The best turkey hunting is generally found in Sussex and Kent counties. In addition to the hunting on private lands, turkey hunters in Delaware will find some good hunting on state wildlife areas. In Sussex County, the Nanticoke State Wildlife Area is traditionally one of the top public lands each season. In Kent County, the Norman G. Wilder Wildlife Area is your top bet.

MARYLAND
Maryland’s wild turkey restoration program started in the early 1980s with the successful transplanting of wild birds to several counties. As the populations took hold, biologists took turkeys from the wild in one part of the state and transplanted them into other areas where birds were lacking.

The wild birds found plenty of good habitat, and over the last 25 years, the turkey population continued to grow until it leveled off at its current level, an estimated 20,000 to 32,000 birds. At the current rate of growth, the state’s turkey population could contain as many as 40,000 birds in the next couple of years.

Maryland has about 16,000 turkey hunters, which number has remained constant for the last several years. The success rate for turkey hunters in the Free State is about one bird for every four hunters or a 25-percent success rate, which averages out to about 4,000 birds a season (based on a 10-year average). Most Maryland tom turkeys average from 18 to 20 pounds, while hens weigh in the 10- to 12-pound class.

Unlike New Jersey, which divides the state up into zones, Maryland regulates its turkey hunting by counties, and the statistics used for turkey hunting are based on a 10-year average. Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties account for almost 50 percent of the birds taken by hunters each year. These counties all have similar habitat and terrain with wooded areas, foothills and farmlands serving up good habitat as well as good hunting.

One reason the birds have taken so well to the above-mentioned counties is that all three are rich in nut and fruit-bearing trees. Acorns, pine nuts, beechnuts and crab apples are some of the wild turkeys’ favorite forage. These counties also have lots of farms that raise corn, soybeans and other grains that are table treats for the gobblers.