cowhunter71
Well-Known Member
Proud to be in that 1% of real turkey hunters. Don't talk to me about hard core son.Goodtimekiller":18zcfoka said:
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Goodtimekiller
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cowhunter71":1fv2z5rx said:
So you use a bow huh? If you call yourself hard core. And i just did talk to you about hard core, did you read over that? I tried to make it pretty obvious for you. And if you're my dad i want some back pay child support. And no one said anything about bowhunting from a blind, i said hard core. Cowhunter=big macho man. I bet you shoot half of your turkeys from a truck.
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cowhunter71
Well-Known Member
I promised SCN I would watch myself, so I reckon I'm done with the troll. Off to bed. My truck leaves out in 5 hours 
Setterman":1i6ajlpc said:
I have killed birds every way possible other than "fanning" ,and that is on my to do list whenever the opportunity arises! Last I checked you don't buy my license nor do I need or want approval for how I decide to hunt! You cant put a meter on excitement level that others experience during their hunt, someone may put out a flock of decoys and set in a 10'x10' heated blind and shoot a jake on facebook live and experience more of a thrill than you will ever know, and who's to know they wont? Why not be happy for anyone that is enjoying what they are doing instead of bashing. I get the point you try saying you are "old breed",but unless you are out using spot and stalk and nothing but the lay of the land with a longbow or a spear like the native americans , think about that ,you technically are no where near old school my friend! For you to say a couple of the things you said in the above paragraph sounds to me like you are just another keyboard bully, to some anyhow! Not here , seen too many like you :bash:
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Goodtimekiller":oxbymf4c said:
If you think we are bad on this site you obviously don't look at the southern sites much. We are tame compared to the folks who live where turkey hunting started.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
JAY B":mx846sco said:
You can't compare what we do to the Indians. The Indians hunted for survival while we hunt for sport. That comparison stops right there, as there's no way to equate the two.
Some here just don't get it, and never will. If you can't see the kill at cost mentality that's rampant now then I don't know what to tell you. Turn on the tv, youtube, etc.. it's everywhere and it's not a good look.
I also don't bash individual hunters on this site no matter how they kill. I don't think that's right and therefore don't really play that game
JAY B":34v1f944 said:
Waaa. :cry: He's allowed his opinion too.
He also recognizes we are all "on the same side". He does not like certain tactics and says so, not basing anyone. That's just like someone saying homosexuality is a sin and being accused of hate speech...just plain stupid beyond belief.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
While I generally lean heavily towards Setterman's "style" of turkey hunting,
it is not always the best way, even for a "purist", nor is it even always an option.
Somewhere between our ideals of how we should turkey hunt
and how we can choose to either turkey hunt that way, or not at all,
most of us must face this reality:
Most of us are doing our turkey hunting on relatively small parcels of land.
I suspect the average TN turkey hunter is only hunting on less than 50 acres of an area,
even though he may have multiple areas he has permission to hunt miles apart.
Now, think about this.
What if we mandated that the "only" way one could turkey hunt
was by the more "traditional" run & gun style?
If done, that would absolutely flood public lands with a huge increase in turkey hunters.
Why, because the only places most TN turkey hunters have that "traditional" opportunity is on our public lands
which are of large enough acreage to make it feasible.
What if the number of turkey hunters on public lands tripled?
Perhaps, many might just give up on turkey hunting altogether instead?
it is not always the best way, even for a "purist", nor is it even always an option.
True, but this statement can be a double-edged sword.Setterman":3sfoc6bz said:
Somewhere between our ideals of how we should turkey hunt
and how we can choose to either turkey hunt that way, or not at all,
most of us must face this reality:
Most of us are doing our turkey hunting on relatively small parcels of land.
I suspect the average TN turkey hunter is only hunting on less than 50 acres of an area,
even though he may have multiple areas he has permission to hunt miles apart.
Now, think about this.
What if we mandated that the "only" way one could turkey hunt
was by the more "traditional" run & gun style?
If done, that would absolutely flood public lands with a huge increase in turkey hunters.
Why, because the only places most TN turkey hunters have that "traditional" opportunity is on our public lands
which are of large enough acreage to make it feasible.
What if the number of turkey hunters on public lands tripled?
Perhaps, many might just give up on turkey hunting altogether instead?
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
I totally agree.Setterman":2ty2b7ze said:
Personally, I most enjoy turkey hunting the same way Setterman does it.
But I often find myself simply taking a single calling position, for the duration of that hunt,
because it can be the more practical way to hunt a smaller parcel,
it prevents me from spooking off birds on to the adjoining property (where I cannot hunt)
and it also is more courteous to other hunters.
No one has mentioned the "courtesy" factor
whereby a stationary hunter will not conflict so much with multiple hunters, coming from multiple directions,
all trying to assault the same gobbling bird.
As for decoys, my personal opinion is they are every bit as much a liability as an asset,
and I personally don't use them much. My exception is typically when I'm taking another hunter with me,
(and we're doing the stationary set-up). I will often use a hen decoy, but I even do that differently,
as I don't want that hen decoy to be a liability to my calling.
When I use a hen decoy, I typically somewhat "hide" her,
so that a gobbler will likely be in range before he even sees her.
Having experimented with decoys over the years,
it's just too often that a hen decoy actually causes a gobbler to hang up, rather than come closer.
(Same is true of the full-strut gobbler decoys.)
My primary goal of the decoy is to get that gobblers attention once he's already in range!
I'm still calling him in!
Still watching him strut his way in, still everything like it would be without that decoy.
Still much like when I "run & gun" on a larger parcel, except that I didn't change my calling position multiple times.
The advantage of the decoy is mainly for my less experienced hunter sitting beside me.
This person is typically less experienced at effectively shooting, not just at hunting.
By often holding the bird a bit longer within range,
there is typically more opportunity for a good head shot, a clean kill, no pellets in the breast,
no wounded bird that goes off to die un-recovered.
This year, I've called in two older Toms for another hunter.
Both came to my calling, not the decoy.
Both saw the decoy when they were at about 35 yards.
Both would have been killed without the decoy.
But I believe the decoy enhanced a better show,
and provided more opportunities for a clean kill.
The young lady I "guided" (different days)
killed them both with a single head shot each
(both around 20 yards distance) using my 20 ga shotgun.
Our set-up the first day was one in which a shot over about 35 yards wasn't even possible.
So I loaded up the little 20 ga with a 1 1/8 oz "reduced recoil" 2 3/4" Federal HW #7.
Not much more recoil than a .22 rimfire, but works great inside "traditional" turkey killing range.
(Her 2nd bird was killed with a little heavier load of TSS #9's.)
Neither of her turkeys could have died any quicker if shot with a 3 1/2" 12 ga magnum anything.
Contrast that to all the stories you're hearing by many novices "running & gunning"
taking low-probability shots at multiple birds, many of which ultimately die of their wounds, un-recovered,
a few days after they're shot at.
Like Setterman, I often have someone else hunting with me, too.
But I'm often hunting a smaller parcel where it's not so feasible to hunt like I'd prefer.
Unlike Setterman, I don't believe decoys are much more an asset than a liability,
although for novices hunting large fields, perhaps they are more an asset.
I despise carrying the things myself, don't want to expose myself by putting one out (or retrieving it),
which is one of the over-looked ways by many they are a liability.
Those who spend more time turkey hunting with decoys, I believe,
will eventually come to personally disdain decoys.
Main reason we're seeing all these TV celebrities "endorsing" decoys
is because they're being paid for their endorsements.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
When I hunt by myself, I typically do not use a decoy.
I do commonly take a "turkey lounger" for when I'm sitting,
sometimes just a "fat boy" cushion instead.
Guess I'm just not enough a traditionalist
to shun these particular modern amenities
I also utilize optical sights, something no true purist would utilize?
Most of the turkey hunting items being so heavily "marketed" are simply "gimmicks",
often, as much a liability as an asset, typically more trouble and/or cost than worth.
But being able to sit in comfort, and utilize an optical sight, those are real assets for me.
Anyway, the one time so far this season I was by myself,
I killed an old bird with 1 3/8" spurs,
and did so without a decoy, literally was caught out in the open,
had to fall to a prone position when he was strutting (and couldn't see me).
I just happened to be not moving when he "appeared" out of the shadows strutting at about 60 yards.
Tip: Don't call while walking, don't call without first being in a good shooting position.
I have no idea how this bird missed seeing me before I saw him,
other than there was obviously enough cover between us, initially.
I was almost "in position" for calling, but still on my feet.
He rotated, his head was behind his fan, I went down to the ground.
A few minutes later, listening to him drum, watching him strut,
made a clean head shot at 28 yards.
It took 7 minutes for him to close from about 60 yards to 28 yards.
Great show.
Like many older birds, this one never gobbled,
and that was part of why he caught me out in the open.
Yes, it was exciting, but had I had another hunter with me,
in all probability, neither of us would have even seen this bird.
By the way, this particular bird had a single pellet in his breast,
which did not appear to be from my shot. Don't think he would have died from it,
but certainly appeared someone had already shot at him recently.
I do commonly take a "turkey lounger" for when I'm sitting,
sometimes just a "fat boy" cushion instead.
Guess I'm just not enough a traditionalist
to shun these particular modern amenities
I also utilize optical sights, something no true purist would utilize?
Most of the turkey hunting items being so heavily "marketed" are simply "gimmicks",
often, as much a liability as an asset, typically more trouble and/or cost than worth.
But being able to sit in comfort, and utilize an optical sight, those are real assets for me.
Anyway, the one time so far this season I was by myself,
I killed an old bird with 1 3/8" spurs,
and did so without a decoy, literally was caught out in the open,
had to fall to a prone position when he was strutting (and couldn't see me).
I just happened to be not moving when he "appeared" out of the shadows strutting at about 60 yards.
Tip: Don't call while walking, don't call without first being in a good shooting position.
I have no idea how this bird missed seeing me before I saw him,
other than there was obviously enough cover between us, initially.
I was almost "in position" for calling, but still on my feet.
He rotated, his head was behind his fan, I went down to the ground.
A few minutes later, listening to him drum, watching him strut,
made a clean head shot at 28 yards.
It took 7 minutes for him to close from about 60 yards to 28 yards.
Great show.
Like many older birds, this one never gobbled,
and that was part of why he caught me out in the open.
Yes, it was exciting, but had I had another hunter with me,
in all probability, neither of us would have even seen this bird.
By the way, this particular bird had a single pellet in his breast,
which did not appear to be from my shot. Don't think he would have died from it,
but certainly appeared someone had already shot at him recently.
He just bashed anyone who don't hunt like him ! Open your eyes !poorhunter":3w5bsngk said:
To comment that certain tactics he does not use are Chicken S!$?, that's where the "keyboard bully " comes into play! Like i said before I have killed turkeys a lot of different methods and like setterman,I prefer the "call him to the gun " method if given a choice! But I have no problem whatsoever with how any legal Hunter kills there turkey as long as they are happy , and would be a real jerk to call those who don't hunt the way I do chicken Sh!&! BTW last I checked it takes pretty good skill to put an arrow through a turkey at 30 yards, but just because you shoot one with a gun does not make it any less of a feat, we are all on the same side looking for the same result just going about it different ways, get over it and go hunt!! Good luck to all no matter how you hunt! (As long as it's legal
oke: )Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I wondered how long it would take a turkey hunting posting to turn into one like some of the deer hunting posts and I'm really surprised that it took this long and that it hasn't spread into more posts than this one. Same old BS, just a different day. I don't understand why some feel that their way is the only way and I'm not pointing a finger at anyone in particular. It doesn't matter one way or the other, and it doesn't change a thing nor the way someone chooses to hunt . The ONLY thing that any of us really need be to concerned with is the resource itself. As long as that is safe and thriving then it doesn't matter how one goes about enjoying it.
cowhunter71":smpoc6ai said:I promised SCN I would watch myself, so I reckon I'm done with the troll. Off to bed. My truck leaves out in 5 hours
It's heck to almost bite through your tongue, isn't it? I'm increasingly there as well.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
I'd say the resource itself should be our HIGHEST priority, but not our only one.Mike Belt":w3d5d8fs said:
I agree, Mike, at least up to a point.Mike Belt":w3d5d8fs said:
If it's "legal", we shouldn't be "bashing" those killing turkeys the way they are.
That doesn't mean we shouldn't be encouraging hunters to experience the merits of more traditional turkey hunting.
But as stated previously, many hunters do not have the acreage to fully experience this with most their hunting.
I also don't believe we should be giving high fives to those who shoot at more than they bring home,
just because they frequently take low-probability shoots --- their poor shooting greatly damaging our resource,
by causing many birds to die un-recovered, and not being counted in TWRA's harvest data.
I know many have been bashing Setterman (perhaps I've come across a bit that way myself)
but I'd bet you 95% of the time he pulls the trigger, he brings home that bird.
By contrast, some are killing 6 or 8, with only 2 or 3 of the ones they kill getting into TWRA "harvest" data.
More to being concerned with the resource itself,
by all appearances, the regs were put in place (by TWRA), and remain in place,
without their considering how much easier it has become for a novice to kill a turkey.
We now seem to be wounding more birds, having more die un-recovered.
So, are the current regs allowing too many turkeys to be killed, harming the resource?
IMO, we're pushing the envelope,
and some adjustments to the regs, at least minor ones, are in order.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
JayB
Just because something is legal doesn't make it right. There's tons of things in this world that are legal that aren't necessarily right.
I've got my views and expressed them. You can't stand that someone feels as strongly as I do, and that's okay, but it's also okay for me to feel the way I do with the direction this sport has turned. If you can't recognize how drastically it's changed then I suggest you look around. The first half of the cabelas turkey catalog is decoys and blinds. Not camo and calls. Every tv show is out of a blind with decoys, or reaping.
You have decided you've got no issue with any method as long as it's legal. In GA you can use a muzzleloader to kill a turkey, is that okay to you? If rifles were legal here like in other states would that be okay? You okay with roost shooters?
I'd be willing to bet there's a line that you couldn't cross and then have the same strong opinions I do. We just have a different place where that line is drawn.
It's not being a bully behind the keyboard, I'd express the same views to anyone in a face to face conversation. Just like here if a hunter reaped a bird I'm not going to stare them in the eye and say it was chicken sh*t, I wouldn't post that in response to someone's kill here nor outside of this forum. But if I was in a conversation with another hunter I'd gladly express my views of the decoy, blind crutch and have many times.
The world doesn't end if someone has a differing view, even if strongly expressed. Now if I said JayB is a piece of poop for killing one over a decoy, that's something to take offense to. But I haven't said that, have I?
Just because something is legal doesn't make it right. There's tons of things in this world that are legal that aren't necessarily right.
I've got my views and expressed them. You can't stand that someone feels as strongly as I do, and that's okay, but it's also okay for me to feel the way I do with the direction this sport has turned. If you can't recognize how drastically it's changed then I suggest you look around. The first half of the cabelas turkey catalog is decoys and blinds. Not camo and calls. Every tv show is out of a blind with decoys, or reaping.
You have decided you've got no issue with any method as long as it's legal. In GA you can use a muzzleloader to kill a turkey, is that okay to you? If rifles were legal here like in other states would that be okay? You okay with roost shooters?
I'd be willing to bet there's a line that you couldn't cross and then have the same strong opinions I do. We just have a different place where that line is drawn.
It's not being a bully behind the keyboard, I'd express the same views to anyone in a face to face conversation. Just like here if a hunter reaped a bird I'm not going to stare them in the eye and say it was chicken sh*t, I wouldn't post that in response to someone's kill here nor outside of this forum. But if I was in a conversation with another hunter I'd gladly express my views of the decoy, blind crutch and have many times.
The world doesn't end if someone has a differing view, even if strongly expressed. Now if I said JayB is a piece of poop for killing one over a decoy, that's something to take offense to. But I haven't said that, have I?
Setterman":3qsu1v0y said:
"Staking plastic turkeys out in a field and shooting one out of a blind is chicken sh*t to be honest" is exactly what you said and although I personally have not killed a bird from a blind this season I have in the past when the situation called for it so yes I took this quoted comment personal, but it's all good I am not gonna going to go into my next hunt determining my next move on whether or not it's setterman approved for sure! Good luck to you the rest of the year , I hope you can just relax and hunt and not worry so much about others! I couldn't imagine sitting in the woods worrying about if the neighbor is in his blind or has his decoys out or may be reaping! I am too consumed with how I can talk the next longbeard into coming a little closer :tu:
Setterman
Well-Known Member
I don't waste one moment in the woods worrying about those things. I do worry about the googan patrol screwing up peaceful woods with atv, locator calls, and general googanry.
Hunting giant mountain public land, decoys and blinds are basically worthless. But if someone wants to use it, it's their issue. It is chicken sh*t hunting, but I don't wake up each day fretting or mumbling to myself about it.
Most days I'm pretty focused on finding a gobbling bird, getting tight, and calling him in. Not what some one is doing somewhere else.
Hunting giant mountain public land, decoys and blinds are basically worthless. But if someone wants to use it, it's their issue. It is chicken sh*t hunting, but I don't wake up each day fretting or mumbling to myself about it.
Most days I'm pretty focused on finding a gobbling bird, getting tight, and calling him in. Not what some one is doing somewhere else.
So funny you brought up the locator calls and four wheelers Setterman! I think I can add a little humor in on this as I have a true story that happened this weekend on the local WMA. I was on a bird that got with a hen at daylight so I was just going to hang around hoping she would leave or another bird would fire off somewhere. Sure enough in the distance i hear a gobble and give chase tracking him down on a ridge I have hunted before. I get set up cluck and He hammers! I think ok big boy come get me! Well after about 1,5 hours of this off and on the quiet treatment, the leaf scratch and everything else I know to do. I decide when he goes away gobbling I am going to back out hit the road bed and get on the other side of him, In the past a move is all it took to get one to come on. I hit the road bed and hear a 4 wheeler coming! I see a guy with a bright red helmet rolling my way its 1015 EST. I am thinking oh no! We will call this character Jim as I do not know his name. Jim approaches and is in somewhat in disbelief that another hunter is in his section. I point that I am going up the ridge to which he says"I cant hear you" Probably because I pointed and didnt say anything! I walk down to him and I say I am going this way. Jim then replies " I do not know why all the turkeys are this big ridge to the right, I have been hunting in here". At this point I can tell Jim does not like the fact I am In the area because he has been hunting in here! I was thinking to myself "Did this guy just tell me where he has been hearing birds on public land"? I also thought if you have been hearing birds in here why did you wait til 1015 to show up? I see your 4 wheeler I would have left, I dont care if the bird has gobbled 100 times. Long story short after Jim , Bird is done!
Day-2 I think to myself I have some time before Church I am going to go back after that bird ! I get to the spot and park a good 1.5 before daylight. No one around I think man I just hope he gobbles this morning! The birds are probably the most highly trained and sensitive birds this side of the Mississippi. I get out and begin to listen boom he gobbles, same area as day before! I know exactly what I am going to do! I take toward the area where he did all his gobbling and strutting back and forth the day before. I get set up let him gobble several times and get good light and I give him some soft clucks. Double gobble , he is on the ground. I give him a little more and he is on fire! I have hunted for years but I still get beside myself when I know one is coming! I set the call down and rake some leaves , he eats it up! I can feel his gobble vibrate from behind a blow down. I get ready and he finally appears about 60 yards in front of me ! I am a wreck beautiful bird in full strut and I can see his head snap back as he gobbles! I think come on big boy 20 25 more yards! Oh no is that a vehicle coming out this old logging road? Yes it is Sam and Jeb ( remember only the names have changed) They pull down and yes the hoot owl begins! Next the crow! It was one of the worst owl calls I have ever heard! I watch as the bird goes out of strut and away from me. I thought these guys surely didnt get to my truck, I am going to go let them know I am here.I knew if the bird somehow fired off I am between these guys and the bird. I go off the ridge with my blood pressure at an all time high! I look and right by my truck is a vehicle! Guy is blowing crow call at this point! They are 5 yards from my truck! I go walking towards them and say hey guys "I am hunting over here" I said did you see my truck? Sam says "yeah but we thought you went that way " and pointed. How would he know which way I went? They came in an hour after daylight! He then says "we are just trying to hunt too you know", I have the wrong concept of hunting I guess, I try not to pull in after daylight and crow call and owl hoot right beside a man's truck! I take it in stride but these public land birds I hunt are a rare breed and are special to get. I usually take a couple off the place and was lucky enough to get one up there. So in the end I agree with Setterman beware of 4 wheelers and locator calls! These guys will get you!
Day-2 I think to myself I have some time before Church I am going to go back after that bird ! I get to the spot and park a good 1.5 before daylight. No one around I think man I just hope he gobbles this morning! The birds are probably the most highly trained and sensitive birds this side of the Mississippi. I get out and begin to listen boom he gobbles, same area as day before! I know exactly what I am going to do! I take toward the area where he did all his gobbling and strutting back and forth the day before. I get set up let him gobble several times and get good light and I give him some soft clucks. Double gobble , he is on the ground. I give him a little more and he is on fire! I have hunted for years but I still get beside myself when I know one is coming! I set the call down and rake some leaves , he eats it up! I can feel his gobble vibrate from behind a blow down. I get ready and he finally appears about 60 yards in front of me ! I am a wreck beautiful bird in full strut and I can see his head snap back as he gobbles! I think come on big boy 20 25 more yards! Oh no is that a vehicle coming out this old logging road? Yes it is Sam and Jeb ( remember only the names have changed) They pull down and yes the hoot owl begins! Next the crow! It was one of the worst owl calls I have ever heard! I watch as the bird goes out of strut and away from me. I thought these guys surely didnt get to my truck, I am going to go let them know I am here.I knew if the bird somehow fired off I am between these guys and the bird. I go off the ridge with my blood pressure at an all time high! I look and right by my truck is a vehicle! Guy is blowing crow call at this point! They are 5 yards from my truck! I go walking towards them and say hey guys "I am hunting over here" I said did you see my truck? Sam says "yeah but we thought you went that way " and pointed. How would he know which way I went? They came in an hour after daylight! He then says "we are just trying to hunt too you know", I have the wrong concept of hunting I guess, I try not to pull in after daylight and crow call and owl hoot right beside a man's truck! I take it in stride but these public land birds I hunt are a rare breed and are special to get. I usually take a couple off the place and was lucky enough to get one up there. So in the end I agree with Setterman beware of 4 wheelers and locator calls! These guys will get you!
Poleaxe
Well-Known Member
IT COULD BE SO EASY TO FALL INTO THE GEMMICKS. I'm no veteran having only been at hunting birds for four years now. I just wanted to draw blood the first year any way possible. I learned a little by taking more knowledgeable hunters with me and made me hungry to learn more. I tossed the blind the next year and took off after my new addiction still making greenhorn mistakes but learning new things everyday. I would spend hours watching YouTube videos while working on my calling. I don't think I've ever been so hungry to better myself at something. I ended with a happy season. Not because of my harvest, but instead the better hunter I had become. Practiced from may until April trying to master a mouth call cause I knew that was only keeping me back from getting better. I'm no master but I will say practicing a mouth call daily for 11months I have made some veterans amazed. It showed having a great season last year. I quickly realized that I enjoyed calling them in more than the kill itself so I took anyone I could and produced harvest for many friends. My point to this is that there are many directions a hunter may take in their career into the sport and some might choose the plastics or blinds, some are adaptive daily, and others never close the yern to learn. I respect this animal and the art of the hunt. I seldomly ever post and brag. Do I think some easier tactics are disrespectful to the sport? No. I congratulate them on their success and try every chance I can with the people I take to show the hunters the different side to this addiction and passion. My son is 8 and even having killed many deer he has yet to take his first longbeard. Only a Jake last year and one this year. I will admit the juvi hunt we hunted in a blind over decoys and he missed two birds but that's the only time I've hunted that style with him. He might not be successful this year but we'll keep trying.
Update on birds checked in to date:
These are the latest numbers I get through today (day 34 of statewide, but including all earlier hunts (Chuck Swan), statewide juvenile, and all WMAs):
2017- 31,720 to this point (91.5% of checked in turkeys last year during spring season)
2018- 24,917 to this point
That is a 24% difference from one year to the next, and not in the direction us hunters want to see it go. We have made up 4% over the last 8 days of hunting.
If you take the 24,917 as of today, and divide it by 91.5%, which is 0.915, you will see that we are tracking a final number of approximately 27,217 birds checked in. That number may increase somewhat, but once again, I seriously doubt it will get anywhere near 30,000.
These are the latest numbers I get through today (day 34 of statewide, but including all earlier hunts (Chuck Swan), statewide juvenile, and all WMAs):
2017- 31,720 to this point (91.5% of checked in turkeys last year during spring season)
2018- 24,917 to this point
That is a 24% difference from one year to the next, and not in the direction us hunters want to see it go. We have made up 4% over the last 8 days of hunting.
If you take the 24,917 as of today, and divide it by 91.5%, which is 0.915, you will see that we are tracking a final number of approximately 27,217 birds checked in. That number may increase somewhat, but once again, I seriously doubt it will get anywhere near 30,000.
