Pennsylvania Game Commission officials believe a drier spring helped improve poult production, but the large mast crop may keep birds disbursed, making the hunt more challenging when the fall wild turkey season opens Oct. 29.

Hunters should expect to find increased age diversity among wild turkeys for the fall season, unlike 2004, when several consecutive years of reduced poulty production led to reductions in local populations statewide.

However, the substantial availability of mast will make it harder to locate wild turkeys and pattern their movements.

Hunters should follow basic scouting techniques to improve their chances of finding wild turkeys. Finding and using trails that are free of dry, fallen leaves may help you move quietly through the woods and improve your scouting success.