New Jersey just cancelled fall turkey hunting

[Magdump]

Just got an email advising:

On March 11, 2025, the NJ Fish and Game Council voted to close the Fall Either Sex Wild Turkey Hunting Season statewide, beginning Fall 2025.

This closure immediately takes effect.

Wild Turkey harvest trends have continuously declined since the early 2000s and are similar to population estimates statewide. Wild Turkeys face several threats, including habitat loss and predation. While hunting is not the sole cause for this decline, the current population level cannot support a hunting season that includes hen harvest.

Closure of this season will work to increase hen survival and reproduction.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife thanks you for your understanding.

Other states to follow?

[Bowguy]

They did that weeks ago. It's a good thing bud.
Now we gotta allow bobcat trapping and control the other predators including ourselves n take 1-2 a year.

[joey46]

More knee jerk reaction. Just have to appear to be doing something. What is the NJ resident limit and length of season?

[Bowguy]

Res and non the same. One per day for end of April, full month May.  You can get one every permit you buy and lots of areas have permits leftover. Certain zones they could cut the number in half and come no where reaching season permit quota. 
I know guys take 15-20 birds springtime alone.
No reason for anyone to take more than 1-2 at the current population levels. They're anemic in the northern part of state

[Ol Timer]

Bowguy you and I most likely won't see a 2 bird limit anytime soon. I agree the northern part of NJ is nothing but a haven for predators like you said bobcats for one. Joey it's not the length of the season it's actually like 5 weeks it's the quota tags that are awarded if you have deep pockets like the state gets after sell out some zones.
27,275 permits are out for the taking x $21. I do believe there is changes coming though in the next few years.

[Penguin907]

I'd rather see states ban tss, reaping, and decoys for Fall season. Make the sport harder = less birds taken.

[Ol Timer]

I'd rather see states ban tss, reaping, and decoys for Fall season. Make the sport harder = less birds taken.

By Banning Fall Season altogether you just elevated all that.

[Penguin907]

Yeah banning fall season completely is dumb or just outright ban that stuff.

[Bowguy]

Yeah banning fall season completely is dumb or just outright ban that stuff.

Shooting hens when the population is low is what is dumb

[Ol Timer]

I'd rather see states ban tss, reaping, and decoys for Fall season. Make the sport harder = less birds taken.

If you'd like Hunting harder Bowguy will take you to Sussex Co. NJ snd cut you loose to go kill a turkey in 2 weeks and then you'll understand why the Fall seasons need to be canceled.

[Penguin907]

I'd rather see states ban tss, reaping, and decoys for Fall season. Make the sport harder = less birds taken.

If you'd like Hunting harder Bowguy will take you to Sussex Co. NJ snd cut you loose to go kill a turkey in 2 weeks and then you'll understand why the Fall seasons need to be canceled.

Is the population wiped out there or something? I'm from PA, and the populations seem good here.

[Ol Timer]

Not wiped out just harder like you want, comparing pa Turkey numbers to nj is like apples vs oranges in harvest data. Your state took 39,268 birds in 2024 vs nj 2024 2321. You be the judge.

[TonyTurk]

I didn't shoot hens in my neck of the woods 15-20 years ago when there were so many turkeys the hunting was almost too easy.  I have no idea why guys would want to shoot hens in 2025.

[Zobo]

There's absolutely no need to shoot hens

[Tom007]

There's absolutely no need to shoot hens

X10, in this particular moment in time when we All see declines in populations in our country.