For the record before I pose my question, please hear me that I am not opposed to Non Resident hunting for Turkeys and think that folks should have the opportunity to go to new places and try new things.
That said, maybe there is a better question to ask while on this subject of resident and non resident hunting. So my question is this - How many turkeys do you think that a hunter should be allowed to harvest (resident and nonresident combined) in the U.S. each Spring/Fall?
As I ask this question, I want to stress that while I feel that habitat issues and predators are the much bigger issue to the turkey decline, this is still a reasonable question to get a better grasp on possible common ground on the subject. I also realize that Fall seasons in some states does somewhat complicate this question. But - you tell me, how many turkeys do you feel is reasonable for a hunter to harvest in the U.S. (resident and non-resident combined) each season to allow him to enjoy the sport while at the same time also serving the Turkey's best interests long term?
Ever how many an individual hunter has the time, money, family support and the law will allow. If that's two, then two, if that's 20 or more, so be it.
That is a loaded question and I'm not falling into that trap. Any hunter that has the resources to hunt multiple states, follows the game laws, and utilizes the bird is more than welcome IMO to go for it. Under that criteria one in a thousand will qualify. OOS hunters can tell you the $$$$ involved to hunt other states. Border state hunters could be an exception but the price of OOS licenses are pretty much out of sight. No longer a sport for the cheap a$$.
Quote from: guesswho on May 02, 2023, 05:14:33 PM
Ever how many an individual hunter has the time, money, family support and the law will allow. If that's two, then two, if that's 20 or more, so be it.
Factual information!!
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Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 05:25:19 PM
That is a loaded question and I'm not falling into that trap. Any hunter that has the resources to hunt multiple states, follows the game laws, and utilizes the bird is more than welcome IMO to go for it. Under that criteria one in a thousand will qualify. OOS hunters can tell you the $$$$ involved to hunt other states. Border state hunters could be an exception but the price of OOS licenses are pretty much out of sight. No longer a sport for the cheap a$$.
Let me clarify, my question had nothing to do with whether a person has the means financially, or the time and ability and family support to hunt all over the nation each year. I too would say just based on those unrelated factors to go for it as far hunting new places if one is able to do so. My question was posed on the angle of what can the turkey population sustain?
I will expose my ulterior motive in asking this question and it is not aimed at the non resident hunter or yourself, so please don't think otherwise. But - with all the data showing that the bottom is dropping out of the turkey population all across the country without hardly any exceptions, and then you see those saying that he/she is all for killing 20 or more birds if they have the means to do it - it is pretty easy to know that that individual does not have the turkey's best interest in mind.
A man insisting on killing 15-20 or more turkeys each spring with the turkey numbers down as bad as they are right now is kind of like a husband and wife sitting at the table and realizing that they only have 500 dollars left to spend for the month on un paid bills for them and the kids, and then the husband looks across the table and tells his wife that he is going to go and buy a Benelli M2 the next day and that she and the rest of the family can sit on a tack if they do not like it. Pretty clear that the husband does not have his family's best interests in mind at that point.
One in the spring and one in the fall if an individual feels they have to in the fall. Just because the law says we can harvest multiple birds, or travel to other states, is it really in the best interests of the turkey population or is it for our own interests. I'll say no more.
I've got a lot more to say, but will leave much of it for another day.
My take on the subject, the responsibility for control of harvest in the light of a reduced populations of birds lies solely with the wildlife department in the individual states. The problems, perceived or real, regarding the increase of hunters, both resident and nonresident, whether they are YouTube stars in their 20's or retirees with the time and money to travel state to state, as long as those involved are obeying game laws and bag limits, is not for us, the hunter, to solve.
Those departments have largely been slow to react to changing conditions and increased hunting pressure and I fear we are going to see a lot of knee jerk regulations in the "well, at least we did something" category.
Some things to think about: will reducing the bag limit actually reduce the overall harvest, or merely create more, successful, happy hunters. I hunt a farm near my home. Population is way down. A group of other hunters, nice guys, also have access. They're still of working age, so usually hunt only opening day and weekends. I can hunt every day, so often just leave it to them. I had a nice bird spotted which I was lucky enough to kill opening morning. Now, I could have thought, not many birds, I'm not going to kill that bird, but, in all likelihood one of the other guys would have. Same principle on public land when you cut the limit.
Easy to cut limits. Even easier to cut nonresidents out of the equation. They don't vote in the state, so let's keep the locals happy. We cut the limit, we cut the number of nonresidents. Maybe we should be looking at the validity of ridiculously long seasons, in some cases, opening way before common sense tells us they should, all day hunting, and fall seasons.
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Nice post NP. I've played this game since the 1970s and don't personally know anyone that has regularly hunted more than two states in any one season. I'm sure there are a few of these magical multistate turkey slayers but they are so few they are not a factor in anyway with reduced turkey numbers. These forums at times wear me out. Why in heavens name would me, or anyone, shooting a FL bird in March then a PA bird in May make any difference in the overall scheme of things?
Ok, I change my answer to one. And the hunter should hang his head in shame for killing it, even if the state he is hunting in thinks the population is healthy enough that he should be able to kill two without decimating the population.
There seems to be a common problem with many of these type posts IMO. States have different views on how they manage their harvest/season dates in relation to population.
Opportunity vs. Satisfaction
Opportunities-Long seasons, open earlier, higher tag counts, etc.
Satisfaction-Short seasons or quota periods, short durations, lower tag counts.
Now there can be variations to attempt to manage both aspects...Wisconsin comes to mind.
It seems that states like Iowa are geared more towards satisfaction while places like Mississippi are the opposite.
Personally, I'm an opportunity advocate for a couple of reasons.
1. Habitat management could be fixed through a huge portion of the SE if the states would start going after the timber companies. Also, they could start in their own backyard with most of the public property being single growth with little-to-no diversity. I'm not a huge fan of Govt interference with corporate interests, BUT if they will eventually get to a point that they will be restricting me...which is not cool with me.
2. We pay for the access, so give it to us. Call it selfish, but I want to go hunting. The problems can be fixed, the bird can rebound. Habitat, research, predator control, etc.
Restrictions are not warranted YET.
Quote from: guesswho on May 02, 2023, 06:33:50 PM
Ok, I change my answer to one. And the hunter should hang his head in shame for killing it, even if the state he is hunting in thinks the population is healthy enough that he should be able to kill two without decimating the population.
Glad you changed your answer. We would have thought you were a greedy game hog. Lol.
Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 06:17:12 PM
Why in heavens name would me, or anyone, shooting a FL bird in March then a PA bird in May make any difference in the overall scheme of things?
I clearly said this was not directed at you, please go back and read what was actually posted. You killing three-four birds over the course of several states each year is not the issue. On top of that, go and get you a Rio and a Merriam's as you mentioned (Do it several times along the way). There is nothing wrong with that either.
Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 06:39:17 PM
Glad you changed your answer. We would have thought you were a greedy game hog. Lol.
:D
Quote from: mountainhunter1 on May 02, 2023, 06:08:11 PM
Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 05:25:19 PM
That is a loaded question and I'm not falling into that trap. Any hunter that has the resources to hunt multiple states, follows the game laws, and utilizes the bird is more than welcome IMO to go for it. Under that criteria one in a thousand will qualify. OOS hunters can tell you the $$$$ involved to hunt other states. Border state hunters could be an exception but the price of OOS licenses are pretty much out of sight. No longer a sport for the cheap a$$.
Let me clarify, my question had nothing to do with whether a person has the means financially, or the time and ability and family support to hunt all over the nation each year. I too would say just based on those unrelated factors to go for it as far hunting new places if one is able to do so. My question was posed on the angle of what can the turkey population sustain?
I will expose my ulterior motive in asking this question and it is not aimed at the non resident hunter or yourself, so please don't think otherwise. But - with all the data showing that the bottom is dropping out of the turkey population all across the country without hardly any exceptions, and then you see those saying that he/she is all for killing 20 or more birds if they have the means to do it - it is pretty easy to know that that individual does not have the turkey's best interest in mind.
A man insisting on killing 15-20 or more turkeys each spring with the turkey numbers down as bad as they are right now is kind of like a husband and wife sitting at the table and realizing that they only have 500 dollars left to spend for the month on un paid bills for them and the kids, and then the husband looks across the table and tells his wife that he is going to go and buy a Benelli M2 the next day and that she and the rest of the family can sit on a tack if they do not like it. Pretty clear that the husband does not have his family's best interests in mind at that point.
X2 .. good post ... You can tell who has the best interest in the future of the turkeys ...
What about the guy who tags along with another hunter or two through the season who normally doesn't stand a snowballs chance of killing one, and helps them learn a thing or two and even kill a couple? Then turns around and fills his last tag or two. Should he be able to assist others while he still has tags, what if he's out of tags?
The amount of guys killing 15-20 birds in a year is a VERY small percentage of hunters. Statistically, this would do nothing to help the turkey population. It's a waste of time and effort that could be much better used on ACTUAL solutions that could help the turkey population.
Quote from: CALLM2U on May 02, 2023, 07:02:24 PM
The amount of guys killing 15-20 birds in a year is a VERY small percentage of hunters. Statistically, this would do nothing to help the turkey population. It's a waste of time and effort that could be much better used on ACTUAL solutions that could help the turkey population.
There you have it.
When turkeys are declared migratory these discussions will be relevant. Someone shooting legal birds in his home state and then going to another state to continue his season means next to nothing to the future of the wild turkey. Control the bag limits and season lengths in individual states for resident and OOS is the way to go. Nothing else makes sense. What FL does to manage it's Osceola has no bearing on how NY manages it's Easterns or MT manages its Merriams. To believe otherwise is a fairy tale.
Quote from: CALLM2U on May 02, 2023, 07:02:24 PM
The amount of guys killing 15-20 birds in a year is a VERY small percentage of hunters. Statistically, this would do nothing to help the turkey population. It's a waste of time and effort that could be much better used on ACTUAL solutions that could help the turkey population.
As I stated at the top, habitat and predators are the main issues, but was just hoping folks might actually chime in and state what they thought the turkey population could sustain as far as harvesting by hunters in light of all that is going wrong with the Wild Turkey at the moment. Was just curious about what folks felt that their states could maintain under current conditions.
I am just gonna stick with my stance that restricting legal methods of harvest would do more to help with turkey populations and gobbler populations in particular than most other approaches. And it is a win-win. The states can sell lots of licenses, seasons can operate at a decent length, and there are still more turkeys left over at the end. I get predators are a factor, and habitat is a factor, and on and on. But, the way I tend to problem solve is to focus on the main issue and then to switch my attention to the smaller issues to fine-tune everything for the results I want. In my opinion, the fact that more people than ever are turkey hunting and success rates are higher than what they used to be is the main issue. As a general rule, it's not habitat, it's not predators. It's not the odd guy that kills 15 turkeys. It's hunters as a whole. Address that first, then use predator control, habitat development/preservation, and season dates/license numbers as supplemental alternatives to fine-tune things.
Quote from: guesswho on May 02, 2023, 06:58:14 PM
What about the guy who tags along with another hunter or two through the season who normally doesn't stand a snowballs chance of killing one, and helps them learn a thing or two and even kill a couple? Then turns around and fills his last tag or two. Should he be able to assist others while he still has tags, what if he's out of tags?
LOL - what does that have to do with the subject at hand? Who would take issue with helping a new hunter to be successful? Why would you even begin to think that a hunter would be wrong to kill his birds while in the process of also helping some new hunters out?
I was just asking an honest question about what you thought the population could sustain as far as harvest by individual hunters across the country under present conditions. I am a bit taken back by the repeated responses that have little to nothing to do with the subject and seem more like an attempt to zing someone than an honest dialogue. Please remember that I am not your enemy, and you are not mine, and we are much better together as a turkey family than divided. Surely, we both know that habitat and predator are much more so our top issue. But even so, I am willing to hold my fire more than in the past if it can even help a slight bit to save the wonderful Wild Turkey and asked a question along those lines to get your honest feedback about what you felt was sustainable. Regardless, I wish you well Guesswho and will take the high ground and just move on and not comment on the matter again. Good luck in the woods this spring!
Just curious - does anyone know anybody shooting 15 turkeys a year? My personal record is four. Two OH two KY in 2003 ( I keep a log). I don't think even the YouTube's stars shoot ten a year. When anyone is ready to admit that the near doubling of resident hunters while keeping season lengths and bag limits the same in most states isn't the problem get back with me. Anything else is fluff and smoke and mirrors.
Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 07:17:20 PM
When turkeys are declared migratory these discussions will be relevant. Someone shooting legal birds in his home state and then going to another state to continue his season means next to nothing to the future of the wild turkey. Control the bag limits and season lengths in individual states for resident and OOS is the way to go. Nothing else makes sense. What FL does to manage it's Osceola has no bearing on how NY manages it's Easterns or MT manages its Merriams. To believe otherwise is a fairy tale.
We lay off the legal limit of Pintails in Canada (8 per day) and focus on Mallards and other species. Just feels right for us since that is where the flyway birds come from. It affects everyone from where we hunt to the Gulf.
It is solely and completely on the state to manage their resource for their state. Whatever the state feels they can handle is the right thing to do. Money from license sales goes to each state to fund their wildlife. Some use it better than others.
I'm still so in awe of a full strut gobbler slowly, cautiously, making his way toward my setup. My daughter and I took one small gobbler so far this season. We pined his fan on cardboard and put his beard and little spurs in borax. We just got done eating a great supper of jake scallopini with white wine, olives, capers, prosciutto and basil and fire roasted tomato in olive oil. It was awesome! So, when It comes to how many I always say less is more, honor Gods gift and be grateful for what you get.
I hope many on this thread are nominated for sainthood. Getting a little deep.
Again and again and again. Turkeys aren't ducks. They don't migrate. They don't care what pintails in Canada do. The NY gobbler's demise has no affect on what happens to GA's gobbler. If passing up hunting opportunities gives you a giddy fee!ing so be it. Whew.
Many on here would benefit greatly if they listened to the wild turkey science podcast.
Whatever that means. Seems like there is a generational gap in some of these comments.
The turkey population is not in as bad as shape as some always describe on this forum. in short, what has changed is the landscape of today compared the hay days of the highest turkey population we had. Todays data shows the turkey populations staying about the same for the last 15 years. Some areas getting better some slightly worse but we have a healthy turkey population. What is changing is turkey hunting numbers. Basically 30,000-60,000 less turkey hunters and less every year.
Some on here refuse to buy that...
If you are seeing more hunters where you hunt or less turkey.. get out of your comfort zone and find a new spot.
That is amazing. To read these threads there is a hunter behind every tree. There may be a public land problem in many places however. We'll see how it all shakes out. I do check the available telecheck results from two states. The numbers to date aren't a disaster.
Quote from: joey46 on May 02, 2023, 09:36:14 PM
They don't care what pintails in Canada do.
That was my point, I was agreeing with you. Come down off the soap box and read what people are typing.
If someone wants to pass up birds, that too is their business. None of yours. I will join right with anyone opposed to one state regulating another, but I will also hunt according to my own ethics. Planning an out of state hunt for next year and don't care what the other 48 states do, because it is none of my business.
Guess you told me a thing or two :deadhorse:.
If you haven't noticed many on this thread seem to be shocked that people even dare to travel and shoot birds in other than their home state during this turkey shortage emergency. I long ago discovered that turkeys weren't ducks and didn't migrate. :TooFunny:
Whatever. Preach.
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Someone asked if we knew of anyone who usually killed 15 or so a year. I know 3, local to me, who do this with consistent results.. But they spend a lot of money and time as well. No telling what they spend in gas alone. I talked to one of them in the middle of April, and he has been struggling. He's only killed 5 at that time. He said that he is usually at 10 by the middle of April. But I talked to him later, and his total is up. Bear in mind that this is over numerous states. All three guys are extremely good hunters, and they are all very well liked. They are all trappers and have been at it for years.
And for the guy who said that his group passes on Pintail numbers, I certainly appreciate the kindness because unless they changed the regulations, we can only take ONE!!! To me, the 2 prettiest ducks are Wood ducks and Pintail!!!!
I can say in my area that I hunt, which is a lease, I hunted every day from April 01 until the 17th, and I killed my limit (02). I didn't have a single bad day hunting this year. Turkeys were there, and one morning, I called up 14 jakes, and another location was 6 jakes. Reports of jakes all over the lease. So next year should be even better.
Remember that we are in this together and we all should be friends.
Have a good one, and May God bless y'all, Bo
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Quote from: RiverBuck on May 02, 2023, 09:50:16 PM
Many on here would benefit greatly if they listened to the wild turkey science podcast.
I'm a fan of it. To the OP I think the question of how many any one hunter can or should shoot is too broad of a question. Populations vary from state to state. Even in my own state some areas of the state where I hunt have had a major decline in birds whereas other areas are very good and stable. Aside from weather effecting hatches which no one can control, I think the two main factors that should dictate harvests limits are pressure and habitat. This has to be a localized analysis. So it would make sense if a area that has high pressure with declining habitat that's coming off a poor hatch it should be given a lower bag limit. But in reality I doubt wildlife agencies are capable of this type of localized analysis and bag limit application. It would take a lot of staff and money to survey this type of thing. Then you'd have to get the commissions and appointed folks on board with limiting bags. Imo, at the end of the day the best we can hope for is that turkey hunters themselves analyze their own areas and if they feel numbers are down then exercise some self restraint and practice habitat improvement for the benefit of not only themselves but future hunters.
Quote from: Kylongspur88 on May 03, 2023, 07:24:17 AM
Quote from: RiverBuck on May 02, 2023, 09:50:16 PM
Many on here would benefit greatly if they listened to the wild turkey science podcast.
I'm a fan of it. To the OP I think the question of how many any one hunter can or should shoot is too broad of a question. Populations vary from state to state. Even in my own state some areas of the state where I hunt have had a major decline in birds whereas other areas are very good and stable. Aside from weather effecting hatches which no one can control, I think the two main factors that should dictate harvests limits are pressure and habitat. This has to be a localized analysis. So it would make sense if a area that has high pressure with declining habitat that's coming off a poor hatch it should be given a lower bag limit. But in reality I doubt wildlife agencies are capable of this type of localized analysis and bag limit application. It would take a lot of staff and money to survey this type of thing. Then you'd have to get the commissions and appointed folks on board with limiting bags. Imo, at the end of the day the best we can hope for is that turkey hunters themselves analyze their own areas and if they feel numbers are down then exercise some self restraint and practice habitat improvement for the benefit of not only themselves but future hunters.
There were two counties in my state that were closed for years. Then went to one. Now back to normal. I now hunt one of them.
I had read this yesterday and didn't comment. I read it again today and still feel the same so will share my thoughts.
100 spring turkeys in one season should be about right for one guy. I am making a big assumption, that averaging all states together at a 2 per year take. Then throwing in Mexico for a Goulds and Oscillated turkey.
Now, can you imagine the Logistics nightmare this would be? Can you possibly imagine how much money this would cost? Do you realize the impact of one cancelled flight? One lost bag?
100 in a year. That's an accomplishment! I would be greatly impressed by the accomplishment. I personally think its impossible! To do in 49 states and Mexico in ONE year. But, I am fine with it.
Ask your self. How much do "I" contribute to a charity"Turkey Fund" each year? How much gas money do you burn turkey hunting? License fees? Lease fees? Hotel cost? Property taxes? Clothing? Guns? Shells? These guys running multiple states are paying their way, and some.
I do know a few guys that kill over 20 turkeys a year, a couple double that.
I wait all year for turkey season. It is here, I am hunting. Left one motel in one state today for a motel in another this evening. OMG, I am an OOS...
Just so happens it was one of the over crowded states that public is slammed. I didn't see another hunter, I did hear a hooty who, but not even a vehicle at a gate. All states issues are not the same. Not all state populations are the same either. There are turkeys.
Pay a lease, buy some private, get permissions on private, I don't care, but don't regulate me because of your lacking something. Do for your self before asking for help from others, including the Guberment. You are entitled to NOTHING!
Quote from: WV Flopper on May 04, 2023, 06:24:55 PM
I don't care, but don't regulate me because of your lacking something.
Especially if lacking something in a state you don't even hunt!
I don't think any State should have a 1 Gobbler Spring Limit. 2 should be the minimum... Plenty will kill 1 and stay off Social media and report the 2nd Gobbler killed.
Probably no State now should allow more then 4 Max.
States should set a definite limit. No loopholes like New Jersey.
Don't know the " magical" answer to a hard # here. Just a thoughts on my part: if populations are down as a whole then you kinda have to look at what is the one ( or more) things being done wrong everywhere. Well, habitat maybe. Predators, maybe too ( btw, people are predators too). Imho, the state agencies either don't or can't do a lot to help anyway. We want wild turkeys in huntable numbers in the future? You better not wait on the state agencies to do a dang thing....
I'll be out of popcorn on this one, holy smokes... :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Quote from: mountainhunter1 on May 02, 2023, 06:08:11 PM
Let me clarify, my question had nothing to do with whether a person has the means financially, or the time and ability and family support to hunt all over the nation each year. I too would say just based on those unrelated factors to go for it as far hunting new places if one is able to do so. My question was posed on the angle of what can the turkey population sustain?
I will expose my ulterior motive in asking this question and it is not aimed at the non resident hunter or yourself, so please don't think otherwise. But - with all the data showing that the bottom is dropping out of the turkey population all across the country without hardly any exceptions, and then you see those saying that he/she is all for killing 20 or more birds if they have the means to do it - it is pretty easy to know that that individual does not have the turkey's best interest in mind.
A man insisting on killing 15-20 or more turkeys each spring with the turkey numbers down as bad as they are right now is kind of like a husband and wife sitting at the table and realizing that they only have 500 dollars left to spend for the month on un paid bills for them and the kids, and then the husband looks across the table and tells his wife that he is going to go and buy a Benelli M2 the next day and that she and the rest of the family can sit on a tack if they do not like it. Pretty clear that the husband does not have his family's best interests in mind at that point.
To be clear, I have never traveled out of state, or further than a couple hours to hunt turkeys... But, I am planning on traveling at some point for turkey hunting (I would especially like to kill some Merriam's in Merriam country)
My thoughts:
*The percentage of people killing those 20 birds is very low, and likely not playing any significant role in the decline of turkeys.
*The people with the time/money to do this are very often shooting private grounds with sustainable turkey populations
*The people with the time/money to do this are very often putting the most money back into conservation, and likely have a net benefit (i.e.putting more in than they are taking out). Maybe not all of them, but it is these avid hunters who are often ponying up the monies for the conservation that is so terribly needed.
And, not knowing anything about the family dynamics of a given situation, I would be extremely hesitant to judge someones personal family ethics based on how much they travel and hunt. You are making some awfully strong assumptions here, with zero grounds to base them on. Maybe the person is single, maybe he is retired with the kids moved out... Maybe he makes his hunting trips into family trips... Maybe he is a turd that abandons his family for a couple months... I have no idea, and would not make any judgements on something, simply cause I could not do so.
Quote from: idratherb on May 05, 2023, 09:03:08 AM
I'll be out of popcorn on this one, holy smokes... :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
Yes - this entered the :deadhorse: category many post ago. What is good for New Jersey has no bearing on Oregon or WY or NM etc etc. Ask any "old guy" and he'll tell you that wildlife populations have an ebb and flow. Anyone that thinks the wild turkey is soon to be put on the endangered species list is a nitwit. Adjust bag limits and season lengths and things will shake out.
Of course the states must ban all OOS hunters and keep the resident license cost under $5.00. ;D
Quote from: guesswho on May 02, 2023, 05:14:33 PM
Ever how many an individual hunter has the time, money, family support and the law will allow. If that's two, then two, if that's 20 or more, so be it.
Perfect answer.
It's a non migratory species and is not subject to federal oversight ...if we were to invite federal oversight..I'm sure the end result would be similar to whatever the "midas touch " the federal government is so proficient at performing..you could expect them to screw that up like they have done with the education system, higher education the list goes on and trust me there is more I would like to say in it , but I'm sure the rest of you read the news too
Florida is in serious trouble , I've been warning the "sky is falling " due to more so habitat loss than anything, yes we have out of staters but I'll be a hypocrite if I took a anti out of stater position , because yes like the rest of you ..I hunt out of state on a regular basis
The average Oldgobbler forum member doest exactly represent the "average" everyday turkey hunter
I would say our membership is representative of the extremely serious, that's a much smaller percentile of the average guy that hunts a weekend or two , hunts local low hanging fruit locations, doesn't travel out of state ..doesn't spend top dollar on equipment leases , and so on
If we start a anti out or stater movement, it will have very little effect on the big picture, but I guarantee the antis/PETA will eat it up because any way to limit hunting is a win for them
I haven't read through all of these posts but I don't see any issue at all, or any harm to any population if a guy wants to travel to all 49 states and shoot one turkey in each of those states every single spring. I believe it's much harder on turkey populations if people stay in one spot and keep shooting as many birds as they can
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Quote from: Old Gobbler on May 05, 2023, 05:40:11 PM
It's a non migratory species and is not subject to federal oversight ...if we were to invite federal oversight..I'm sure the end result would be similar to whatever the "midas touch " the federal government is so proficient at performing..you could expect them to screw that up like they have done with the education system, higher education the list goes on and trust me there is more I would like to say in it , but I'm sure the rest of you read the news too
Florida is in serious trouble , I've been warning the "sky is falling " due to more so habitat loss than anything, yes we have out of staters but I'll be a hypocrite if I took a anti out of stater position , because yes like the rest of you ..I hunt out of state on a regular basis
The average Oldgobbler forum member doest exactly represent the "average" everyday turkey hunter
I would say our membership is representative of the extremely serious, that's a much smaller percentile of the average guy that hunts a weekend or two , hunts local low hanging fruit locations, doesn't travel out of state ..doesn't spend top dollar on equipment leases , and so on
If we start a anti out or stater movement, it will have very little effect on the big picture, but I guarantee the antis/PETA will eat it up because any way to limit hunting is a win for them
So those weren't turkeys migrating over my house the other night?
Well said though. I absolutely agree!
Quote from: Kygobblergetter on May 05, 2023, 06:06:40 PM
I haven't read through all of these posts but I don't see any issue at all, or any harm to any population if a guy wants to travel to all 49 states and shoot one turkey in each of those states every single spring.
And more power to him if he can kill one in that 50th state. ;D
Quote from: Marc on May 05, 2023, 09:16:24 PM
And more power to him if he can kill one in that 50th state. ;D
Funny you mention that. And if he could kill one in that 50th state he would rank #2 in the state on the all time records list. Someone has a four bearded bird registered for that state already. ???