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Long Beards & Spurs
3 Bird Limit Next Year
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<blockquote data-quote="Southern Sportsman" data-source="post: 4904991" data-attributes="member: 10399"><p>No, but they recognize seasonal differences in different latitudes. Same reason deer rut in October farther north but they rut in Jan/Feb in southern latitudes. Obviously there won't be a difference in birds living at the TN/GA border, but there will be a difference between birds in Sumner Co or Stuart Co TN and those in Peach Co. GA. So it is absolutely true that in general GA birds will breed and nest earlier than TN because they are farther south. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It's not just Dr. Chamberlain. And it's not just TN. It is 100% fact that overall turkey populations have been declining across much of the southeast over the past decade. Almost certainly there are multiple factors at play, but it's hard to dispute that (1) With changes in hunting tactics and advancements in technology people are more efficient at killing turkeys than we have ever been in human history, (2) current seasons in TN and other SE states open well before peak nesting - which means they open well before most hens are bred, and (3) we are seeing consistent declines in poult production and overall reproductive success. And I don't think we should just do what hunters want, although hunter opinion/input is important. I think we should do what leading biologists say is best for the resource. The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) unequivocally recommends timing seasons to coincide with peak nesting to ensure adequate breeding takes place before a big percentage of available gobblers are killed. TN has refused to do this except in the worst areas. Other states have done it or are looking to do it. Dr. Chamberlain has a lot of respect in GA and elsewhere, but he's not calling the shots. He just gives his opinion. GA has delayed seasons in some areas and I suspect they will do it statewide when season settings take place next year (they also set seasons on a 2 year cycle). </p><p></p><p>As for Giles County - as I understand it the huge population drop was in the southern-most portion of those 5 counties. It is something of a different issue that the slow steady decline that has been widespread in the state and southeast in general. The northern part of giles borders the turkey mecca of Maury county. So you could have a strong kill total for the county even if the badly affected southern part of the county is still turkeyless. </p><p></p><p>Overall turkey numbers are down and poult production is at or near an all-time low since reintroduction. I don't care what the total kill numbers are. This year is a good example. Kill total increased 30%. No one that knows anything about turkeys thinks the population is up 30%. If we keep producing fewer poults each spring (as we have for the past decade) we will have fewer turkeys. If we keep producing fewer poults each spring AND keep killing more turkeys the following year, we'll have even fewer turkeys even faster. That math is simple. There are some sound, science-based options that leading biologists believe will improve reproductive success. I just want us to use them. If that means I don't get to start in late March and I don't get to kill 3 or 4 in Tennessee - fine. As long as there is a healthy turkey population for my son to enjoy over the next few decades, I'll happily make whatever sacrifices are needed now.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Southern Sportsman, post: 4904991, member: 10399"] No, but they recognize seasonal differences in different latitudes. Same reason deer rut in October farther north but they rut in Jan/Feb in southern latitudes. Obviously there won’t be a difference in birds living at the TN/GA border, but there will be a difference between birds in Sumner Co or Stuart Co TN and those in Peach Co. GA. So it is absolutely true that in general GA birds will breed and nest earlier than TN because they are farther south. It’s not just Dr. Chamberlain. And it’s not just TN. It is 100% fact that overall turkey populations have been declining across much of the southeast over the past decade. Almost certainly there are multiple factors at play, but it’s hard to dispute that (1) With changes in hunting tactics and advancements in technology people are more efficient at killing turkeys than we have ever been in human history, (2) current seasons in TN and other SE states open well before peak nesting - which means they open well before most hens are bred, and (3) we are seeing consistent declines in poult production and overall reproductive success. And I don’t think we should just do what hunters want, although hunter opinion/input is important. I think we should do what leading biologists say is best for the resource. The Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) unequivocally recommends timing seasons to coincide with peak nesting to ensure adequate breeding takes place before a big percentage of available gobblers are killed. TN has refused to do this except in the worst areas. Other states have done it or are looking to do it. Dr. Chamberlain has a lot of respect in GA and elsewhere, but he’s not calling the shots. He just gives his opinion. GA has delayed seasons in some areas and I suspect they will do it statewide when season settings take place next year (they also set seasons on a 2 year cycle). As for Giles County - as I understand it the huge population drop was in the southern-most portion of those 5 counties. It is something of a different issue that the slow steady decline that has been widespread in the state and southeast in general. The northern part of giles borders the turkey mecca of Maury county. So you could have a strong kill total for the county even if the badly affected southern part of the county is still turkeyless. Overall turkey numbers are down and poult production is at or near an all-time low since reintroduction. I don’t care what the total kill numbers are. This year is a good example. Kill total increased 30%. No one that knows anything about turkeys thinks the population is up 30%. If we keep producing fewer poults each spring (as we have for the past decade) we will have fewer turkeys. If we keep producing fewer poults each spring AND keep killing more turkeys the following year, we’ll have even fewer turkeys even faster. That math is simple. There are some sound, science-based options that leading biologists believe will improve reproductive success. I just want us to use them. If that means I don’t get to start in late March and I don’t get to kill 3 or 4 in Tennessee - fine. As long as there is a healthy turkey population for my son to enjoy over the next few decades, I’ll happily make whatever sacrifices are needed now. [/QUOTE]
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