Perhaps that's an indication of poorer reproduction in eastern Pennsylvania. Time will tell. Drake's forecast is backed up an overwhelming majority of the state's wildlife conservation officers. In districts where fall turkey hunting is permitted, only eight of more than 100 officers rated prospects as less than either good or excellent. Almost every woodlot has at least one flock in it.
Hunters can expect to see many turkeys if they spend time hunting around game lands.
Not every officer, however, reported banner hunting prospects. Hunting prospects are fair. We plan to study the problem in the near future. Drake noted that weather and the incredible availability of fall foods like acorns and beechnuts may influence this fall's turkey harvest. There appears to be a great supply of fall foods and that could disperse turkey flocks, making them more difficult to locate.