The AR turkey population has struggled for years. It is to the point that some/several have asked for a further reduction in opportunity and bag limit. Proposal here is 1 statewide bird per season starting in 2023.
AGFC - 1 Bird
AGFC - 1 Bird
AGFC Proposal - 1 turkey statewide
- Thread starter Andy S.
- Start date
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Wow, 1 bird. Clear acknowledgement that they have a real issue.
Wow that's tough
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
More like facing reality
1 turkey better than 0 turkeys. If the situation calls for it good on them for making the tough decision.
Arkansas turkeys are in really bad shape. I work with a guy that owns land in what used to be a good turkey county and he barely hunts them anymore. He has all but given up on his home state having a good, huntable population.
Wouldn't hurt my feelings as my goal every year is 1 turkey. Just because they're there doesn't mean you have to kill them. Leave some for next year and/or others to chase.
Gobble4me757
Well-Known Member
Ha! How about those reduced bag limits and delayed seasons…yeah as expected didn't do anything…just saying for all those for that…sucks though as once again, if they introduced a trapping incentive program as well as focused on statewide habitat improvement it would be interesting to see where those would get them…my suspicions would probably say they would be in a better spot than the alternative…
I can remember when Izard, Stone and Sharp counties killed 600-800 birds each spring. It's terrible how far they've fallen, especially for the residents and locals.
My buddy's land is in Sharp County. Hard to believe they only killed 228 in a covid year when so many people were hunting more days than ever before. I hunted a few days in Sharp County years ago and it wasn't a problem finding a bird to hunt.
Remington700
Well-Known Member
I said when ours went from 4 to 3 it should have been 2. That being said I figure the stats would show that it wouldn't help all that much. I am sure the majority of kills are 1 to 2 birds a year. I love turkey hunting, but would support fewer kills for the future.
Dead serious when I say this. I honestly dont care if it were 1 or 4. My main thing I would be most frustrated by if it were 1 would be my season would be over early and I would hate that. Dont get me wrong I love to shoot turkey but not having the ability to go after 3 days into the season would be hard for my soul to take lol. Just being there, hearing all the sounds of spring are what bring me the most joy.
I get the flip side though, if something isnt done I may not have the population to even hunt.
I get the flip side though, if something isnt done I may not have the population to even hunt.
AT Hiker
Well-Known Member
Could you imagine the uproar if TN went to one bird?
AT Hiker
Well-Known Member
Just try to bow hunt them without a decoy/ground blind...you'll be hunting all season
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
What's most interesting are the years 2012 thru 2015 or so... it actually looked like the 'no jake' rule was making a difference and improving harvest (and one would assume population indirectly), but then the bottom started falling out again in 2016 for whatever reason.
Levee Jumper
Well-Known Member
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Yeah the Arkansas turkey population is in bad shape.
The older I get the more I appreciate quality over quantity. I would like to see a 2 turkey limit with 1 being in the first 10 days. I also wish we had a preference point quota system set up for out of state hunters as well.
The older I get the more I appreciate quality over quantity. I would like to see a 2 turkey limit with 1 being in the first 10 days. I also wish we had a preference point quota system set up for out of state hunters as well.
Instead we have TWRA paying Youtubers $10k to beg people to come to TN.
