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New turkey coordinator?

AT Hiker

AT Hiker

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According to this podcast we have a new coordinator, according to this podcast TWRA does summer brood surveys too? The most recent data I find is 2013-2014...

I highly suggest listening, worth the 1/2 hour. Key points;
-new coordinator, Roger Shields
-middle TN research update
-stabilizing of population in regards to the restocking efforts, carry capacity and declines
-summer brood surveys

Apple link
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t ... 0441091648

YouTube link to put faces to the names

https://youtu.be/_HES6uvGF6U



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Best of luck to the gentleman. I hope he hangs around long enough to dive in, explore the entire state (look outside of Nashville, middle TN and Region 2) and make some favorable improvements for the betterment of a sustainable turkey population STATEWIDE. Along these lines, can anyone explain in detail any significant achievements/improvements the last few turkey coordinators have accomplished, beyond the status quo? It is not a personal attack on any of them, as their hands may be tied by the "governing" Commission, but the the common thread I remember about all of them is status quo (same 44 day season length, same opener, same limits, kill totals at end of season, a study here and there, etc). The one positive change that comes to mind (reduction/elimination in fall hen killing) was brought about by a TnD member who testified in person before the commission.
 
Well if you listen to interview you will notice the "status quo" peaking through. Hopefully I'm wrong but I doubt it.

My thoughts on a particular point and I paraphrase "the population boom of the mid 2000's is over and populations are leveling out...hunter recruitment, both young and old is very important"

My immediate thought to these statement is "why in the heck do we still have the current season structure and a 4 bird limit then?"


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He did and if I understand correctly he landed that job right out of grad school 18 years ago. He also didn't start hunting until grad school either, so it will be interesting to see his style of work. I'm optimistic, especially listening to him talk. **But he did harp on harvest numbers and Im not convinced they mean a whole lot.

If anything I hope he prioritizes transparency.


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AT Hiker":mqp7y4yz said:
My thoughts on a particular point and I paraphrase "the population boom of the mid 2000's is over and populations are leveling out...hunter recruitment, both young and old is very important"

My immediate thought to these statement is "why in the heck do we still have the current season structure and a 4 bird limit then?"
Click to expand...
Here's the "Catch 22" (my opinion):

TWRA's current turkey regs have become much more about "killing" than "hunting",
and these regs are a primary cause of declining turkey populations,
particularly in those areas which have had the longest established populations, i.e. more turkey killing over a longer period of time.

Our seasons open too early, and the limit is too high.
This is more about non-resident license sales than sound turkey management?

"Statewide", turkey populations have mainly been increasing in those areas with less tradition of turkey hunting,
and/or areas where development has contributed to less hunting, albeit the adaptive turkeys may thrive in an environment of housing subdivisions?

So, why do we want to recruit more turkey hunters when the current regs are making that hunting progressively less about turkey hunting?

Perhaps we should be introducing more people to Asian carp fishing instead?
 
Andy S.":3k8lypnr said:
Best of luck to the gentleman. I hope he hangs around long enough to dive in, explore the entire state (look outside of Nashville, middle TN and Region 2) and make some favorable improvements for the betterment of a sustainable turkey population STATEWIDE. Along these lines, can anyone explain in detail any significant achievements/improvements the last few turkey coordinators have accomplished, beyond the status quo? It is not a personal attack on any of them, as their hands may be tied by the "governing" Commission, but the the common thread I remember about all of them is status quo (same 44 day season length, same opener, same limits, kill totals at end of season, a study here and there, etc). The one positive change that comes to mind (reduction/elimination in fall hen killing) was brought about by a TnD member who testified in person before the commission.
Click to expand...
Well said Andy! I wholeheartedly agree with every point.
 
AT Hiker":1fnytjlp said:
He did and if I understand correctly he landed that job right out of grad school 18 years ago. He also didn't start hunting until grad school either, so it will be interesting to see his style of work. I'm optimistic, especially listening to him talk. **But he did harp on harvest numbers and Im not convinced they mean a whole lot.

If anything I hope he prioritizes transparency.


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Click to expand...
He will continue to harp on harvest numbers because he was taught in wildlife biology class that harvest numbers are the best indicator of standing population.

Hopefully he is smart enough to think outside the box, and realize how wildly turkey populations fluctuate even on an annual basis. Well designed brood surveys will let you know where you are headed for the next year or two in the future.

Andy, none of the Turkey biologists even admitted there might be a problem with populations until we flooded the commissioners with emails last year and they brought up the concerns at the May meeting last year. My gut feeling is this guy won't do anything different than the past 3. At least until we see 2 years in a row of decling harvest numbers. And even then they will probably blame it on the same boogeyman causing populations to decline throughout the US.



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Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Shields recently and watched him give a few turkey talks. Definitely one of the most knowledgeable turkey biologists I've been around and easy to see he truly cares. So we have the right guy in the position, but as far as season changes....Politics, politics, politics...
 
I hope he has a passion for the wild Turkey first and foremost. And that passion leads his recommendations for season structure and limits. It time we had a state biologist who cares more about the resource than caring more about the hunters. I won't hold my breath..

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megalomaniac":3pnjwu9o said:
I hope he has a passion for the wild Turkey first and foremost. And that passion leads his recommendations for season structure and limits.
Click to expand...
Since we already know he is a turkey biologist,
my hope is he's a passionate, accomplished turkey hunter
who is also a conservationist.
 
TheLBLman":2phwflr4 said:
megalomaniac":2phwflr4 said:
I hope he has a passion for the wild Turkey first and foremost. And that passion leads his recommendations for season structure and limits.
Click to expand...
Since we already know he is a turkey biologist,
my hope is he's a passionate, accomplished turkey hunter
who is also a conservationist.
Click to expand...

All we have to do now is wait 5 more years while he studies the decline of turkeys in TN. :bash:
 
Funny how the research focuses on what is right outside their office window. According to my house window Memphis crime is improving.


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