Zones for turkeys

The way I understood it that is just for the fall season right? Instead of different regs for each county they are going to have zones with multiple counties in each zone
 
The only "confusing, county-by-county basis" regulations in effect now are in the fall.

Looks like they are going to do away with that and go to zone limits instead for fall hunting.
 
Seems the weather is STILL being used for declining turkey harvest numbers (although I still don't see TWRA willingly admitting that the population is also in decline).

I hope zones with declining harvest numbers open the season 2 weeks later and outlaw the harvest of jakes. It would be nice to allow all hens old enough to breed to actually set a clutch of fertilized eggs for a change.

The counties I own land in are actually down 30-40% harvest this year compared to last year. This year will be the tipping point. I've never seen so few hens since 1992. We may very well have gone past the point of no return as far as sustainable hunting populations. I actually still have a few birds, but only due to personal aggressive management. Unfortunately, since the neighboring properties have long since had all their birds shot out, I've never seen and caught so many poachers in my life :(

Just a couple more years with the current regs and turkeys will be as rare as they were back in the 80's.

I'm still not convinced that is exactly what TWRA is wanting due to pressure from farmers and the auto insurance industry
 
Little harsh on TWRA considering the boom turkey numbers have had in the past 15 years.... How about your listed state of Mississippi - no jake harvests allowed there and their numbers are down, way down. I'm sure biologists with more letters after their name with the state are studying it, but all we can do is follow the rules, practice sound management, and control predator populations. If it weren't for TWRA, we wouldn't have any turkeys to hunt.
 
PalsPal said:
The only "confusing, county-by-county basis" regulations in effect now are in the fall.

Looks like they are going to do away with that and go to zone limits instead for fall hunting.
Click to expand...
My thoughts exactly.
 
Hunt 365 said:
Little harsh on TWRA considering the boom turkey numbers have had in the past 15 years.... How about your listed state of Mississippi - no jake harvests allowed there and their numbers are down, way down. I'm sure biologists with more letters after their name with the state are studying it, but all we can do is follow the rules, practice sound management, and control predator populations. If it weren't for TWRA, we wouldn't have any turkeys to hunt.
Click to expand...

TWRA and other state biologist can study and recommend plans all they want, but its up to bureaucrats to make the final judgement.
 
megalomaniac said:
Seems the weather is STILL being used for declining turkey harvest numbers (although I still don't see TWRA willingly admitting that the population is also in decline).

I hope zones with declining harvest numbers open the season 2 weeks later and outlaw the harvest of jakes. It would be nice to allow all hens old enough to breed to actually set a clutch of fertilized eggs for a change.

The counties I own land in are actually down 30-40% harvest this year compared to last year. This year will be the tipping point. I've never seen so few hens since 1992. We may very well have gone past the point of no return as far as sustainable hunting populations. I actually still have a few birds, but only due to personal aggressive management. Unfortunately, since the neighboring properties have long since had all their birds shot out, I've never seen and caught so many poachers in my life :(

Just a couple more years with the current regs and turkeys will be as rare as they were back in the 80's.

I'm still not convinced that is exactly what TWRA is wanting due to pressure from farmers and the auto insurance industry
Click to expand...

This is so laughably hypocritical I can't believe you posted it.

To whine about hens getting killed when you and a partner laid waste to a bunch of hens during the spring season a few years ago. I'm against hen killing, but I can at least say I've never killed one and am competent enough to not slaughter them while trying to kill a Longbeard. You talking about hen killing is laughable.

Now, on the decline in some areas....and this won't be popular but it needs to be mentioned. It's no surprise to me that the areas with declining numbers the habitat consists of small wood lots and fields. With the now widely popular decoy/blind tactic which is extremely effective I believe bunches of birds are being killed that prior to this new tactic were surviving. You've got hunters who were lucky to kill a bird, now killing 3 or 4. That is going to have an impact at some point.

I commend TWRA for doing what it took to get the bird numbers where they are, but do not understand the rigid regulation setting that is not flexible at all whether we have a great hatch or a disaster hatch. Honestly that alone defies logic.

If I had my way, I would outlaw hen killing year round, period. Yes, I mean no bearded hens in the spring, they are a dime a dozen anymore, don't provide squat for meat, and vital to like all hens to sustaining the population. I would limit jake harvest to 1, outlawing jakes is just stupid IMO. Mistakes happen, newcomers, old timers, frustrated veterans and sometimes a jake takes a dirt nap. Limiting them to 1 should be fine with everyone. Finally I wouldn't set a season limit until I knew what the hatch looked like and what the population health was, and it would be fluid. Oh and I would begin a survey to find out how many birds are killed with the aid of decoys to see it was a potential issue.

Last thing I'm gonna say, baiting is a horrendous problem that most of us don't acknowledge. I bet 50% of the opening weekend kill are baited birds. It's an epidemic in most regions
 
I haven't seen an increased use of decoys before or after the decline in my area so I dont really understand howyhat would lead to a down fall of 98% of a turkey population.
 
megalomaniac said:
Seems the weather is STILL being used for declining turkey harvest numbers (although I still don't see TWRA willingly admitting that the population is also in decline).

I hope zones with declining harvest numbers open the season 2 weeks later and outlaw the harvest of jakes. It would be nice to allow all hens old enough to breed to actually set a clutch of fertilized eggs for a change.

The counties I own land in are actually down 30-40% harvest this year compared to last year. This year will be the tipping point. I've never seen so few hens since 1992. We may very well have gone past the point of no return as far as sustainable hunting populations. I actually still have a few birds, but only due to personal aggressive management. Unfortunately, since the neighboring properties have long since had all their birds shot out, I've never seen and caught so many poachers in my life :(

Just a couple more years with the current regs and turkeys will be as rare as they were back in the 80's.

I'm still not convinced that is exactly what TWRA is wanting due to pressure from farmers and the auto insurance industry
Click to expand...
:D oh my
 
knightrider said:
megalomaniac said:
Seems the weather is STILL being used for declining turkey harvest numbers (although I still don't see TWRA willingly admitting that the population is also in decline).

I hope zones with declining harvest numbers open the season 2 weeks later and outlaw the harvest of jakes. It would be nice to allow all hens old enough to breed to actually set a clutch of fertilized eggs for a change.

The counties I own land in are actually down 30-40% harvest this year compared to last year. This year will be the tipping point. I've never seen so few hens since 1992. We may very well have gone past the point of no return as far as sustainable hunting populations. I actually still have a few birds, but only due to personal aggressive management. Unfortunately, since the neighboring properties have long since had all their birds shot out, I've never seen and caught so many poachers in my life :(

Just a couple more years with the current regs and turkeys will be as rare as they were back in the 80's.

I'm still not convinced that is exactly what TWRA is wanting due to pressure from farmers and the auto insurance industry
Click to expand...
:D oh my
Click to expand...

I completely missed the portion about the auto insurance companies, that's hilarious.

This entire post is a hypocritical rant by a known hen killer/poacher, which delves head first into doom and gloom the sky is falling fear mongering.

Sure the population has dipped in areas, but maybe the question should be asked is anything short of closing the season going to bring them roaring back? My gut says no
 
Setterman said:
megalomaniac said:
Seems the weather is STILL being used for declining turkey harvest numbers (although I still don't see TWRA willingly admitting that the population is also in decline).

I hope zones with declining harvest numbers open the season 2 weeks later and outlaw the harvest of jakes. It would be nice to allow all hens old enough to breed to actually set a clutch of fertilized eggs for a change.

The counties I own land in are actually down 30-40% harvest this year compared to last year. This year will be the tipping point. I've never seen so few hens since 1992. We may very well have gone past the point of no return as far as sustainable hunting populations. I actually still have a few birds, but only due to personal aggressive management. Unfortunately, since the neighboring properties have long since had all their birds shot out, I've never seen and caught so many poachers in my life :(

Just a couple more years with the current regs and turkeys will be as rare as they were back in the 80's.

I'm still not convinced that is exactly what TWRA is wanting due to pressure from farmers and the auto insurance industry
Click to expand...



Last thing I'm gonna say, baiting is a horrendous problem that most of us don't acknowledge. I bet 50% of the opening weekend kill are baited birds. It's an epidemic in most regions
Click to expand...


Now you are on to a real problem.... Same thing is happening here in KY....
 
Setterman said:
Oh and I would begin a survey to find out how many birds are killed with the aid of decoys to see it was a potential issue.

Last thing I'm gonna say, baiting is a horrendous problem that most of us don't acknowledge. I bet 50% of the opening weekend kill are baited birds. It's an epidemic in most regions
Click to expand...

I think these two are the big ones. I am not as 100% against decoys as Setter, but I almost never carry them myself anymore. I wouldn't feel bad about using a single hen decoy in an open area, but the strutter decoy craze now drives me nuts. I've used them before but the more I hunt the less I like it. No question they work and they work best on dominate, battle tested old birds that use to be a true trophy because they are smart, stay with lots of hens, and don't make mistakes. Many dominate birds (particularly field birds) that used to gather large harems of hens and service them throughout the season are now killed early and often over strutter decoys. If a dominate bird regularly uses a particular field I could pop up a tent and stake out a strutter decoy and my 10 year old nephew could kill him solo the next morning. That's a problem. If I had a vote on the issue, I would vote to outlaw all decoys using a real or artificial turkey fan. Those who wanted to could still use hen and jake decoys. It wont happen, but I wish it would.

The bait problem is also epidemic here in West TN. And it's done with near impunity because there are too many acres and not enough officers to properly enforce it. I know of a guy (and I don't know specific locations or I would report it) who, with assistance of other shooters, killed 8 gobblers over the same bait pile early this season. What kind of lasting effects is that going to have 2-3 years down the road? Pour out enough corn to bait most of the gobblers on not only your farm but your neighbors farms, kill them all out of ignorance, laziness, and greed, and then wonder in 2 years why there aren't as many turkeys in that area any more. The bait-and-kill tactic is what nearly eradicated turkeys decades ago and it is still being done today.
 
Southern Sportsman said:
Setterman said:
Oh and I would begin a survey to find out how many birds are killed with the aid of decoys to see it was a potential issue.

Last thing I'm gonna say, baiting is a horrendous problem that most of us don't acknowledge. I bet 50% of the opening weekend kill are baited birds. It's an epidemic in most regions
Click to expand...

I think these two are the big ones. I am not as 100% against decoys as Setter, but I almost never carry them myself anymore. I wouldn't feel bad about using a single hen decoy in an open area, but the strutter decoy craze now drives me nuts. I've used them before but the more I hunt the less I like it. No question they work and they work best on dominate, battle tested old birds that use to be a true trophy because they are smart, stay with lots of hens, and don't make mistakes. Many dominate birds (particularly field birds) that used to gather large harems of hens and service them throughout the season are now killed early and often over strutter decoys. If a dominate bird regularly uses a particular field I could pop up a tent and stake out a strutter decoy and my 10 year old nephew could kill him solo the next morning. That's a problem. If I had a vote on the issue, I would vote to outlaw all decoys using a real or artificial turkey fan. Those who wanted to could still use hen and jake decoys. It wont happen, but I wish it would.

The bait problem is also epidemic here in West TN. And it's done with near impunity because there are too many acres and not enough officers to properly enforce it. I know of a guy (and I don't know specific locations or I would report it) who, with assistance of other shooters, killed 8 gobblers over the same bait pile early this season. What kind of lasting effects is that going to have 2-3 years down the road? Pour out enough corn to bait most of the gobblers on not only your farm but your neighbors farms, kill them all out of ignorance, laziness, and greed, and then wonder in 2 years why there aren't as many turkeys in that area any more. The bait-and-kill tactic is what nearly eradicated turkeys decades ago and it is still being done today.
Click to expand...

I know folks hate to hear this kind of talk, but the decoy thing is something that really needs some research done regarding usage and increases it allows to total harvest and POTENTIAL detrimental impact to the population.

Many of the dominant birds that do fall victim to the strutter stuff, have run off the subordinate birds or whipped them into submission, which begs the question will they eventually come around and breed the available hens that weren't bred, or will they shy away out of fear?

I've killed dominant birds that once gone the property came alive, but I've also killed plenty and when they were gone nothing changed.
 
Setterman said:
Many of the dominant birds that do fall victim to the strutter stuff, have run off the subordinate birds or whipped them into submission, which begs the question will they eventually come around and breed the available hens that weren't bred, or will they shy away out of fear?
Click to expand...

A lot of private land areas are also over-hunted, often by people who are pretty good at it. In areas like this a large number of the subordinates birds, which are usually younger turkeys without lots of hens and are therefore more likely to be called up, get killed each year. The combination of these two things may not leave very many for breeding stock.
 
bait imo is one of the biggest issues we have. it is almost impossible for twra to defend all of it and people think they need a pile of corn or wheat in from of them to kill a turkey or a deer. it is just crazy. we have so many people around maury county that openly admit baiting it is mind baffling. and we call about them if we know its for sure going on. I think they get some what of a hold on that it would help like crazy. but like I said I don't see a good way to really stop it. the decoys and blind think honestly never really thought about it. like I said im not against them. and I agree 100 percent blinds have helps a ton of people with field turkeys. with decoys I have no idea ive never seen a decoy work ever. turkeys seem scared of them from what ive seen. but my time with them is very limited.
 
Turkey numbers are down in my hunting areas for sure. I don't think it is due to the blind/decoy crowd myself. I have used a foam hen decoy without success in past years and don't fool with them anymore. I have never used a blind- reckon I'm too lazy to tote one around and set one up. I probably need one as it seems every turkey that gets close acts like I am carrying a flashing neon sign that says 'This is a turkey hunter.' I don't think baiting is a significant issue at least on my hunting areas-undoubtedly it happens. If legal hunters are killing too many birds shorten the season and/or reduce the bag limits-simple. Poachers are going to kill game regardless of seasons or bag limits. The legal bag can be reduced easily enough. I'm lucky if I kill one turkey per year so I don't have an impact on the population.
 
The seasons and limits have had no affect IMO on the decline. Decoys and hen killing did not either. We've never killed a hen. At the height of our numbers of gobbling birds, I was killing less than 20% of those birds and I don't even count jakes so it was probably less than 10% of male birds.

I hunted a property the other day that is 1100 acres, private land. No hunting pressure.

0 gobbling birds. Heard a couple off the property. Used to be dozens there, birds everywhere. Not even worth going there now.

There are still birds and still huntable birds scattered around. If you lucky, they'll be on your property. Maybe the height of the numbers was higher than can be expected realistically.

I hunted 3400 acres private land in Greene Co, AL this weekend. This place has one man with all the turkey rights and we've killed two birds the last two years. It wasn't hunted for five years prior to that. I heard 1 turkey on the whole property. Managed pine plantations, pastures, hardwoods. Perfect turkey habitat. There are a few just off the property. Even down there numbers are down.
 

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