Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Anyone know how many toms the 3 bird limit is projected to "save."
You need to understand turkey reproductive behavior..Also, how many turkeys would be saved if farmers were given an incentive to postpone cutting the hay fields until June 1st?
Remember, these last couple of ideas (being way outside the box) would save Gobblers AND Hens. So the benefits would outweigh sparing the gobblers EXPOTENTIALLY.
Someone would have to go verify each and every field wasn't cut early if it was enough of an incentive to delay harvest. What would be the funding mechanism?That delay comes at a cost in hay quality. Im not opposed to it at all, just would love to see it work. Lots of hay gets cut just to mow a field and gets left to rot in fencerows. And it's the most expensive grass a cow can eat.Also, how many turkeys would be saved if farmers were given an incentive to postpone cutting the hay fields until June 1st?
Remember, these last couple of ideas (being way outside the box) would save Gobblers AND Hens. So the benefits would outweigh sparing the gobblers EXPOTENTIALLY.
Great points, definitely something we need to talk about, and I'd expect at least a few of the farmers to play along.You need to understand turkey reproductive behavior..
The EARLIER you cut hay the better.
When you cut hay early in middle TN, the birds have just started setting and will abandon their eggs when the MoCo starts running. Sure you lose the nest, but the hen lives and has a chance to renest.
Get into June, and hens are in their 3rd week of incubation. Once they have been setting for more than 21 days, they are NOT leaving their nest. Not to eat, not to drink, and not to flee the MoCo. So the hen gets chopped up along with the eggs. Much greater loss.
Trust me, as someone who loves turkeys more than anyone else, you just can't ask farmers to give up their livelihood.
As far as the 3 bird limit, it's just pissing in the wind. As ive said before here on multiple occasions, a limit is irrelevant if killed after the hens are bred (IF you protect jakes). But keep shooting birds before the majority of hens have been bred, and don't be surprised why populations decline.
If we could convince producers to use more annual hay crops they'd have more flexibility in cutting dates. For example, millet, milo, or sudan could be planted in April mixed with soybeans then cut well after peak nesting season.Great points, definitely something we need to talk about, and I'd expect at least a few of the farmers to play along.
That's another great idea, I wonder why the Agency doesn't consider other options, besides simply lowering the bag limit?If we could convince producers to use more annual hay crops they'd have more flexibility in cutting dates. For example, millet, milo, or sudan could be planted in April mixed with soybeans then cut well after peak nesting season.
Yes sir, last year I set a trap and caught/dispatched a skunk every night for 7 nights in a row.Grassland Reserve program is out there to encourage farmers to cut after July 1. Farmers typically only sign the pasture ground up in it because they can't afford the quality loss on the hay. It paid $11-15 per acre at one time. Not sure what it pays now.
Carlos I'm with you that nest predators have to be eliminated. Next step is gobblers need a chance to breed. That takes a delay in the season start. They have to have habitat to eat and survive. Overall a turkey has way more going against it than for it.
I have been hunting them in TN since 1996 and I have come to the conclusion that I'll control what I can on my farms and hope for the best. I trap. I don't start hunting until April 15th and leave some good grown up native habitat. Beyond that it's up to the Father upstairs.
It would require greater input from producers- they'd have to replant the field each year. However, it can be timed to also provide a jam up dove field. TWRA doesn't have the authority to force producers to adopt conservation. But it's a great option for the farmer that wants to manage for wildlife as well as cattle.That's another great idea, I wonder why the Agency doesn't consider other options, besides simply lowering the bag limit?
Is it because that's what a good number of hunters requested?
That's just lip service basically, about like wearing a mask.My opinion is it rolls back to money. Our season opens early with liberal limits. Therefore you see a bunch of out of state license plates driving up and down the roads which means the agency cashes in.
For years the turkey population in TN managed itself. Restoration was very successful and turkeys were thriving which led to liberal seasons and bag limits.
That in turn led to a budget figure of license sales every year due to turkey season. We are at a management decision point now on how to best take care of the turkey population and no one likes to hear the word budget cut so instead of making season start date delays that would help greatly, the limit gets lowered that has minimal effect on the budget or turkeys but makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy.