Photo by Ralph Hensley

Somewhere on a lonesome ridge or in a farmland wood lot a lonesome longbeard is waiting or you. It is time to start scouting for Pennsylvania's spring gobbler season, patterning loads and getting gear together. Hunters are already cruising sports shows and sports shops for the latest calls that are sure to attract the wiliest old gobbler. All that remains is finding that responsive bird.

Nesting seasons have been less than perfect for the past few springs. In general, our turkey population has not risen. It is probably down in some places. But it has been so high recently that we can stand some declines without hardly noticing. Predictions for hunting this spring in most parts of the state are uniformly good, barring any unusually harsh storms that cause significant mortality.

Perhaps the most notable effect of the recent nesting seasons will be that there will be a relatively high number of longbeards in relation to jakes. Of course, the most serious turkey hunters will be looking only for longbeards. But casual turkey hunters will be faced with more challenging hunting than usual. A large portion of birds this spring have been through at least one spring gobbler season and have been educated in the ways of turkey hunters.

Most regional biologists in the Keystone State report good turkey populations. Choosing one place as best in a region might be impossible. Here are six good areas that might help you get started.

NORTHCENTRAL REGION
Probably the best widespread assessment of the turkey population is taken from observations and counts made by each region's land management staff and wildlife conservation officers, collectively a group that spends far more time in turkey habitat than anyone else.

"We did have a wet summer here, but for most of the region it has had little effect," said Richard Macklem, a Northcentral Region spokesman. "The majority of our field agents are rating turkey populations as good to excellent."

State Game Lands 75 in Lycoming County is one of several state game lands in the region where you should find good gobbler hunting this spring. It is a large area, with more than 27,000 acres. If that still is not enough territory for you to roam, it is bordered by two state forests. Tioga State Forest adds 160,000 acres to the north and Tiadaghton State Forest has 215,000 acres to the west and south.

This is part of the Allegheny Highlands "big woods" country. Nearly all of it is forested. There is considerable oak with some beech and cherry. Hemlock stands provide thermal cover. The Game Commission maintains several food plot openings. Some of this land is reclaimed strip mines, which have been transformed into excellent game habitat.

Elevations range from less than 900 feet along Pine Creek to more than 2,100 feet. Slopes along the larger streams are steep and high toward the northwestern and southeastern corners of SGL 75, but most of the central portion is relatively gentle terrain on top of the Allegheny Plateau.

More adventurous hunters will get down along the steep slopes to the benches, which are natural terraces along the steep slopes. The best place to set up will probably be along the steep slope above a bench, with a decoy on the bench.

You can find camping nearby at Little Pine State Park. The campground opens the first weekend in April and closes in mid-December. There are 104 campsites, including 98 sites that can accommodate trailer units up to 30 feet in length, and six sites for tents only. There are also three cottages that comfortably sleep five people. Each cottage has two sets of single bunks, a full-sized bed, wooden floors, windows, a porch, electric lights and outlets, heat and a fire ring with a picnic table.