TN Non-Resident Turkey License Sales: Doubled for 2021 Season!

[CALLM2U]

Arkansas is a two gobbler state

Two week season
Late opener/season for 10+ years
Quota hunts on most WMA's
One gobbler first week (new this year)

No population rebound.....now other states are following the same season struture ideas that failed in Arkansas already.

Predation is the major factor.....falling fur prices directly mirror falling turkey numbers

For the last few years, this information continues to make me pause when people talk about restrictions.  I've yet to have someone give a rational reason to me why Arkansas' plan isn't working. 

[timberjack86]

Heck that's only 10-15% of KS NR sales. I may have to start travelling east if that's a bad year for pressure.

You better hurry in about 5 years there won't be any turkeys to hunt.

[PNWturkey]

I also have witnessed a change in farming practices with earlier first cutting and more frequent hay cutting.

Everyone points to nest-destroying predators, but hay cutting is rarely mentioned.

The price of hay has been very high in recent years.  I wonder how many nests are destroyed by earlier first cutting and more frequent hay cutting by farmers chasing the higher prices?

[jrinny]

In the last 30 years- the traditional 1st and 2nd cutting for hay have given way to earlier 1st cuttings and more hay cutting altogether. Along with draining moist soil areas and removing hedgerows - none of which are positive for nesting. Add an increasing predator population and it makes it difficult to sustain a high turkey population

[owlhoot]

In absence of trappers, Arkansas issues cull permits .
Sep 24, 2019 — Furbearers such as bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, opossum, raccoon and striped skunk may now be hunted year-round on private land in the ...
The beauty of raccoon hunting for me was that I was able to easily include my young family. I rarely went raccoon hunting last winter without taking one of my kids. It didn't take them long to begin to love hounds the way I did. There is something adventurous about being in the woods at night chasing a hound, and raccoon hunting is a great way to introduce kids into the outdoors and hunting. There's no need for long sits without moving—raccoon hunting is a social sport designed for talking and human interaction. Additionally, raccoon populations are very good in Arkansas and need to be controlled by hunting. Raccoons are ground nest predators (turkeys and quail), poultry killers, bird feed raiders and a general nuisance. 

[owlhoot]

In absence of trappers, Arkansas issues cull permits .
Sep 24, 2019 — Furbearers such as bobcat, coyote, gray fox, red fox, opossum, raccoon and striped skunk may now be hunted year-round on private land in the ...
The beauty of raccoon hunting for me was that I was able to easily include my young family. I rarely went raccoon hunting last winter without taking one of my kids. It didn't take them long to begin to love hounds the way I did. There is something adventurous about being in the woods at night chasing a hound, and raccoon hunting is a great way to introduce kids into the outdoors and hunting. There's no need for long sits without moving—raccoon hunting is a social sport designed for talking and human interaction. Additionally, raccoon populations are very good in Arkansas and need to be controlled by hunting. Raccoons are ground nest predators (turkeys and quail), poultry killers, bird feed raiders and a general nuisance.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission - Commission seeks ...https://m.facebook.com › ARGameandFish › photos
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard the first reading of new regulations concerning ... The raccoon population is way out of control around here.

[deadbuck]

They need a coon eradication program like the boll weevil eradication program.