Four area counties are in the top for youth turkey harvest this spring.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports Jefferson County is first in the state with 75 birds harvested. That’s up from 72 last year.
Fayette County is second with 74 turkeys taken, compared to 63 last year.
Marion County is third in the state with a harvest of 68 birds. That up 20 from last year.
Clay County is fifth in the state with 62 birds harvested, up from 50 last year.
Clinton County young hunters brought in 37 birds, Washington County 26, and Wayne County 52.
Statewide, 2,318 birds were harvested. That’s up from 2,099 last year. This is the third year in a row there was a record harvest.
Along with a success rate of over 30-percent for a third year in a row, the increasing totals reflect strong youth interest in turkey hunting, excellent hunting opportunities, and a robust statewide turkey population.
