CHARLESTON — Opening April 19, West Virginia’s statewide spring gobbler season will run five weeks instead of four this year.

The 2021 season still opens the third Monday in April, but will end May 23, eight days later than in 2020. Hunters can harvest one bearded bird per day with a season bag limit of two.

The two-day youth spring gobbler season will be held April 17-18, the Saturday and Sunday before the regular season. Youth at least 8-years old and under 18 can harvest one bearded bird, which counts toward their season bag limit of two.

“Between the extended youth and regular spring turkey season, hunters of all ages will have plenty of opportunity to pursue these birds,” said Mike Peters, wild turkey project leader for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Hunters are encouraged to check the 2021-2022 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary for details, available at wvdnr.gov. Hunting licenses may be purchased online at WVhunt.com or at license agents located across the state.

The spring turkey harvest is dependent on the number of birds available and participation of hunters. The state typically projects the spring harvest by using turkey brood reports from two years earlier because the average harvested spring gobbler is a 2-year-old bird.

In 2019, turkey brood observations were 43 percent below 2018 observations and 32 percent below the five-year average from 2015 to 2019).

“Under previous hunting regulations we would project this year’s harvest to be lower than last year,” Peters said. “With the increased number of days available to hunt this season, we expect the overall spring turkey harvest to be similar to 2020.”

Hunting turkeys over bait and killing hens is illegal. Turkey hunters are encouraged to report any such activity to their local Natural Resources Police Officer or call 911 to report the violation.

The West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation pays a $100 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone using bait to attempt killing wild turkeys.