One and likely done.

[Setterman]

Let's clarify one thing. I didn't insinuate you were for abortion, I simply used it as an example of something legal that I also don't agree with. There's zero correlation between turkeys and human life. So let's not get carried away.

I'm glad your population seems great. However, I'll give you some advice, don't listen to me. Listen to the scores of others all over the state noticing a decline and a serious decline. For now you may be fine, and I hope it stays great. But like the rest of the state you may be wondering what happened in the years to come. Imo fwiw killing hens isn't adding birds to the flock it is taking away maybe 10-12 birds including gobblers for the next few seasons. That's where I come from.

Deer and turkeys aren't comparable so no need to get into that, and I can assure you I've killed as many as 30 Does in one day so I'm dang sure not afraid of killing the ladies

 

[knightrider]

Knightrider if them 2 bearded hens would've acted right last year I'd had 2 off your place [/quote]
I found you three more today

 

[hunter0925]

Let's clarify one thing. I didn't insinuate you were for abortion, I simply used it as an example of something legal that I also don't agree with. There's zero correlation between turkeys and human life. So let's not get carried away.

I'm glad your population seems great. However, I'll give you some advice, don't listen to me. Listen to the scores of others all over the state noticing a decline and a serious decline. For now you may be fine, and I hope it stays great. But like the rest of the state you may be wondering what happened in the years to come. Imo fwiw killing hens isn't adding birds to the flock it is taking away maybe 10-12 birds including gobblers for the next few seasons. That's where I come from.

Deer and turkeys aren't comparable so no need to get into that, and I can assure you I've killed as many as 30 Does in one day so I'm dang sure not afraid of killing the ladies

I can totally agree that killing a hen is removing birds from the flock, same as killing doe. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out at all. Considering this was only the 4th bird I have killed in my life I very seriously doubt my hunting has or will contribute to a decline in population. Also the current deer hunting situation is entirely comparable to Turkey. People have complained across the state for at least 2 years of decreased sightings and now we couple that with cwd. Also, just like turkey, deer we're reintroduced because they had been hunted to near extinction and there are still huge parts of this state where deer numbers are extremely low, in fact I would venture to say the turkey populations are exponentially higher than deer populations in those areas. I still don't care if people kill doe in those areas so long as they do it legally and don't then complain about low deer sightings.
Once again, I did not intend to bring you into any conversations nor was I singling you out until your previous post. I sincerely hope you have a great season and still stick by what I said about hunters being our own worst enemy. With the current climate towards hunting, dropping numbers and low recruitment, it is vital that we encourage the people that are still legally participating in order to ensure there are funds available for wildlife restoration and research so that our sport doesn't die.

 

[catman529]

I used to open fire on flocks and kill 3 or 4 hens each fall season, on public land. I'm out here in the same woods now, and it's littered with fresh scratch and feathers as I listen to birds fly up to roost. The population is still thriving.

So a guy who doesn't turkey hunt much kills 1 bearded hen on his PRIVATE land. And rather than congratulate him or keep scrolling, someone's gotta make a smart*** comment like he's part of some big decline. Many parts of TN still have healthy flocks and good hatches.

And yes I'm glad they changed fall season rules and limits. They were way too liberal before.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Tn_Va_Hunter]

Congrats buddy. Nice bird.

 

[prstide]

I didn't make any disparaging comment. I made no comment but y'all want to drag me into this. To your later post Twra is proving again and again they've got no clue with how to manage our flock as evidenced by a population that's plummeting. I'm from the south and we grew up not killing hens for any reason. I guess it's a southern thing and I'll never be okay with it. Especially with our population in the shape it's in now.

You are right though it is 100% your hunt and it was perfectly legal. However abortions are legal and you won't ever catch me patting someone on the back for having one.

Doesn't mean I hate you or think less of you as a hunter or person. It's just not something I find cool. Hoenstly, I shouldn't have written any response. That's on me for not keeping to myself on this

:lol: Mic drop

 

[Setterman]

I used to open fire on flocks and kill 3 or 4 hens each fall season, on public land. I'm out here in the same woods now, and it's littered with fresh scratch and feathers as I listen to birds fly up to roost. The population is still thriving.

So a guy who doesn't turkey hunt much kills 1 bearded hen on his PRIVATE land. And rather than congratulate him or keep scrolling, someone's gotta make a smart*** comment like he's part of some big decline. Many parts of TN still have healthy flocks and good hatches.

And yes I'm glad they changed fall season rules and limits. They were way too liberal before.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

It's awesome the population is thriving in your area, however, one look at the kills so far which is 50% less than last year which was a really down year and it really makes you wonder what's going on? Maybe not in our little neck of the woods but on a larger scale?

Maybe if folks hadn't hammered hens in years past we wouldn't be facing something we've never seen in recent times? Maybe the handful of bearded hens killed this year would have been the ones sustaining a population in obvious decline based on so many reports, stats, sighting, and assessments?

You're right, and individual doesn't deserve to be singled out. And for that I am truly sorry. But we've got a dam serious issue with the population. Denying that is just being stubborn at this point. Catman I've got immense respect for you, but come on dude it's time for all of us that live this sport to recognize we've got trouble and to work to find ways to help the population state wide, no matter what we encounter on our own grounds.

 

[Coker]

4 days into the season and we already have ourselves an arguement. All I can do is shake my head in disgust and move on to a better thread.

 

[SKFOOTER]

Anyone else having trouble signing in to the Hunters Toolbox section of TWRA's website to get the Harvest Report Data??? I've tried all day with no luck.

 

[catman529]

I used to open fire on flocks and kill 3 or 4 hens each fall season, on public land. I'm out here in the same woods now, and it's littered with fresh scratch and feathers as I listen to birds fly up to roost. The population is still thriving.

So a guy who doesn't turkey hunt much kills 1 bearded hen on his PRIVATE land. And rather than congratulate him or keep scrolling, someone's gotta make a smart*** comment like he's part of some big decline. Many parts of TN still have healthy flocks and good hatches.

And yes I'm glad they changed fall season rules and limits. They were way too liberal before.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

It's awesome the population is thriving in your area, however, one look at the kills so far which is 50% less than last year which was a really down year and it really makes you wonder what's going on? Maybe not in our little neck of the woods but on a larger scale?

Maybe if folks hadn't hammered hens in years past we wouldn't be facing something we've never seen in recent times? Maybe the handful of bearded hens killed this year would have been the ones sustaining a population in obvious decline based on so many reports, stats, sighting, and assessments?

You're right, and individual doesn't deserve to be singled out. And for that I am truly sorry. But we've got a dam serious issue with the population. Denying that is just being stubborn at this point. Catman I've got immense respect for you, but come on dude it's time for all of us that live this sport to recognize we've got trouble and to work to find ways to help the population state wide, no matter what we encounter on our own grounds.

I don't believe the harvest reports this year are accurate. That's a huge drop statewide and I'm still seeing the usual posts on the Facebook groups. I'd think I would see a lot more discussion on social media if the numbers really dropped that much. Will have to let the season progress and see how it really turns out. Hopefully it's not really dropping that fast.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[tn24]

Anyone else having trouble signing in to the Hunters Toolbox section of TWRA's website to get the Harvest Report Data??? I've tried all day with no luck.

I finally got it to work but it is very slow. It has never worked very good since they went with the new system a couple of years ago.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I don't understand the overt sensitivity that takes over every time anyone posts anything other than a pat on the back. Killing hens is a debatable topic. Especially now that the population statewide is undeniably dropping. So if you specifically target and kill a hen, then post it in a public form, why does everyone feign outrage when debate insues?

My comment was tounge in cheek, but it wasn't insulting. And it was true. Killing a hen, especially in the spring, eliminates that hen and a likely brood of a dozen or so. I don't think anyone disputes that, do they? I'm sure the population in your little pocket of the state will soldier on without that one hen, but that's not the point. It is just so counterproductive that I can't understand the desire to do it. I'm not mad, I'm not insulting anyone, and honestly I wish I had the wing bones. Is it really that terrible to have civil, respectful debate about debatable topics?

 

[hunter0925]

I don't understand the overt sensitivity that takes over every time anyone posts anything other than a pat on the back. Killing hens is a debatable topic. Especially now that the population statewide is undeniably dropping. So if you specifically target and kill a hen, then post it in a public form, why does everyone feign outrage when debate insues?

My comment was tounge in cheek, but it wasn't insulting. And it was true. Killing a hen, especially in the spring, eliminates that hen and a likely brood of a dozen or so. I don't think anyone disputes that, do they? I'm sure the population in your little pocket of the state will soldier on without that one hen, but that's not the point. It is just so counterproductive that I can't understand the desire to do it. I'm not mad, I'm not insulting anyone, and honestly I wish I had the wing bones. Is it really that terrible to have civil, respectful debate about debatable topics?

Not at all and I never got upset. I don't expect a Pat on the back of anything for anything that I do. If You look back I even said that I thought it was comical the reaction from some people on the topic. I'm not ashamed of what I killed and in fact am very proud of it. I didn't single anyone out until the accusation that it was just a southern thing to kill hens and abortion was brought up.
There are many debatable topics in our everyday life and the great thing is that we are not all going to think or live alike. It does get to me that people talk about how dire the turkey populations are and how they dont like someone killing a hen but they can't or won't answer questions about if they trap to reduce predator populations that have a much larger impact on nesting than any single hen I may kill.
I also don't understand the logic that killing doe is different when the deer populations have also dropped drastically in many areas as has been noted in harvest reports and hunter observations.
The problem with different opinions is when people refuse to answer questions because it goes against or disproves their belief, or their willingness to actually try to fix a problem other than using words that are hollow or meaningless except against the very people we should be trying to support in the sport to retain what little we have left.

 

[PalsPal]

Killing a hen, especially in the spring, eliminates that hen and a likely brood of a dozen or so. I don't think anyone disputes that, do they?

Hmm, I do ! How many in that brood of a dozen or so survive the first year?

The proportion of poults that die in their first two weeks of life ranged from 56 to 73 percent in a number of studies of eastern wild turkeys.


The experts consider 3-4 poults per hen a great hatch when they do their fall surveys.

Just had to insert some FACTS into the conversation before heading out the door.

I'm going hunting!

 

[Ladys man]

Congrats

 

[NumberOne]

Congrats. but I think you have been around here long enough to know that what you posted was gonna stir the pot. I don't care either way. You did it legally. Lets not act offended though when someone doesn't agree with your methods. You put a controversial (in some people's eyes) topic out there. Better get ready for some backlash.

 

[REN]

Congrats. but I think you have been around here long enough to know that what you posted was gonna stir the pot. I don't care either way. You did it legally. Lets not act offended though when someone doesn't agree with your methods. You put a controversial (in some people's eyes) topic out there. Better get ready for some backlash.

^^^ this right here.

 

[hunter0925]

Congrats. but I think you have been around here long enough to know that what you posted was gonna stir the pot. I don't care either way. You did it legally. Lets not act offended though when someone doesn't agree with your methods. You put a controversial (in some people's eyes) topic out there. Better get ready for some backlash.

I honestly am not offended in the least and also I don't pay enough attention to turkey to even know it would be controversial to begin with. Deer are my main focus as well as hunting out west. My whole point in even responding to the few that did say anything was just asking if they followed up and did anything about what they say they care so much about or if all they do is talk about it. Trust me, I have thick skin and if I let people on a phone or keyboard offend me then I wouldn't get on here to begin with. I'm also not the type of,person to let someone think they can shame or walk on me. Jmo

 

[REN]

a legit question (not aimed at the OP directly) is why do people have the desire to shoot a bearded hen? I mean the meat is a fraction of a tom, they dont gobble or come in strutting etc. Is it just the "cool" factor or just the chance to actually shoot a turkey or what? ive just never understood the desire part to be honest.

again nothing against someone that wants to (hate having to put that these days but it is what it is) just genuinely curious

 

[hunter0925]

a legit question (not aimed at the OP directly) is why do people have the desire to shoot a bearded hen? I mean the meat is a fraction of a tom, they dont gobble or come in strutting etc. Is it just the "cool" factor or just the chance to actually shoot a turkey or what? ive just never understood the desire part to be honest.

again nothing against someone that wants to (hate having to put that these days but it is what it is) just genuinely curious

For me, I haven't ever turkey hunted much and this bearded hen was only my 4th bird. I wanted to shoot the bearded hen because it is something different. I don't turkey hunt for the meat, even though I do eat it. I get out occasionally just to be in the woods in the spring. I just think the bearded hen is neat because they are far more rare than a tom.