Outdoors

2,847 turkeys bagged in spring season, down 2% in Maryland

Maryland hunters killed 2,847 wild turkeys during this year's spring season, a decrease of 2 percent from last year's total of 2,910 birds. About 10,000 hunters took to the field from April 19 to May 24; 44 percent of the total was taken in the first six days, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Hunters had expressed concern that the harsh winter would harm the turkey population, especially in Western Maryland. But this year's total is in line with the 10-year average of 2,927, and the western region led the state. Garrett County tallied 345 turkeys, followed by Allegany (327) and Washington (303). Just 17 percent of the statewide total comprised jakes, young male turkeys, well below average, which reinforced DNR predictions that reproduction last year was poor.

—Candus Thomson

Indoor football

Mariners can clinch East by beating Erie on Saturday

The Mariners (10-0) can clinch the Eastern Conference of the American Indoor Football Association and a No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a win Saturday at 7 p.m. against the Erie Storm at 1stMariner Arena. The Storm has won six of seven games after starting 1-3. A win Saturday would give the Mariners a first-round bye.

—Kaitlyn Carr

From Sun staff and news services