10-20-11 Fall turkey, boar seasons open Saturday

Posted by reviewsports Sports Headlines Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Four weeks of hunting for wild turkey begins Saturday for Hampshire and 13 surrounding counties stretching from Jefferson at the eastern tip to Monroe in the south and as far west as Nicholas.

Wild boar firearm season opens Saturday for one week in four far southestern counties.

West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources predicts the wild turkey harvest will be similar to or slightly higher than fall 2010, said Paul Johansen, assistant chief in charge of game management for DNR’s Wildlife Resources Section.

The forecast is based on current mast conditions and wild turkey brood reports.

“Less abundant mast conditions this fall across much of the state will tend to concentrate wild turkey flocks near available food sources and make them more available to hunters,” Johansen said. “DNR field personnel also reported an increase in the number of wild turkey broods observed this year.”

Seven other counties — the nearest being Preston — have a two-week season beginning Saturday. A dozen other counties get a one-week season. Turkey hunting is prohibited in the remaining 22 counties.

The season limit is one regardless of sex. Both bow and gun are permitted, but baiting and turkey calls are not.

The wild boar limit is one. Only 16 were killed in 2010, down from a record high of 158 in 1995, when an easier December schedule was used.