Black Kettle/Packsaddle Oklahoma.. numbers back up??

[Tail Feathers]

Arkansas boys season doesn't open til April 21st (which is insane. It's full foliage summer by then). So adapting is important. Also Arkansas gets absolutely overrun with non resident duck hunters. They outnumber residents handily......I'd venture to guess no other states compares in non resident harassment of locals. So by the time the spring gets here it's time for revenge

Texas' Eastern season opens today, April 22.  Every year.  Talk about late, I'm 3 hours south of the AR state line.  But yeh, the waterfowling in AR is overrun by OOS'ers. 
If you remember, AR was kind of the first state to experience the rapid decline in turkey numbers, years before it hit the SE states.  I don't think they have rebounded much either.

[2flyfish4]

Won't be surprised to see these units be draw only on the next year or two.

[deerhunt1988]

Won't be surprised to see these units be draw only on the next year or two.

Oh they will be. Already in the works. Non-rez can plan on paying more to hunt there as well:

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/oklahoma-permission-hunt-public-land/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ5RFFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpgRxArZKbxVfbwmOC8lWcBRF9f7B4SYmAFRxLK1C5eMvY2J9K_bjfz5lUy6_aem_3cHw21NX0ynrcn5nW-zJKw

[joey46]

Shocking?  Not really.  Any state that first promotes these type areas on their web sites and then hears whining about too much pressure gets what it deserves.  The knee's are certainly jerking this year aren't they?

[GobbleNut]

I foresee, in the future, that turkey hunting these types of public areas will go to some system similar to what a lot of western states have in place for big game hunting. That is, there will be a set number of permits based on the turkey numbers and projected harvest goals there will be a lottery/drawing with residents getting a certain percentage (most of the permits) and nonresidents getting a small percentage.

Succinctly, demand is exceeding supply...and things will naturally progress to systems that account for that and address the need for proper management of the resource. It ain't pretty or desirable to a lot of us, but we may as well get our heads wrapped around the fact that it is coming...and is needed.

[joey46]

Probably long overdue.  The only thing I'll squak about is if the residents get too high of a percentage of the permits on National/Federal lands.  I plan to be disappointed on this issue since the "they always did it this way out west" excuse will win out.  I'll adapt and get over it.

[Turkeyman]

Sure would be nice if people figured out loose lips sink ships. 

Never happen. Too many egos out there and guys looking for some kind of recognition.

[Clif Owen]

Guys...there is a MAJOR difference in someone asking about a certain area and someone just posting about an area on YouTube or something. Personally, if a guy asked me about a particular spot; I might tell him what I do or don't know about it. On a similar note; I asked a guy on here who had shot a couple of birds if he hunted any in one area I did. He was very rude about saying he wouldn't tell me anything and the sad part was that I had another reason for even asking if he hunted the same area. After being called lazy; I decided that it would be better if I DIDN"T know who he was or what area he hunted because I would have dedicated my season to ruining his.

[Tail Feathers]

Some seem to think there are gangs of non-residents sitting in their trucks waiting to swarm to the latest spot disclosed on social media. Might be an exaggeration.  The good old days are gone. Time to get over it.

No, those folks are in their living room.  But they are looking for that hot tip.   

[joey46]

I see this thread has entered the "it will never die category". Lol. Fun forum

[The Lung]

Joey, my man. You gotta let people discuss and vent a little. This is a discussion forum about turkey hunting. You get more hung up about people discussing regulations and spot burning than the actual people discussing and venting.
Deep breaths.
We will all keep hunting turkeys. We love it too much. We will all adapt to the new way of doing things or not hunt.

[joey46]

"a little".  Make that the understatement of the year for all participants.Lol