Poser, I suspect that one of the primary reasons for the relatively low kill relates to the toughness of the hunt, the reasons that you mentioned. Since its a "bonus bird" situation, and convenient to Memphians and SW Tennessee residents, it seems like a good idea to apply. However,when they are drawn, their actual zeal for the hunt is not there, particularly when most have other easier options to hunt. When I was a Shelby regular, I loved the place, but primarily in the hills and for squirrel and deer. The bottoms are incredibly unpleasant for most of us, can't breath for the mosquitoes, cottonmouths and copperheads, and one of the few areas of West Tennessee that has a healthy population of timber rattlers. In fact I never killed a turkey until I got a good place to hunt in the hill country! I go back to the days where Shelby was the only option for turkey hunters in the West and we were always thrilled when we got drawn. But when hunt time came, we were always thinking, "I'm out here screwin' around at this place, and the crappie are biting at Arkabutla!" lol IMO
most still don't have the desire to pursue a hunt like you did at Shelby. If more did, I'm sure the kill would be higher. Congrats!
