Question In Line With The Subject Of Resident and Non Resident Hunting

[Happy]

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.

[mountainhunter1]

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!

[g8rvet]

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. 

[Zobo]

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.

[RiverBuck]

Many on here would benefit greatly if they listened to the wild turkey science podcast.

[RiverBuck]

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.

[g8rvet]

  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. 

[g8rvet]

Whatever.    Preach.   


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[runngun]

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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[Kylongspur88]

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.

[g8rvet]

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. 

[WV Flopper]

 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!

[g8rvet]

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! 

[quavers59]

  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.
   

[Prospector]

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....