A challenge to you all.

[Boll Weevil]

Most times I ride with my rifle on my lap, carry it slung over shoulder checking cameras, or its right by my side in the truck as I go about chores. You'd be surprised how many you'll kill just by being able to quickly take advantage of chance opportunities.

 

[scn]

As a pretty obsessed turkey hunter, I certainly agree with the overall philosophy of killing nest predators whenever they are LEGAL to kill.

With that being said, I have observed some statements in this thread that may be contrary to the law. The only TRAPPING seasons that are open year-round are for beaver, coyote, and groundhogs. The trapping season for all of the other furbearer animals this past year was Nov. 17-Feb. 28. Thus, coon trapping season is currently closed.

Just because coons, skunks, etc eat turkey eggs does not turn them into a nuisance animal where you can trap them anytime you choose. Yes, there is a law that says landowners can destroy animals causing them damage. IMO, it would be a major stretch for a court to rule that a coon destroying turkey nests reached the level of landowner damage. It at least warrants a thorough discussion with the local wildlife officer since they will most likely be the one issuing the citation for illegal trapping.

Again, I'm not against the sentiment of dealing with nest and other turkey predators. However, with the laws in place, it likely isn't a year round deal. It may be something to address with TWRA in the future.

 

[woodsman04]

Per hunting regulations (unless they've recently changed) armadillo, coyote, and striped skunk is open year round with no limit. All are notorious nest raiders....none get a pass from me. Ever.

I still have yet to see evidence of armadillos raiding a nest. They root in the ground for bugs. Maybe if one gets lucky it can get past an angry hen and eat some egg yolks but I don't see it being a big problem for turkeys.

That said, I still shoot a lot of armadillos, because they have overpopulated and tear up the ground everywhere they go


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Not that what they are saying is true, but I had the NRCS come out and look at my land for a wildlife program I wanted to get in. Two guys said that armadillos were second behind coons in nest disruption. That's some pretty credible sources, but I have yet to see it personally. I do 100% believe them though.

That's an issue we have, armidillos are relatively new to my area, probably been here for 8-12 years, and that is when decline started.


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I have to wonder about places like Texas that have had dillos for years but also have tons of turkey.

I shot 7 armadillos one afternoon this past winter. Turkey hunted the same ridge this spring, and there was still just as much armadillo sign everywhere as before. I don't know if there is any getting rid of them. They make good target practice

Texas also has a lot better nesting habitat and spring summer is dryer. Armadillos still get them, but other aspects are better.

There is no getting rid of armadillos.


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[megalomaniac]

As a pretty obsessed turkey hunter, I certainly agree with the overall philosophy of killing nest predators whenever they are LEGAL to kill.

With that being said, I have observed some statements in this thread that may be contrary to the law. The only TRAPPING seasons that are open year-round are for beaver, coyote, and groundhogs. The trapping season for all of the other furbearer animals this past year was Nov. 17-Feb. 28. Thus, coon trapping season is currently closed.

Just because coons, skunks, etc eat turkey eggs does not turn them into a nuisance animal where you can trap them anytime you choose. Yes, there is a law that says landowners can destroy animals causing them damage. IMO, it would be a major stretch for a court to rule that a coon destroying turkey nests reached the level of landowner damage. It at least warrants a thorough discussion with the local wildlife officer since they will most likely be the one issuing the citation for illegal trapping.

Again, I'm not against the sentiment of dealing with nest and other turkey predators. However, with the laws in place, it likely isn't a year round deal. It may be something to address with TWRA in the future.

That's on me, sorry for leading people astray. I can get away with it because I'm actively farming. Those darn coons are eating my calf ration pellets and causing me significant financial loss. Amazing how much they can pull out of the creep feeders and dump on the ground. They are also digging under my barns and undermining their structural integrity. I think one may have been rabid as well, as it was harassing our farm dog. I have plenty of reasons and am fully within my legal rights to trap nuisance animals, but SCN is exactly right, if you don't have a good reason, now is not the time from a legal perspective (although the past month was the right time to save baby turkeys).

I also agree with SCN, perhaps this should be taken up with TWRA and TWRC. I suspect the dates of trapping season were set to coincide with the best furs. No reason in decades past to kill coons outside the fur season. Now that furs are virtually worthless and there are very few fur trappers, it is probably worth exploring making it open year round.

 

[Coldfusion]

Well y'all brought up my point of why we can't trap year round for varmints. I'm not a trapper or varmint hunter. If I lived in the country again I would explore this for sure. I'd love to get into trapping. It doesn't make sense to not run it year round. I know ALOT of hunters and hardly ever hear of people trapping and varmint hunting anymore. When I was little running coin dogs was a big thing, but not as much these days it seems.

On a side notice ive heard coon is delicious

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