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What do yall think is the worst state that any of yall currently hunt in or have hunted recently?

I live in Arkansas and it's pretty pathetic here, it definitely gets my vote as the worst!

Don't think I have a state. They all have their challenges. As long as I can get out and go hunting, I'll take what they give me and move on to the next.

So bad now guys won't even list their worst state


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Lol Arkansas is pretty sad.

I wouldn't waste my time coming to kentucky.

Quote from: kytrkyhntr on March 28, 2023, 03:00:18 PM
I wouldn't waste my time coming to kentucky.

Agreed, Every piece of public land has more out of state plates than Disney world anymore. The ones that aren't out of state guys are crawling behind fans and whooping and hollering after shooting.


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Alaska. I went to multiple national forest and never heard a gobble.  :toothy9:

deathfoot killed my travel plans, back to the drawing board!

Arkansas would certainly be a strong contender for worst.

Also, compared to what they were 10-12 years ago, the states in the middle part of the country - Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska - are in really sorry shape. 

I'd all the South Eastern states to that list. 

Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma the worst at this point and time.

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Florida is really bad.  Tons of hunters. Especially 1st 2 weeks. All out of towners with 0 woods etiquette.  Then they leave here and go hunt Alabama next. 

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I haven't seen many hunters in the last 2 years. Have seen a ton of people running around the woods with guns and at least 3 cameras strapped on their bodies. Talking to themselves as if they think somebody cares. Most of them haven't seen me, which is surprising as it is hard to laugh quietly.

Sure TX has plenty of Rios, but not much public opportunity. Here in ETX, I'd say it's thinner than any other state in the southeast.


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Mississippi. If you don't agree, just give it another year or two to sink in

Illinois has gone way down hill from what it used to be. River counties don't have near the birds they had 10-15 years ago. Central Illinois is the joke it's always been. Populations have never got any better in the middle of the state since the seasons opened in the mid-90's. I travel out-of-state for this very reason.

Quote from: Happy on March 28, 2023, 05:43:09 PM
I haven't seen many hunters in the last 2 years. Have seen a ton of people running around the woods with guns and at least 3 cameras strapped on their bodies. Talking to themselves as if they think somebody cares. Most of them haven't seen me, which is surprising as it is hard to laugh quietly.

:TooFunny: :TooFunny:

All places have their challenges . I've been to the highest density turkey county in Texas and didn't kill a bird ... few years ago .over cast, hot, high winds , and zero gobbling turkeys in a wide open 1200 acre mesquite flat. The birds were simply on other properties in the 2.5 days and those flocks do fly the fences . It probably didn't help that 36 had been killed there prior to me showing up...... I don't care "HOW GOOD" you think you are.... When you aren't in the game you just aren't in the game .

The worst experience I have ever had was in Nebraska, by a lot. While we have the benefit of hindsight, it is incredible how the state marketed and regulated their turkey population into a fraction of what it was. It seemed to me like it became the destination for every person wanting to travel for the first time. Pair that with relatively small acreage WMAs, with a large percentage visible from a road, and it is a recipe for disaster.

Plus it came a destination for every traveling poacher.

In Mississippi, my home state, the public lands are poorly maintained, or rather the local population has no respect for it, riding ATV's and dumping trash like they own the place. Those same people have no semblance of etiquette when it comes to turkey hunting either. But I may be biased.

Quote from: Happy on March 28, 2023, 05:43:09 PM
I haven't seen many hunters in the last 2 years. Have seen a ton of people running around the woods with guns and at least 3 cameras strapped on their bodies. Talking to themselves as if they think somebody cares. Most of them haven't seen me, which is surprising as it is hard to laugh quietly.

They're desperately looking for purpose, legitimacy, importance, a soul, to be liked, to prove something to others, mostly strangers.  It didn't happen for them if they can't post it. It's very sad. But I'm getting old so...  But there's no question how unbelievably annoying those people are to anyone who isn't in their circle.

Quote from: runngun on March 28, 2023, 05:35:12 PM
Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma the worst at this point and time.

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I can vouch on Oklahoma, especially the eastern half of it.. But our department of conservation needs some serious work as well

Arkansas

I keep seeing Arkansas mentioned. I have a little lease in Arkansas that I've killed big birds on the last 2 years. I have a couple of nice longbeards on camera there this year also. It's been good to me

   None of the Northeastern States were mentioned.  I have a bad feeling that an army of Turkey Hunters from the Turkey Declining States in the South and West will travel and descend  like Locusts on Public Areas up here.
    Don't  Camp at the Gates. Good chance you will be checked at Midnight or 1am. Just Saying.

Quote from: Happy on March 28, 2023, 05:43:09 PM
I haven't seen many hunters in the last 2 years. Have seen a ton of people running around the woods with guns and at least 3 cameras strapped on their bodies. Talking to themselves as if they think somebody cares. Most of them haven't seen me, which is surprising as it is hard to laugh quietly.

Yes sir. I love it. 
I've always wondered what's it's like to walk through the woods, holding a camera in front of your face talking to yourself.   
It's gotta be comical to watch.   

Quote from: silent tom on March 29, 2023, 07:44:07 AM

Quote from: Happy on March 28, 2023, 05:43:09 PM
I haven't seen many hunters in the last 2 years. Have seen a ton of people running around the woods with guns and at least 3 cameras strapped on their bodies. Talking to themselves as if they think somebody cares. Most of them haven't seen me, which is surprising as it is hard to laugh quietly.

Yes sir. I love it. 
I've always wondered what's it's like to walk through the woods, holding a camera in front of your face talking to yourself.   
It's gotta be comical to watch.

I think they have to learn how to shoot photography better. Funny thing is you would be shocked just how many of the hunting skills go over to being a good photographer in the woods and vise versa. I do not get the talking to themselves part though, I am always right so why would I have to discuss things with myself?

Qualifying this comment by stating we are talking specifically about public land hunting, I suspect that pretty much every state is getting worse by the year.  Hunter numbers are steadily (or rapidly) increasing, harvest numbers are going up (even with turkey numbers going down), and the turkeys can't successfully reproduce fast enough to keep up.  It all adds up to where we are at nationally. 

However, in answering the direct question, of the states I have personally hunted (and in the public-land areas I have hunted), I would put Oklahoma right at the top of my list,...and maybe Colorado as a close second. 

Ohio has to earn a spot for a $220 non-resident license requirement for ONE spring bird.

Quote from: Louisiana Longbeard on March 28, 2023, 11:27:38 PM
I keep seeing Arkansas mentioned. I have a little lease in Arkansas that I've killed big birds on the last 2 years. I have a couple of nice longbeards on camera there this year also. It's been good to me

Southern Arkansas private leases aren't the same as central and northern Arkansas Public land.

Quote from: quavers59 on March 29, 2023, 01:51:50 AM
   None of the Northeastern States were mentioned.  I have a bad feeling that an army of Turkey Hunters from the Turkey Declining States in the South and West will travel and descend  like Locusts on Public Areas up here.
    Don't  Camp at the Gates. Good chance you will be checked at Midnight or 1am. Just Saying.

That's already happened. Word got out a few years ago. Land in Maine and other northeastern states is getting posted at a record rate due to turkey hunter flocking to those states. I have heard rumblings of baglimits and season changes being in the works.

Nevada, despite being the cool thing to do these days I don't have much desire to go back. Only place I've genuinely felt bad about killing a turkey. They had no where to go. I killed one at roosting time and the rest of the flock just flew into roost above my head due to the fact the next roost site was a mile+ away.

I haven't done a whole lot of traveling but I have visibly seen a change in South Carolina the past 3 years. This year being the worst so far. Our public is just kind of there. Not much management to it. Only a few draw only places are actually managed the rest have nothing. Overgrown forests poor fire practices they are just the states timber investments at this point.

SC values timber over wildlife management.

This is Missippi as well. Want to get real mad? Well, apparently what they spray to kill the weeds and undergrowth in the pine plantations also blows over into any residual hardwood and any SMZs the company was considerate enough to leave for " wildlife management" and affects acorn production for up to 8 yrs.....????

I havent run into a bad state yet out of 19...but I guess OK is my toughest. Ive been there 2x and haven't killed a bird yet. Both times I was trying to kill a Rio with my bow and could have easily killed with a shotgun, so its not really a fair rating.  Gunna try to knock it off the list next spring with the shotgun so we will see if the curse is real

Quote from: phutch30 on March 29, 2023, 01:29:36 PM
I havent run into a bad state yet out of 19...but I guess OK is my toughest. Ive been there 2x and haven't killed a bird yet. Both times I was trying to kill a Rio with my bow and could have easily killed with a shotgun, so its not really a fair rating.  Gunna try to knock it off the list next spring with the shotgun so we will see if the curse is real

I was supposed to hunt OK in 2020 but Covid hit and it fell apart. I was going to try to get a Rio as well.

Quote from: runngun on March 28, 2023, 05:35:12 PM
Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma the worst at this point and time.

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This could be true and I'm hunting all three this year

Coastal Oregon was really hard to hunt but I hesitate to lump it in here. I lived there for two years a bit over a decade ago.

Chilly dampness/constantly being soaking wet, thick undergrowth, no flat ground and you are lucky to be able to see 10 feet in any given spot. That coupled with vast distances and animals at a very low density makes even getting eyes on anything very difficult.

Having said that, the sheer beauty of the place and my fly rod strapped to my back made up for a lot of miles walked.....

Quote from: roberthyman14 on March 28, 2023, 05:36:09 PM
Florida is really bad.  Tons of hunters. Especially 1st 2 weeks. All out of towners with 0 woods etiquette.  Then they leave here and go hunt Alabama next. 

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This right here. Seems to be the natural progression every year.


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Quote from: quavers59 on March 29, 2023, 01:51:50 AM
   None of the Northeastern States were mentioned.  I have a bad feeling that an army of Turkey Hunters from the Turkey Declining States in the South and West will travel and descend  like Locusts on Public Areas up here.
    Don't  Camp at the Gates. Good chance you will be checked at Midnight or 1am. Just Saying.

is it illegal to do so there?

My worst was OH last year.    We have killed birds in OH every year until last year.   We heard one gobble then 10 min later a BANG and that was only bird seen or heard in first three days of season. This was a very large track of public and there is always people but last year it was so comical watching all the truck hunters driving around.   I'd say pressure was 10X normal.   The crazy thing is we always see turkeys everywhere on private out the there and we didn't see a single bird on private either in the 3 days.  I fear a disease issue out there.  I also hunt PA, MD, and WV.


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Quote from: TurkeyReaper69 on March 29, 2023, 10:54:07 AM
Nevada, despite being the cool thing to do these days I don't have much desire to go back. Only place I've genuinely felt bad about killing a turkey. They had no where to go. I killed one at roosting time and the rest of the flock just flew into roost above my head due to the fact the next roost site was a mile+ away.

No offense. But this why I'm a proponent of shooting hours closing around 6 or earlier. I just can't sit beside a roost area and wait. That's just me tho.

I've thought about this after posting Alaska. I gotta say...Texas. Hot, dry, snakes and feeders. I couldn't stand it. Only way to kill one was to sit nearby a feeder. Ought to be illegal. But it's all about the money. I'm glad I went once and got it out of the way. I won't be back to Texas for anything actually. Also, gotta add it was a dry county. I didn't even know those still exist. That should also be illegal. Sorry Texans, but I didn't even see a good looking woman. ????

Quote from: deathfoot on March 29, 2023, 08:15:17 PM
I've thought about this after posting Alaska. I gotta say...Texas. Hot, dry, snakes and feeders. I couldn't stand it. Only way to kill one was to sit nearby a feeder. Ought to be illegal. But it's all about the money. I'm glad I went once and got it out of the way. I won't be back to Texas for anything actually. Also, gotta add it was a dry county. I didn't even know those still exist. That should also be illegal. Sorry Texans, but I didn't even see a good looking woman. ????

Texan here agreeing. Those folks hunting spending X amount of money to kill a Rio next to a feeder would be lost for words hunting an Eastern here in ETX.


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Quote from: deathfoot on March 29, 2023, 07:39:01 PM

Quote from: TurkeyReaper69 on March 29, 2023, 10:54:07 AM
Nevada, despite being the cool thing to do these days I don't have much desire to go back. Only place I've genuinely felt bad about killing a turkey. They had no where to go. I killed one at roosting time and the rest of the flock just flew into roost above my head due to the fact the next roost site was a mile+ away.

No offense. But this why I'm a proponent of shooting hours closing around 6 or earlier. I just can't sit beside a roost area and wait. That's just me tho.

Most who've hunted where I did in NV would say the same thing I did.  If you didn't kill at fly down or fly up you were pretty much SOL. I haven't hunted many other places where my approach would be to sit under a roost tree, but you gotta do what you gotta do in Nevada.

Most "turkey hunters" in Mississippi hung over a corn feeder now to post a kill pic on Facebook now. It's getting sad now.

Quote from: TurkeyReaper69 on March 29, 2023, 10:59:14 PM

Quote from: deathfoot on March 29, 2023, 07:39:01 PM

Quote from: TurkeyReaper69 on March 29, 2023, 10:54:07 AM
Nevada, despite being the cool thing to do these days I don't have much desire to go back. Only place I've genuinely felt bad about killing a turkey. They had no where to go. I killed one at roosting time and the rest of the flock just flew into roost above my head due to the fact the next roost site was a mile+ away.

No offense. But this why I'm a proponent of shooting hours closing around 6 or earlier. I just can't sit beside a roost area and wait. That's just me tho.

Most who've hunted where I did in NV would say the same thing I did.  If you didn't kill at fly down or fly up you were pretty much SOL. I haven't hunted many other places where my approach would be to sit under a roost tree, but you gotta do what you gotta do in Nevada.

I totally get it. When in Rome. We used that theory in TX.

It's difficult for me to not vote for AR, when I live here and have hunted here for almost 30 years and have seen some really good years but is now nothing like it was. I have hunted most of the southern states and turkey populations have declined in almost every one of them, with some more than others. AR being one of those. A lot of states have decreased the state limit or moved their season back, in an effort to allow more hens to be bred, ie. TN is one of those states (pushing back season 2 weeks and lowering the limit from 4 to 3 to now 2 birds). Add in the fact that turkey hunter numbers have increased over the past decade or more and it's not difficult to understand why hunting turkeys has become more difficult. The turkey population in AR has declined to under 100k and is more likely closer to 90, with only 7582 turkeys killed in 2022. AR only allows Jakes to be killed during youth season and has closed fall turkey hunting years ago. Good luck hunting here.

AR is stupid tough, but if you have the time and enthusiasm you can scratch out a bird or 2 on public. Honestly my toughest state has been KS, I've made more trips there without killing than I have killed lol.

It is completely stupid for AR to keep a 2 bird limit, I've said this for years! We barely have a population to have a season at all, much less to sustain a 2 bird limit.
They keep making the season later and shorter....it hasn't worked for 15ish years. The definition of insanity - trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The numbers in Arkansas will slowly come up I believe. The late start to the season is key. Numbers are down, yes, no doubt. If you have the time and are willing to work at it you can kill birds here. The key being having the time. It's not easy and a lot of luck is involved, but it's still my favorite state to hunt. Im a little sadistic and love the challenge.

Quote from: Gumby on March 31, 2023, 10:45:56 PM
The numbers in Arkansas will slowly come up I believe. The late start to the season is key. Numbers are down, yes, no doubt. If you have the time and are willing to work at it you can kill birds here. The key being having the time. It's not easy and a lot of luck is involved, but it's still my favorite state to hunt. Im a little sadistic and love the challenge.

Still my favorite as well, but I am a glutton for punishment.

I live in southeast Kansas, which has been a turkey hunting destination for a very long time. As recently as 2016, I truly believe that we had turkey hunting as good as anywhere else on Earth. Turkeys were absolutely all over the place, and shooting your limit of 2 birds was effortless, as there were so many birds around. Textbook perfect turkey habitat. Our turkeys are all but gone. I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, there are still a few around, but I would say that we have lost 90% of our turkeys or more. I have access to thousands of acres of prime turkey habitat, and haven't killed a bird since 2019, and not for lack of trying. Up until the last 4 or 5 years, I would easily kill my 2 turkeys consistently every year.

Our family cattle ranch is 8,000 acres, and I have taken countless birds on this property. I hunted it extensively last season and didn't hear a gobble. Truly unbelievable.

It's gotten to the point where I can't even get excited about turkey hunting anymore, and I'm as passionate about it as anyone on this forum. I just get depressed when I think about turkeys, and what used to be, not long ago. In fact, I'm going to spend the opening days of turkey season on public land, in a different part of the state, with the hopes of actually finding some turkeys to hunt this year. If that doesn't pan out, I'll probably hang up my hat until the birds come back.

Sheer numbers oklahoma public is a bruiser. I'm sure it's regional but I will not return unless someone has a solid piece of private for me lol


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WOW, so what happened to them??

Quote from: Kansan on April 01, 2023, 11:37:02 PM
I live in southeast Kansas, which has been a turkey hunting destination for a very long time. As recently as 2016, I truly believe that we had turkey hunting as good as anywhere else on Earth. Turkeys were absolutely all over the place, and shooting your limit of 2 birds was effortless, as there were so many birds around. Textbook perfect turkey habitat. Our turkeys are all but gone. I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, there are still a few around, but I would say that we have lost 90% of our turkeys or more. I have access to thousands of acres of prime turkey habitat, and haven't killed a bird since 2019, and not for lack of trying. Up until the last 4 or 5 years, I would easily kill my 2 turkeys consistently every year.

Our family cattle ranch is 8,000 acres, and I have taken countless birds on this property. I hunted it extensively last season and didn't hear a gobble. Truly unbelievable.

It's gotten to the point where I can't even get excited about turkey hunting anymore, and I'm as passionate about it as anyone on this forum. I just get depressed when I think about turkeys, and what used to be, not long ago. In fact, I'm going to spend the opening days of turkey season on public land, in a different part of the state, with the hopes of actually finding some turkeys to hunt this year. If that doesn't pan out, I'll probably hang up my hat until the birds come back.

 disease is the only answer to that question..

Quote from: Kansan on April 01, 2023, 11:37:02 PM
I live in southeast Kansas, which has been a turkey hunting destination for a very long time. As recently as 2016, I truly believe that we had turkey hunting as good as anywhere else on Earth. Turkeys were absolutely all over the place, and shooting your limit of 2 birds was effortless, as there were so many birds around. Textbook perfect turkey habitat. Our turkeys are all but gone. I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, there are still a few around, but I would say that we have lost 90% of our turkeys or more. I have access to thousands of acres of prime turkey habitat, and haven't killed a bird since 2019, and not for lack of trying. Up until the last 4 or 5 years, I would easily kill my 2 turkeys consistently every year.

Our family cattle ranch is 8,000 acres, and I have taken countless birds on this property. I hunted it extensively last season and didn't hear a gobble. Truly unbelievable.

It's gotten to the point where I can't even get excited about turkey hunting anymore, and I'm as passionate about it as anyone on this forum. I just get depressed when I think about turkeys, and what used to be, not long ago. In fact, I'm going to spend the opening days of turkey season on public land, in a different part of the state, with the hopes of actually finding some turkeys to hunt this year. If that doesn't pan out, I'll probably hang up my hat until the birds come back.

I suspect that situations like the one described are a result of a disease outbreak.  What other logical explanation could there be for a sudden collapse of an otherwise healthy turkey population? 

I just received a Rio gobbler to mount from south Texas that had whitish scales all over its head that I would assume are the result of some sort of disease (I think this symptom has been mentioned before by others on OG).  It makes me wonder just how much of these kinds of thing are the real culprits in declining turkey populations in at least some of the cases.  It also makes me wonder how much effort/research is being done to actually identify and resolve these issues.

Quote from: Jordan121787 on March 29, 2023, 09:45:17 AM

Quote from: Louisiana Longbeard on March 28, 2023, 11:27:38 PM
I keep seeing Arkansas mentioned. I have a little lease in Arkansas that I've killed big birds on the last 2 years. I have a couple of nice longbeards on camera there this year also. It's been good to me

Southern Arkansas private leases aren't the same as central and northern Arkansas Public land.

How do you know I'm talking about southern Arkansas. It's actually in the northern part of the state!

Traveling turkey hunters are everywhere. Here in Florida, the first two weeks of the season are a joke. Thousands of OOSers descend on our state with their GoPros and bottomland camo to reap our Osceolas. The state surely loves the extra $. But resident hunters have to deal with the impact. And the state gives out TWO tags.

Quote from: Gumby on March 31, 2023, 10:45:56 PM
The numbers in Arkansas will slowly come up I believe. The late start to the season is key. Numbers are down, yes, no doubt. If you have the time and are willing to work at it you can kill birds here. The key being having the time. It's not easy and a lot of luck is involved, but it's still my favorite state to hunt. Im a little sadistic and love the challenge.

Been doing the late start for 10+ years in arkansas . With no marked improvement.  Thats a theory thats very much unproven. 

Quote from: arkrem870 on April 05, 2023, 10:28:29 PM

Quote from: Gumby on March 31, 2023, 10:45:56 PM
The numbers in Arkansas will slowly come up I believe. The late start to the season is key. Numbers are down, yes, no doubt. If you have the time and are willing to work at it you can kill birds here. The key being having the time. It's not easy and a lot of luck is involved, but it's still my favorite state to hunt. Im a little sadistic and love the challenge.

Been doing the late start for 10+ years in arkansas . With no marked improvement.  Thats a theory thats very much unproven.

The late start is key, but I did also mean to add that the newer rule of one turkey the first week also helps. Yes we have pushed the start date back many years ago and some would argue that the numbers haven't increased. However, I believe that if we had kept the start date early as in April 1 our numbers would be worse. The newer rule of one bird the first week only helps ensure that more hens are bred and helps alleviate a little bit of pressure. As a side, I feel numbers in general are much better now than they were ten to twelve years ago.  That's just from my personal observations and experience.

Several of the last few comments are going back and forth about AR.....can anyone explain to me how in the world AR can justify sticking with a 2 bird limit when so many states are decreasing? Kansas and Oklahoma has gone to 1 and AR is cocky enough to think we have a better population than them!?

Quote from: bwall3220 on April 06, 2023, 02:56:07 PM
Several of the last few comments are going back and forth about AR.....can anyone explain to me how in the world AR can justify sticking with a 2 bird limit when so many states are decreasing? Kansas and Oklahoma has gone to 1 and AR is cocky enough to think we have a better population than them!?

There isn't science to support dropping the limit to 1. Luckily, not all state game and fish agencies cave to political and/or social pressure when it comes to setting game and fish regulations. Some still try to stick to the science.

I am from Arkansas-Supposedly the number of people who tag out or kill the two bird limit is in the single digit percentile I can't remember the number I read but basically said not enough people would kill 2 birds to hurt - I am for and wish they would have cut back the limit to one bird I just believe that would help a little bit - it was on the table last summer to go from two to one but they didn't pull the trigger on it!

If I recall correctly only about 7% of turkeys killed in AR are a hunters second bird, so you'd only save a few hundred turkeys at most. It's not a big enough % to justify changing the regs is their opinion. Changing to 1 turkey wouldn't make much difference to me, it sure hasn't helped ks or ok so far since they did, but it is still early and time will tell if those were the correct moves imo.

Quote from: austinc on April 07, 2023, 08:27:42 PM
If I recall correctly only about 7% of turkeys killed in AR are a hunters second bird, so you'd only save a few hundred turkeys at most. It's not a big enough % to justify changing the regs is their opinion. Changing to 1 turkey wouldn't make much difference to me, it sure hasn't helped ks or ok so far since they did, but it is still early and time will tell if those were the correct moves imo.

Great point!  To add to that, it would be wrong to assume those who tag out with 1 turkey would call it a season. Some would likely guide or accompany other hunters who wouldn't otherwise turkey hunt. As a result, the bag limit reduction may not be as big a "savings" or redistribution of turkeys as simple numbers might suggest. Might only be a few dozen at most.

Quote from: Spurs Up on April 08, 2023, 10:20:27 AM

Quote from: austinc on April 07, 2023, 08:27:42 PM
If I recall correctly only about 7% of turkeys killed in AR are a hunters second bird, so you'd only save a few hundred turkeys at most. It's not a big enough % to justify changing the regs is their opinion. Changing to 1 turkey wouldn't make much difference to me, it sure hasn't helped ks or ok so far since they did, but it is still early and time will tell if those were the correct moves imo.

Great point!  To add to that, it would be wrong to assume those who tag out with 1 turkey would call it a season. Some would likely guide or accompany other hunters who wouldn't otherwise turkey hunt. As a result, the bag limit reduction may not be as big a "savings" or redistribution of turkeys as simple numbers might suggest. Might only be a few dozen at most.

Mostly agree,...but one point that also has to be taken into consideration is the fact that a number of states have reduced their bag limit to one gobbler when they used to have more liberal bag limits.  Something that may come into play in these projected harvest figures is the number of nonresidents that will now choose to come to Arkansas because of the two-bird limit rather than go to another state that only has a one-bird limit,...and what impact that might have on total harvest.  ...May not come into play,...but who knows?...

In addition, with quotas being set for nonresidents, as well as drawings for those nonresident permits, we will also see a migration of nonresidents to those states that are not having quotas and drawings.  Common sense suggests that we are on a collision course for all states eventually having to go to similar regulations to either protect their turkey populations from overharvest,...either that, or make the decision to sacrifice them in the name of the dollar bill. 

it is unquestionably and undoubtedly Mississippi. not to harp on it too much because one of my best friends lives in northern Miss, but i spent a few springs hunting Miss from the opener until early April. trash everywhere, monotonous pines that aren't burned, sometimes sketchy people, a lot of hunters, ATVs ripping through most pieces of public. hate to pile on, but it is what it is

Quote from: turkeyfool on April 08, 2023, 12:18:59 PM
it is unquestionably and undoubtedly Mississippi. not to harp on it too much because one of my best friends lives in northern Miss, but i spent a few springs hunting Miss from the opener until early April. trash everywhere, monotonous pines that aren't burned, sometimes sketchy people, a lot of hunters, ATVs ripping through most pieces of public. hate to pile on, but it is what it is

Mississippi is quite hard too!
An observation i've made hunting different states....pine trees = hard hunting!

Boy do I feel bad for the north Ms. Resident that have to hunt public land. A plague spreads across the land called the Arkansas turkey hunter. I bet I saw 3 to 1 Ark plates compared to Ms plates. They are like locusts, all the sudden they are everywhere. I was like holy man on that opening Saturday. Constant gravel popping from 1 hr before legal shooting til about 2 hrs after. In didn't think I'd have the woods to myself, and almost laughed out loud when the owl hooters started up.

Ran into 3 - 20 somethings from Ark that called themselves turkey hunters at a campground on a WMA. 2 days later I ran into them in the woods. I had just reached some gobbling turkeys and thought it odd that one of the gobblers reversed direction and headed back towards the access points but hey turkeys will be turkeys. I set up on a gobbling bird that after his last gobble I believed was a Jake. When I started calling to him he verified it by ki kis and Jake yelps. Sat for about 10 mins because there was still another gobbler in the area and I was waiting for him to sound off. About then a person appears in front of me at about 60yds slowly walking up to where the Jake was. Gets about 50yds just up from it and pulls out his cell phone. Who does that? I'll tell you who, the guy calling his buddies to make sure they are in position to block the turkeys escape before he walks down to try and get a shot.

I whooped at him. When he acknowledged I was there, I walked up and said you know what your doing is illegal? What's illegal was his reply. I said using your cell to aid in then taking of wild game. His reply was I'm just calling my 2 buddies to let them know where I'm at so I don't get shot. I said whatever, asked him how he got in there his reply was we roosted these birds last night and I was standing here at 4am waiting. Bull I said, I slept at the dispersed campsite and nobody came down that road til nearly 5. He changed his story to 1st light and said he heard gobbler further to the south and left to make move on them. Hmmm, so he left the exact position that 3 turkeys were gobbling around to go chase some further away? He left his position alright to try a turkey drive on the one I heard vacate the area and had just circled around to try it again with this one and was calling his buddies to make sure they were in place. I was pretty disgusted and said since your buddies are down there I'm going back this way to get away from your bull@#$&. They were doing  this to gobblers right off the roost.

The Friday before I met them in the campground. The one was more than willing to pull the intact carcass of an obvious 2 yr old, missing only the breast meat, from the back of his pickup under a tonneau cover to try to prove it was 3 or better. No wonder there are no turkeys left in Ark.

Couldn't turn them in until Monday morn as no one answers the phone on weekends. I found this out after a local rancher set off the alarm on my truck and left a note for me to find a place closer to home to hunt. I called to report hunter harassment, not that it would matter. I get why the locals are upset.

I'd be embarrassed if I worked for a fish and game dept that allowed this activity and the mob of Arkansas hunters to swarm the public woods in the state for the 1st week and a half to 2weeks of the the season.

I think I ran through the gambit of what's wrong with turkey hunting while down there. Locals blasting thier shotguns at public land because they know your in there. People blowing by you on the trail while your waiting for 1st light. I even heard a local honk his horn to get a gobble at sunset than come into public and  blast it off the limb 20 mins later while it was barely light enough to see him in the trees.

I had a chat with a young man that was after his slam. Told me I should go to Tenn when l left Ms he'd even give me some pins. He also told me I should hit Kansas as well. When I told him I had no interest in hunting prairie gobblers he quickly pulled out his reaping decoy and said this is how you get them up there. He went on to talk about how he should have taken a 65yd shot at a gobbler and would if the opportunity arose again, but no worries because he already checked that state off.

The whole trip left a bad taste in mouth.

Quote from: Paulmyr on April 08, 2023, 08:20:34 PM
Boy do I feel bad for the north Ms. Resident that have to hunt public land. A plague spreads across the land called the Arkansas turkey hunter. I bet I saw 3 to 1 Ark plates compared to Ms plates. They are like locusts, all the sudden they are everywhere. I was like holy man on that opening Saturday. Constant gravel popping from 1 hr before legal shooting til about 2 hrs after. In didn't think I'd have the woods to myself, and almost laughed out loud when the owl hooters started up.

Ran into 3 - 20 somethings from Ark that called themselves turkey hunters at a campground on a WMA. 2 days later I ran into them in the woods. I had just reached some gobbling turkeys and thought it odd that one of the gobblers reversed direction and headed back towards the access points but hey turkeys will be turkeys. I set up on a gobbling bird that after his last gobble I believed was a Jake. When I started calling to him he verified it by ki kis and Jake yelps. Sat for about 10 mins because there was still another gobbler in the area and I was waiting for him to sound off. About then a person appears in front of me at about 60yds slowly walking up to where the Jake was. Gets about 50yds just up from it and pulls out his cell phone. Who does that? I'll tell you who, the guy calling his buddies to make sure they are in position to block the turkeys escape before he walks down to try and get a shot.

I whooped at him. When he acknowledged I was there, I walked up and said you know what your doing is illegal? What's illegal was his reply. I said using your cell to aid in then taking of wild game. His reply was I'm just calling my 2 buddies to let them know where I'm at so I don't get shot. I said whatever, asked him how he got in there his reply was we roosted these birds last night and I was standing here at 4am waiting. Bull I said, I slept at the dispersed campsite and nobody came down that road til nearly 5. He changed his story to 1st light and said he heard gobbler further to the south and left to make move on them. Hmmm, so he left the exact position that 3 turkeys were gobbling around to go chase some further away? He left his position alright to try a turkey drive on the one I heard vacate the area and had just circled around to try it again with this one and was calling his buddies to make sure they were in place. I was pretty disgusted and said since your buddies are down there I'm going back this way to get away from your bull@#$&. They were doing  this to gobblers right off the roost.

The Friday before I met them in the campground. The one was more than willing to pull the intact carcass of an obvious 2 yr old, missing only the breast meat, from the back of his pickup under a tonneau cover to try to prove it was 3 or better. No wonder there are no turkeys left in Ark.

Couldn't turn them in until Monday morn as no one answers the phone on weekends. I found this out after a local rancher set off the alarm on my truck and left a note for me to find a place closer to home to hunt. I called to report hunter harassment, not that it would matter. I get why the locals are upset.

I'd be embarrassed if I worked for a fish and game dept that allowed this activity and the mob of Arkansas hunters to swarm the public woods in the state for the 1st week and a half to 2weeks of the the season.

I think I ran through the gambit of what's wrong with turkey hunting while down there. Locals blasting thier shotguns at public land because they know your in there. People blowing by you on the trail while your waiting for 1st light. I even heard a local honk his horn to get a gobble at sunset than come into public and  blast it off the limb 20 mins later while it was barely light enough to see him in the trees.

I had a chat with a young man that was after his slam. Told me I should go to Tenn when l left Ms he'd even give me some pins. He also told me I should hit Kansas as well. When I told him I had no interest in hunting prairie gobblers he quickly pulled out his reaping decoy and said this is how you get them up there. He went on to talk about how he should have taken a 65yd shot at a gobbler and would if the opportunity arose again, but no worries because he already checked that state off.

The whole trip left a bad taste in mouth.

Like I told my buddy the other day.."I miss the days when turkey hunting wasn't cool. When people laughed at me for traveling across the country to turkey hunt and see new places".

For real. I miss that. I miss going to the local WMA and not seeing a soul. If it wasn't for the gobble, I'd just go to fall hunting them. But...it's the gobble. It's the action. I truly am not ashamed to say...I hate it's been advertised and promoted to what it is. I'll still travel. I'll still be a proud turkey hunter. But I'll succumb to knowing the best days are done.

I have lots of opinions. Some of which isn't "popular preaching". And I don't want to be banned her, cause this is the best board ever, so I'll keep them to myself and just keep writing my opinions to the Virginia DWR to no avail.  :(

Quote from: bwall3220 on April 08, 2023, 12:35:20 PM

Quote from: turkeyfool on April 08, 2023, 12:18:59 PM
it is unquestionably and undoubtedly Mississippi. not to harp on it too much because one of my best friends lives in northern Miss, but i spent a few springs hunting Miss from the opener until early April. trash everywhere, monotonous pines that aren't burned, sometimes sketchy people, a lot of hunters, ATVs ripping through most pieces of public. hate to pile on, but it is what it is

Mississippi is quite hard too!
An observation i've made hunting different states....pine trees = hard hunting!

Yes. Pine tree country makes it tougher

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Everyone is a turkey hunter in Arkansas the next 3 weeks weather they have ever killed one or even been before...... it's tough weeding through all those kinda folks around every corner I surely agree!!

Quote from: deerhunt1988 on April 06, 2023, 04:28:38 PM

Quote from: bwall3220 on April 06, 2023, 02:56:07 PM
Several of the last few comments are going back and forth about AR.....can anyone explain to me how in the world AR can justify sticking with a 2 bird limit when so many states are decreasing? Kansas and Oklahoma has gone to 1 and AR is cocky enough to think we have a better population than them!?

There isn't science to support dropping the limit to 1. Luckily, not all state game and fish agencies cave to political and/or social pressure when it comes to setting game and fish regulations. Some still try to stick to the science.

Kansas is following their turkey management plan their biologists created over a decade ago. As the population decreased they hit the triggers in the management plan to begin reducing harvest. They would've done it years ago except for the political pressure of our commussion. For roughly 5 years the biologist has recommended closing the fall season. We have one commissioner that is a big fall hunter and he fights at every turn. They vote on it for this year the 27th of this month and I am told there may be enough commissioners to override him.

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   I agree with Paulmyr. I have been reading about the Huge Army of Arkansas Turkey Killers descending on Mississippi  Public Lands like Locusts.
    TG- I see no Arkansas  Plates up in New Jersey. Many Zones are already sold out anyway.