The Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service isn’t planning to make changes to the turkey hunting regulations, but decided to ask hunters what they think about the rules that govern the seasons for the large and popular game bird.
The agency did the same thing in 2007 and 2017, but only for the spring gobbler season. This time around hunters got to chip in with thoughts about the fall and winter seasons as well.
The survey was sent to 1,850 hunters and 511 responded. Generally speaking, hunters were just fine with the regulations as they exist, although tweaks here and there were mentioned.
The average spring gobbler hunter has 23 years of experience and spent 8.5 days seeking gobblers during the 2025 season. One gobbler was tagged by 37% of the hunters. Ten percent killed the annual bag limit of two. Thirty percent hunted during the afternoon when that was legal and 7% of them shot a gobbler.
The current season length of about five weeks is just fine with 80% of the respondents, although 42% would like an opening day before the existing one of April 18. Also favored (77%) is the annual two-bird bag limit. There was an even split when hunters were asked if it should be illegal to shoot bearded hens in the spring.
The statewide winter season of three days has had a low harvest since its inception, not reaching three digits most of the time. Still, a notable number of respondents favored making it male turkey only or shutting it down.
Only 18% of those who answered the survey hunted during the fall season that is open for any turkey, but only in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties. Of those hunters, 18% used a rifle. Forty-nine percent said rifles should continue to be legal during that hunt, but 36% believe otherwise.
If a reduction in gobbler harvest ever becomes needed to protect turkeys, 82% said that would be appropriate. Cutting the bag limit of two in half would be accepted by 48% of the respondents. Others would be OK with prohibiting the harvest of jake turkeys (1-year-old birds with short beards).
A whopping 92% of the respondents said they have never hidden behind a decoy or a gobbler tail fan in an attempt to sneak up on a Tom turkey, an effort called fanning or reaping that is considered by many to be dangerous to the participant who could be mistaken for a live bird and shot. I certainly agree. To me it seems like a good way to earn your dumb butt merit badge.
Sawyerspective appears biweekly. To order his book, “Native Queen, a celebration of the hunting and fishing life,” in time for Christmas, send Mike Sawyers a check for $15 to 16415 Lakewood Drive, Rawlings, MD 21557