Quote from: Shiloh on October 15, 2025, 09:25:57 PMSeems that they might be starting to settle in on hen mortality. All states have trended the wrong direction for a while except Wisconsin.
And that same conclusion has came from different research projects across multiple states. When I first saw this from a model, it was definitely an eye opener. And honestly a bit of a headscratcher as the significance was so much greater than other variables. Even a "no hunting" scenario. But then another research project finds similar results. And another. So one of the main drivers of turkey decline could actually be something pretty much completely irrelevant to spring hunting. Kinda ironic considering all the changes that have been made that have resulted in a loss of opportunity.
Some places will likely never get their opportunity back as agencies don't like to admit they were wrong. Especially when they jumped the gun. But it is refreshing to not see "dominant gobbler theory" being blasted everywhere you look now.
Hen survival involves predators, so that will make the trapping crowd happy knowing they are doing good and their efforts aren't for naught.
HABITAT, HABITAT, HABITAT trumps all though. And Mother Nature ultimately decides what kind of hatch we are going to have. Not how many gobblers hunters kill by legal means.
