Actually, I don't think it's late...It has always been the last Monday in April, hasn't it? Maybe I'm wrong.
I have 400+ acres that I own...crawiling with turkeys...and the last 2 years I haven't even hunted them. We went 3 consecutive years without having a bird answer the call. We killed birds every year...by intercepting them...but no calling. To me, if they're not gobbling and I just have to wait for them to saunter through...I'll save my license money and buy a Butterball.
My buddies and I aren't novice turkey hunters. We've called and whacked birds consistently elsewhere, but these birds WILL NOT answer a call. We've had a few come in silent, but as late as the season is, they are simply henned up.
Hell, I live in Ohio...we're a week or two behind WV when it comes to animal activity, and our season opens the 21st of April.
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PA's has been the last saturday in april and WVs has always been the previous monday, doesnt make much sense for a biological stand point for a state south of PA to open their season later than PAs. I really baffled as to what the reasoning is.
Ive actually been really lucky (knock on wood) when it comes to turkey hunting in WV, heck last year I called in 4 long beards together, that gobbled their heads off for 3 hours.
By "pushed back," I meant the week delay relative to prior years. Then again, it IS about when it's come in before, as Al says.
I never have enough turkeys on my property to make hunting them worthwhile. A few years ago, I heard several gobble, but since then, I haven't heard any and wonder why there aren't more around.I hunted with a buddy who owns near Wardensville, and we heard some, but couldn't call one in. He is a good turkey hunter, always calling in and killing birds in Southern Maryland. But the WV turkeys are TOUGH to hunt. He spent a week there last year and had some close calls, but didn't get one. He usually calls sparingly, butgot to the point where he didn't even call at all.
I've hunted here in WV since the inception of spring season in 1975 (I think) and most years the start date is too late, IMO. Most of the time the birds are starting to wind down hence the less gobbling. I like VA's season which starts in early April. It was bad last year because of the late spring but most years the VA start date is about right. A lot depends on the weather no matter what date they set as a start date.
It depends on the weather ,but it does start to late and they should let you hunt all dayour state is all about the money dont care what anyone saysits dang shame when out of staters mean more than locals
West Virginia spring turkey season
