The Pennsylvania Game Commission is once again calling on residents to take part in its Annual Wild Turkey Sighting Survey, which runs from July 1 through August 31.

The agency uses the public’s input to monitor turkey populations, track reproductive success, and support wildlife management efforts statewide.

Anyone spotting wild turkeys is encouraged to report their observations using the Commission’s updated online form: pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey.

Participants should include:

   •The number of turkeys seen

   •Date and location (county, township, WMU)

   •Whether they were gobblers, hens with or without poults, or unknown

   •A contact email (optional, in case biologists have follow-up questions)

New this year: The mobile app is no longer available, but the new form includes an interactive map feature allowing users to drop a pin for location data. This information is strictly for research use and not shared with law enforcement.

“The turkey survey enhances our internal monitoring and plays a key role in tracking population trends across Pennsylvania,” said Mary Jo Casalena, Game Commission Turkey Biologist. “We encourage everyone to report sightings, every observation helps.”

In 2024, turkey reproductive success hit a statewide average of 3.2 poults per hen, an increase from 2.9 in 2023 and the highest since the national standardized survey began in 2019.

All 22 Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) recorded averages above the 2.0 replacement threshold, a first for Pennsylvania.

Casalena says strong participation in the survey helps maintain confidence in the data and urges Pennsylvanians to once again get involved:

“Let’s keep the momentum going in 2025, every report counts.”

For more information or to report sightings, visit: https://pgcforms.pa.gov/TurkeySightingSurvey.