only about 21 percent of the time is the gobbler killed. One-quarter of the time the shot misses.
The mean shotgun distance is 26.5 yards. Crippling loses and misses occur most often in the 33- to 35-yard range.
About one-half of the hunters report being disrupted by another hunter.
One-quarter of the hunters afield last year reported seeing a game law violation. Trespassing led the list.
Just over half the hunters said they spotted free-ranging dogs last season.
The 1996 season opened April 13 and continues through May 18.
- SOURCE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES
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