Harvest numbers

[AT Hiker]

I got in a few heated discussions on Facebook last year with some of those "pro-hunters" who refused to accept cited reference as fact worthy. Mega did too, I believe.

In most situations I like it when I'm correct but deep down I was hoping my assertions about the state of our turkeys was incorrect.




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[Setterman]

I got in a few heated discussions on Facebook last year with some of those "pro-hunters" who refused to accept cited reference as fact worthy. Mega did too, I believe.

In most situations I like it when I'm correct but deep down I was hoping my assertions about the state of our turkeys was incorrect.




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Like you I've been blowing the whistle for as long as I can remember. I was adamant the 4 bird limit was way too much and was shouted down by many posters here. I've adivcated for years to cease hen killing and jake killing and once again the results from others was the same. In the last few years I've slammed the chicken yugo decoys and the negative impacts they're having along with long range loads. Results exactly the same.

At some point those with their heads in the sand need to come up for air, otherwise their selfishness and lack of willingness to learn how to hunt turkeys is going to cost every license holder.

 

[poorhunter]

I got in a few heated discussions on Facebook last year with some of those "pro-hunters" who refused to accept cited reference as fact worthy. Mega did too, I believe.

In most situations I like it when I'm correct but deep down I was hoping my assertions about the state of our turkeys was incorrect.




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Like you I've been blowing the whistle for as long as I can remember. I was adamant the 4 bird limit was way too much and was shouted down by many posters here. I've adivcated for years to cease hen killing and jake killing and once again the results from others was the same. In the last few years I've slammed the chicken ****** decoys and the negative impacts they're having along with long range loads. Results exactly the same.

I may be wrong, but I think decoys and long range loads and maybe even the bag limit aren't the main problem. Part of the problem yes for sure. Something besides hunting and predators is happening. Hope I'm wrong because those are things we can have better control of.
At some point those with their heads in the sand need to come up for air, otherwise their selfishness and lack of willingness to learn how to hunt turkeys is going to cost every license holder.

 

[Setterman]

Poorhunter, I agree that's theres other factors affecting the population.

The things I list are what we can control and changing them can have an instant impact

 

[AT Hiker]

"Production, not predation", something is keeping these little buggers from producing.


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[poorhunter]

"Production, not predation", something is keeping these little buggers from producing.


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Yes, this is what I think too. When I moved here to Tennessee, I was astounded at the number of turkeys. I was blessed to live on a farm that was covered up with turkeys pretty much year round. Lived there for two years until I built my house, so I got very familiar with the turkeys there, and I was just as shocked to see how few hens actually had poults. In the pasture out the back door we would watch the turkeys year round, and out of the 10-15 hens that were permanent residents, I never saw more than three have poults. I honestly thought it was because of overpopulation and since there were so many hens some didn't even lay eggs.

 

[Setterman]

"Production, not predation", something is keeping these little buggers from producing.


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Is it because there aren't enough protruders to fertilize the producers?

 

[AT Hiker]

"Production, not predation", something is keeping these little buggers from producing.


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Is it because there aren't enough protruders to fertilize the producers?

I suppose, maybe we need to spread little blue pills to enhance what protruders remain.
I just don't see the number of poults I used to either. In addition hen numbers are down in my area, so if the same percentage produce the population is naturally going to be lower.

I mentioned climate change in another thread and it sort of makes sense. Example; If temperatures are increasing it's possible hens are laying sooner, thus exposing the poults to late spring freezes and flooding. Maybe it's habit transformation, Or maybe a more physiological response is happening at a more micro level only a lab can expose?
If climate change is the factor I would think it would be more of broader or more expanded regional effect. Maybe these better managed states are simply slowing the effects, no matter the cause.


*I hate to clarify but many people want to bring politics into my statement on climate. For that, I'm leaving anything "man made" out of it and speaking specifically on the documented increased temperatures. After all, biologist tend to agree increased temps are effecting ducks.


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[TheLBLman]

If climate change is the factor I would think it would be more of broader or more expanded regional effect.

At least here in Tennessee, I cannot see climate change as a factor of any or much significance.
Especially if we're talking about the original global "warming".

Considering the slightly warmer climates of Alabama and Mississippi have historically supported more turkeys than Tennessee, perhaps "warming" would be an enhancement rather than a detrimental factor?

Rather than painting with the broader brush of "climate change",
I will say that cyclic weather patterns have likely been a detrimental factor here in Tennessee,
mainly in terms of flooding and rainfall patterns.

In the meantime, when we figure out what happened to the quail populations over the past 50 years,
maybe we can also gain more insight into what is happening to the turkey populations now.
IMO, long-term weather patterns and hunting regs have been relatively small factors.

 

[poorhunter]

If climate change is the factor I would think it would be more of broader or more expanded regional effect.

At least here in Tennessee, I cannot see climate change as a factor of any or much significance.
Especially if we're talking about the original global "warming".

Considering the slightly warmer climates of Alabama and Mississippi have historically supported more turkeys than Tennessee, perhaps "warming" would be an enhancement rather than a detrimental factor?

Rather than painting with the broader brush of "climate change",
I will say that cyclic weather patterns have likely been a detrimental factor here in Tennessee,
mainly in terms of flooding and rainfall patterns.

In the meantime, when we figure out what happened to the quail populations over the past 50 years,
maybe we can also gain more insight into what is happening to the turkey populations now.
IMO, long-term weather patterns and hunting regs have been relatively small factors.

I agree with your last two assertions.

 

[deerfever]

What bothers me is how this is so different in certain areas. I am seeing and hearing as many as ever if not more! I mainly hunt public but on my private land I have gotten pictures of two gobblers and 7 hens. I have never seen any in my field the previous 17 years. I took my son 3 hours West on public and we heard several birds and had a great time. The birds I am hunting are covered up with hens and I expect the hunting will just get better as it goes. Watch catmans opening weekend video on public land , turkeys are everywhere! I know there are problems in certain counties but why? This is truly perplexing, if it were just because our 4 bird limit it would be a statewide problem. Think about the guys that say their personal farms have went downhill, you know they have controlled who has hunted and how many turkeys have been taken. Then you see catman with people all over the place and birds are gobbling as guys are shooting! My point is why some areas and not others? Now again I am not saying that I am not for doing something about it such as a limit change if needed as a matter of fact if I thought the places I hunt were in jeopardy I would not go by the 4 bird limit. They could have a 1 bird limit this year and it would do me in! I am getting whipped bad right now !

 

[Spurhunter]

If you've ever hunted in Missouri you would forget about climate change, predation, weather, etc. The turkey hunting there is phenomenal. For one reason: sound management. 3 week season, late opener, no afternoon hunting, and a 2 bird limit.

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[Bone Collector]

I posted this in the thread Catman started on the same subject, but thought some may not look there. Sorry for the grainy pic.

I believe there is something wrong with the turkey population, but I also think there is something wrong with the harvest data. Up until now I have been pulling the statewide data and getting #'s in line with what everyone else was getting. When Quailman posted I thought, maybe I should pull some different reports. Results were all over.
All data pulls were done from 3/23-4/8.
From top left to right.
Chart 1 is the total harvest by county (Harvest reports) 14,789.
Chart 2 is the statewide harvest (Biological data) 6,788.
Chart 3 is a single county pull (hunter success) 242. This bugged me it would not let me pull for every county. Also the # is about 50% of the harvest shown for the county in pull 1.
Chart 4 is statewide (Hunter's success) 6,801.

 

[AT Hiker]

My speculation about climate is this; if turkey require a certain range of air temperatures to hatch and let's say the average temps are increased 1degree, could that not induce them to hatch every so slightly earlier? Thus exposing them to more vulnerable weather?

It's pure speculation.


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[Bone Collector]

Now i am thoroughly dumbfounded. I just re pulled the same county report from the harvest reports section and it is saying that Maury has only killed 242 birds and it shows a total of 6,843. I tried again and it went up to 6,844....

 

[deerfever]

I just pulled a report that I will take a picture of! March 23 to today. 14, 812 birds county wide! That's more that's last year at this time. I hope this is correct!

 

[deerfever]

Here you go! Again this is great news if correct!

 

[AT Hiker]

Those getting 14,000. Please post specific directions on what your clicking to get those numbers.




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[deerfever]

Got to turkey harvest by county , make sure that all counties are in your location box and then hit view report. I put in March 23 to today. It is strange it changes back and forth that is why I took a picture. I hope that is right but who knows!

 

[Setterman]

I'm not buying it, sorry just not.

I really hope I'm wrong but not buying it