Arkansas youth hunters checked 1,494 turkeys during this year’s special youth hunt, up about 30 birds from last year and continuing a steady upward trend.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Turkey Program Coordinator David Moscicki said strong reproduction in recent years, favorable weather and an increase in mature gobblers all contributed to the rise.
“We have more birds out there, and more of them are mature compared to years past,” Moscicki said.
The total is about 14 percent higher than the average of the last two years and continues growth seen since 2018.
Fewer than 200 of the harvested birds were jakes, reflecting both hunter preference and regulations aimed at protecting younger gobblers.
The youth hunt typically accounts for 10 to 15 percent of the state’s total harvest. Moscicki said he expects another strong overall season, with the potential to approach 12,000 birds statewide.
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