02-01-2007, 11:25 AM
Final fall season figures for the 2006 turkey season have been compiled. Hunters harvested 107 turkeys during the six-day season. 51 of these birds were toms (males) and 56 were hens (females). Breaking the figures down by county, 20 turkeys were taken in Berkshire, 24 in Franklin, 7 in Hampden, 25 in Hampshire, 3 in Middlesex, and 28 in Worcester. MassWildlife Turkey Project Leader Jim Cardoza noted that fall turkey harvests have varied considerably over the years. “This harvest is not particularly surprising,” said Jim Cardoza, Turkey Project Leader, “Due to the prolonged and repeated rainfall in the spring, hatch and poult survival was very low.” Hunter effort and participation is important, and can vary with participation in other hunting activities. Weather conditions during the fall hunt and the survival success from the previous summer are also important factors in turkey hunter's success rate.
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