A piece of good news amid declines!

[Wigsplitter]

Just  some positive info as we see a lot of struggles on here dealing with decline and how states are handling this issue. Arkansas harvest numbers in this week- thankfully we had a 21% increase in harvest from 7500ish to around 9200 - probably mostly attributable to a great hatch last year or two but also I believe we may be seeing some results from later season opening and no jakes rule that has been in place for several years - and we did away with fall hunting many years ago.  I don't like a late opening either as most don't but if that's what it takes I'm willing- these results have taken several years and don't happen in a couple seasons- Arkansas took a fairly aggressive approach several years when they recognized the decline - way earlier than a lot of states. Here is to hoping for a dry next few weeks and a continued trend in that upward direction

[Wigsplitter]

Also failed to mention that our season is only 21 days long and has been as short as 17-18 the last few years- pretty important piece of the equation as well

[deerhunt1988]

Just  some positive info as we see a lot of struggles on here dealing with decline and how states are handling this issue. Arkansas harvest numbers in this week- thankfully we had a 21% increase in harvest from 7500ish to around 9200 - probably mostly attributable to a great hatch last year or two but also I believe we may be seeing some results from later season opening and no jakes rule that has been in place for several years - and we did away with fall hunting many years ago.  I don't like a late opening either as most don't but if that's what it takes I'm willing- these results have taken several years and don't happen in a couple seasons- Arkansas took a fairly aggressive approach several years when they recognized the decline - way earlier than a lot of states. Here is to hoping for a dry next few weeks and a continued trend in that upward direction

Keep in the mind the later season opener and no jakes rule has been in place over a decade ago. If they helped significantly, you'd likely have seen improvement before now. Missouri, with one of the strictest seasons around, also saw substantial decline over the past several years. The Arkansas framework basically mirrors Missouri's now (With the exception of being able to shoot jakes in Missouri and the 1:00PM cutoff there).

It's great Arkansas has had a slight rebound. Numerous other states in the region have too this spring. Which goes to show it was more than likely environmental conditions (Mother Nature) that played a role in better hatches rather than the regulations. Too many hunters seem to forget that mother nature is a major player in the naturally fluctuating populations of turkey.

By the way, I fully support a "no jakes" rule. I wish TN would have considered that route before their drastic changes.

[Greg Massey]

I would also think the overall number of hunters has increased to cause numbers to increase ...  A good hatch is always good for positive news ...

[Tail Feathers]

AR and my area of E Texas seem to have been the earliest to experience the decline.  It was a while back in AR and I'm glad they are seeing increases.  Still struggling here. 

[Old Timer]

Here in NY the take here is down over 50 percent the last decade. The only thing the state has done is shortened fall season. I have hunted everyday accept 3 since season start. Hunted 7 different properties and only worked 1 tom.
I am a turkey hunter I will not quit. Today I hunted the old farm I lived on as a young guy. The first time I walked that ridge in 56 years. You cannot buy memories like that. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Good day.

[stinkpickle]

Missouri had some good news, too...

"Stable, though still lower than the ideal, hatches each of the past three years and excellent spring turkey hunting weather likely contributed to this year's higher harvest total," said MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley. "The 2023 harvest was 23-percent higher compared to 2022 and it was 19-percent higher than the average over the previous five years."

I don't know where the excellent hunting weather was, though.  It was cold and windy most days I went out. 

[deathfoot]

Missouri had some good news, too...

"Stable, though still lower than the ideal, hatches each of the past three years and excellent spring turkey hunting weather likely contributed to this year's higher harvest total," said MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Nick Oakley. "The 2023 harvest was 23-percent higher compared to 2022 and it was 19-percent higher than the average over the previous five years."

I don't know where the excellent hunting weather was, though.  It was cold and windy most days I went out. 

Yea I hunted Northeast Missouri for two days. Heard one bird. Real windy the second day.

[lmbunch69]

Just checked Indianas harvest. 4000 or so more birds that last year. Not sure what to think for next season yet.

[arkrem870]

1.  Arkansas was the first state to start later seasons over 10 years ago so it's hard to give all the credit to a later opening date

2.  Arkansas had more hunters hunting turkeys than ever before from boots on the ground. So a higher harvest is expected. Unfortunately the agfc has now way to track the number of turkey hunters in arkansas.

3.  I hope the no Jake rule was the reason but I'd doubt that's the case statistically speaking

4. How about the implementation of the predator control permit?  Now that timeline does work with the uptick

5.  Or it could the turkeys taking advantage of better nesting conditions/weather —having an increase in 2 year olds in the woods