I was talking with an individual today, discussing the worlds problems, even solved a few when the subject of turkeys came up. Poor guy didn't know. So, after a lengthy conversation he proceeds to tell me that he has several hundred acres that is mainly cattle pasture and incidentally a turkey factory! I asked if he ever hunted it and he said no, he never really got into hunting but had entertained the idea of slipping back there one spring and seeing if he could bust one. I was about to offer some assistance when he mentioned there weren't any birds left. A bit dumbfounded, I inquired as to why. He said that a few years ago the TWRA(Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency) went back there and cannon netted "all" of them to ship them to, he thought, Texas. While I am aware of this practice, I was not aware that they could just go on your property and remove game at their discretion. I asked several questions to clarify what I thought I was hearing. I heard him right, but it seems to me there is something missing. Can they really do that?!?! By the way, I assured him(even bet my life on it) that they didn't get every one and that if he needed future assistance I was more than willing to help. He said he hasn't seen a bird since, and he's out there often with the cattle and cutting hay in the summer. Any thoughts?
I know they have trapped birds before but I don't see them doing it without permission from the land owner and I don't think they would take birds from TN to TX due to diseases and other factors.
That sucks... >:(
why would texas need our birds? and no they will not do that without asking
Kinda what I thought. He said they told him they were going to an area of Texas that didn't have many of "our" birds. I don't know. All I got to go on is what he told me, keeping in mind that he is more of a farmer and not a hunter.
The TWRA thinks they are gods or something sometimes.
My question is this, if TWRA thinks they "own" those birds, or deer, then if you hit one of those birds or deer with your car, why dosen't the TWRA pay to have it fixed?
give them a call and see what you can find out.
The dang TWRA can do what ever the heck they want I reckon..
I would believe out of respect for the land owner that they would ask for permission even though the birds are considered the state's (people's)birds.I wanted to offer to let FWC trap my property in Madison county to restock Holmes county,but they had gotten enough birds by the time it occurred to me.
I'm like many of you, i don't think that they would take birds from one state to another....but i do know if like here in Ms. they trap and relocate birds from one area to another. The county i live in does not have a open season because of low turkey population....maybe one day.
Quote from: Sherrell on February 24, 2011, 08:08:37 AM
I would believe out of respect for the land owner that they would ask for permission even though the birds are considered the state's (people's)birds.
I believe you are correct in that statement. Wildlife is considered State or The People property and if the DNR wanted to then they could come and trap on your property with or without your permission. But like Sherrell said, out of respect and consideration towards the landowner I am sure they will ask first before doing so even though they don't have to.
The Iowa DNR use to trap turkeys for years and either sell them to other states or trade them for other wildlife. Iowa traded for a bunch of River Otters and bobcats to relocate back to the state a few years back and now I wonder if they may of made of mistake in doing so.
trust me they will not do that,they do not think the game is theirs[twra] they know it is the peoples game they just try to manage the resource the best they can for the people. the same people that own the twra by license purchase. you cant judge the twra buy a blanket statement like some have posted here,dont let one bad experience with one bad apple ruin the whole bushell because in general the twra is a great bunch of fine folks here to helps us, not take away from us.
Wow! Someone traded turkeys for otters and bobcats? Yall got ripped!! LoL I'd send someone new to the bartering table!
Quote from: Covehnter on February 24, 2011, 08:53:38 AM
Wow! Someone traded turkeys for otters and bobcats? Yall got ripped!! LoL I'd send someone new to the bartering table!
That's right... Believe it or not but that would be the Iowa DNR. Now they are finding that the River Otter is destroying the small stream fish population and the bobcats are playing hell on the turkey population. We do have some bright individuals working for our State.... NOT!!!
They can and do ship turkeys to other states and even countries. I had even wondered about Ft. Stewart, here in GA. One year you see turkeys everywhere and then for the next two, you can't even find a track. I know they had something going on with nwtf and planting trees. Of course this is purely speculation on my part.
Mark
This whole story sounds strange to me. First, why would they want to introduce Easterns into Texas? They already have Rio's established and it has been proven that they do much better than Easterns in semi-arid climates. The goal of any trap and transfer program is to take a small portion of birds from a place with high concentrations. They never take so many birds that they decimate a population. There could be exceptions if you had a rogue group of agents but I don't understand any motivation for that.
I feel that there may be other explanations, such as predation, habitat destruction, or perhaps the farmer never sees any because he isn't looking for them. Many farmers don't see turkeys unless they almost hit them with their truck. Regardless there are many more plausible explanations than TWRA intervention.
Quote from: M Sharpe on February 24, 2011, 09:15:09 AM
They can and do ship turkeys to other states and even countries. I had even wondered about Ft. Stewart, here in GA. One year you see turkeys everywhere and then for the next two, you can't even find a track. I know they had something going on with nwtf and planting trees. Of course this is purely speculation on my part.
Mark
They can ship turkeys to other states but they won't. There is no need to take turkeys from Tennessee to Texas when you could get them in other counties in Texas. If they do any relocating turkeys they are just going to take them from a county with a high population and put them in a county with a low population within the state. Also, like busta biggun said they are not going to introduce a subspecies.
Quote from: turkeybow on February 24, 2011, 05:24:15 PM
Quote from: M Sharpe on February 24, 2011, 09:15:09 AM
They can and do ship turkeys to other states and even countries. I had even wondered about Ft. Stewart, here in GA. One year you see turkeys everywhere and then for the next two, you can't even find a track. I know they had something going on with nwtf and planting trees. Of course this is purely speculation on my part.
Mark
They can ship turkeys to other states but they won't. There is no need to take turkeys from Tennessee to Texas when you could get them in other counties in Texas. If they do any relocating turkeys they are just going to take them from a county with a high population and put them in a county with a low population within the state. Also, like busta biggun said they are not going to introduce a subspecies.
Don't be surprised at what some State's will do as far as introducing other subspecies to an area. For example: South Dakota felt it wise to transplant Easterns into areas where there were nothing but Merriams. Now they have a little bit of both.
Quote from: bird on February 24, 2011, 05:32:02 PM
Don't be surprised at what some State's will do as far as introducing other subspecies to an area. For example: South Dakota felt it wise to transplant Easterns into areas where there were nothing but Merriams. Now the have a little bit of both.
This has been done in the past but I'd about bet that they wouldn't do it again. If they did I'd be thinking twice about sending my money to them.
I know here in Louisiana we have to have permission to come on a persons land for that. Enforcement does not need it to come investigate but biologists do. Just because the people own the birds, we dont own the property.
I know Texas at one time was given Osceola's,not sure how many,but one hen was banded and I believe she was in her 11th. year when she was re-trapped and died.I believe Lovett may have that particular leg band.
Hunting Merriam's,I just go to New Mexico since the historical home range was Colorado,Arizona and New Mexico before they got the subspecies all boogered up in other states with the Eastern/Merriam's/Rio-Grande hybrids.
But it doesn't much matter as they all are delicious.
Texas has a small population of easterns
SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE A LITTLE SMOKE BLOWIN TO ME
Quote from: busta biggun on February 24, 2011, 10:46:39 AM
This whole story sounds strange to me. First, why would they want to introduce Easterns into Texas? They already have Rio's established and it has been proven that they do much better than Easterns in semi-arid climates. The goal of any trap and transfer program is to take a small portion of birds from a place with high concentrations. They never take so many birds that they decimate a population. There could be exceptions if you had a rogue group of agents but I don't understand any motivation for that.
I feel that there may be other explanations, such as predation, habitat destruction, or perhaps the farmer never sees any because he isn't looking for them. Many farmers don't see turkeys unless they almost hit them with their truck. Regardless there are many more plausible explanations than TWRA intervention.
East Texas pinewoods and post oak regions were the historical home range of the Eastern wild turkey before they were wiped out by the settlers.I know that the Texas Easterns have seem to struggle in the past compared to the Rio's.
They can and will in IL. I know for a fact! They will tell you to your face after going on your land witout permission,that they put them there and they can take them.Sounds like they got traded to TX. to help out there Easterns.
Quote from: busta biggun on February 24, 2011, 10:46:39 AM
This whole story sounds strange to me. First, why would they want to introduce Easterns into Texas? They already have Rio's established and it has been proven that they do much better than Easterns in semi-arid climates. The goal of any trap and transfer program is to take a small portion of birds from a place with high concentrations. They never take so many birds that they decimate a population. There could be exceptions if you had a rogue group of agents but I don't understand any motivation for that.
I feel that there may be other explanations, such as predation, habitat destruction, or perhaps the farmer never sees any because he isn't looking for them. Many farmers don't see turkeys unless they almost hit them with their truck. Regardless there are many more plausible explanations than TWRA intervention.
I reckon texas is got a small population of easterns already
back in the late 70's MN traded ruffed grouse for turkeys, If I am not mistaken we got birds from Missouri.
After a small Population was built MN trapped their own turkeys to transplant over the state, but they had to get permission to enter private land. The only DNR people who can enter private land is Game Warden and he/she has to have proable cause just like a police officer.
I would think all other states are like that, they need permission to go on private land.
twra got elk from some other state, made cattle people nervous. You would think turkeys would be relocated to other states. I know on my place the hens and poults leave about the first frost and I wont see one all winter. Now 2 miles away there will be 20 to 30 in a flock that I see reguarly. I look for turkey every time I go out my back door, ask my neighbor all the time, they just dont like it on my place till spring. I am going to try a feeder this summer and just see if I can hold them all winter. I just like to watch them.
Quote from: knightrider on February 23, 2011, 11:39:21 PM
why would texas need our birds? and no they will not do that without asking
exactly :agreed:
Va has gotten deer from Michigan and sold turkeys off as well..Its all bartering for one thing thing or the other..most of the time you never hear about it.
Quote from: mnturkey on February 24, 2011, 09:38:39 PM
back in the late 70's MN traded ruffed grouse for turkeys, If I am not mistaken we got birds from Missouri.
That's how Wi. got restocked with turkeys. They traded Mo. for ruffed grouse..Mi. had restocked years before this. Birds from th U.P. crossed over into northeast Wi. and populated that area. The birds from Mo. were planted in the southwestern part of the state. Now they are found throughout..Mike :newmascot: