Quota Hunt Data - 2020 vs 2021 - 35% increase in applicants
- Thread starter th88
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Interesting. Hunting, and public land hunting in general is becoming much more popular. I guess some are happy about that.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Holy crap, 35% increase in applications...
You can expect to add another year to your wait time....
Any data regarding NR vs resident applications? In other words, where did the dramatic increase come from?
You can expect to add another year to your wait time....
Any data regarding NR vs resident applications? In other words, where did the dramatic increase come from?
No surprises there to me, especially with COVID and how public land hunting has been promoted on YouTube and social media over the last 5+ years. #HuntingPublic is seeing success. Thanks for sharing.
It's all electronic, the information has to be in the database. Maybe ask them for total number of 2021 applicants with out of state addresses. Sort one column by State and voila you have the answer, or close enough for comparison sake. Getting that information each calendar year will allow you to see the trend yourself. At 3 birds, I still feel TN is a highly sought after destination for those traveling OOS turkey hunters.
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There is a way for residents to game the system as well, and some most likely do it. A lot of households have several sportsman license holders of all ages, but only 1-2 actually hunt. They all apply for quotea hunts (age 6 and over), which runs up the number of "total applicants", but only the 1-2 will go on the hunt if they are selected. Food for thought.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
Resident hunters can now expect more years in between being drawn for quota hunts, along with reduced bag limits.
IMO, we really need to go to a 2-bird statewide limit now.
Main reason TWRA has it set at 3 is to increase non-resident license sales?
Notice that more of the public hunting areas are no longer "bonus" birds, in part due to an influx of non-resident hunters. Delicate balancing act between selling enough licenses (to fund the WMAs, personnel, etc.) while still not greatly harming the "resource" of our turkeys. Main "resource" being harmed is resident hunters?
catman529
Well-Known Member
Someone on oldgobbler mentioned that Arkansas was up 35% as well as a few other states.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
By they way, please note that LBL's quota turkey hunt is no longer a "bonus" bird, AND the ANNUAL limit (for LBL) has been reduced to one (1) bird (that bird also counting towards the statewide limit).
This is a significant reduction in turkey hunting opportunities for public-land resident hunters living near LBL.
In the case of LBL's limit reduction, it's not just because of the influx of non-resident hunters, but also due to realizing the fragility of ongoing turkey populations, the influx of feral pigs, and the turkey limit simply being too high in the recent past.
When the LBL quota was a "bonus" bird, many accomplished turkey hunters mainly hunted LBL just to increase their annual kill beyond limiting out statewide, i.e., they could kill 4 birds each spring instead of "just 3".
All the above has contributed to LBL's current turkey population being on the low side now.
Hopefully, LBL's "resource" of turkeys is now being better managed for the future, albeit the management failure in controlling the pigs may negate it all.
This is a significant reduction in turkey hunting opportunities for public-land resident hunters living near LBL.
In the case of LBL's limit reduction, it's not just because of the influx of non-resident hunters, but also due to realizing the fragility of ongoing turkey populations, the influx of feral pigs, and the turkey limit simply being too high in the recent past.
When the LBL quota was a "bonus" bird, many accomplished turkey hunters mainly hunted LBL just to increase their annual kill beyond limiting out statewide, i.e., they could kill 4 birds each spring instead of "just 3".
All the above has contributed to LBL's current turkey population being on the low side now.
Hopefully, LBL's "resource" of turkeys is now being better managed for the future, albeit the management failure in controlling the pigs may negate it all.
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That's interesting. The Agency will need to schedule additional manpower during these hunts.
(Hint-hint)
I hunt public land, and it's pretty much the only land I use. When I see increases like these, hunter safety comes to mind, first of all. If there's a vehicle or 4 wheeler parked within 500 yards of where I plan to hunt, I always find somewhere else to go.
Stay safe out there everybody.
(Hint-hint)
I hunt public land, and it's pretty much the only land I use. When I see increases like these, hunter safety comes to mind, first of all. If there's a vehicle or 4 wheeler parked within 500 yards of where I plan to hunt, I always find somewhere else to go.
Stay safe out there everybody.
TN needs a non-res allocation like other states. For example, FL only allows 10% of tags to NR's. I play the allocation game in other states, NR's can play the game here. But if the idgets don't keep data, they won't know where to set the percentage.
If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it. That's a fact.
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KY only allows 10% nonresidents drawn for quota hunts. I would like to see 25%.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
And that data was instrumental in the creation of the "trophy velvet" buck hunt?
TWRA wants more non-resident license sales.
Makes sense, but at what point does it harm resident hunting more than it helps provide "management" resources?
Partially correct on FL.
They only law 10% of Special Opportunity tags for non-residents. Normal quota hunts are unlimited to non-residents, for now. I suspect that will change in the future.
this is a BUNCH of garbage. I work in the field of licensing for other states including NY and NV. At one time I actually worked on TN with their previous contractor (they currently use Brant for their system)
Brant 100% stores resident vs NR data based on identifier type and even address information. They have it they just dont want to report on it.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
you are referring to the daily quotas at the daily WMA sign in's, as the 'normal quota hunts', correct?
Nope. Florida has limited entry/quota hunts on a point system that you must be drawn for. There is no non-resident cap. There is also Special Opportunity hunts that are basically lotto tickets. If you are lucky enough to draw one, you then have to buy a pricey permit ($100-$175). The SO hunts are the cream of the crop. There is a 10% NR cap on them.
Probably but just odd they would flat out say they have no way to report on it. Either he is an idiot and has no idea how the system works or was just to lazy to find out.
OP - what kind of "request" did you initiate? What was process you went through? Full blown FOIA or just an email sent? Some others may want to use your request as a stepping stone to further request the OOS applicant data.
Just sent an e-mail to the public request e-mail address at the bottom of this page under "Public Policy Request"
https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/contact-us.html#request
^^^ Thank you sir.
I would like to know how they can take more hunters that quota spots? Hunts 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, & 11 all have more than number allowed. Especially the Yuchi hunts on 10 & 11. 10 has 12 and 11 has 11 hunters selected.
I figure from folks applying as a party.
Example, 9 of 10 spots are filled. The last name drawn has applied with a partner. They draw both. So now 11 folks are drawn for a hunt with a cap of 10. I'm not positive on this, but know some other states do it that way.
RustyFishhook
Active Member
But isn't 3 in the spring down from previous years limits of 4 birds? I remember them changing it to 3 after spring 2020 specifically dude to the increased harvest reports.
^^^ Yes, this will be first year of 3 male bird statewide limit since the 2020 change. Numerous other changes this year as well for TN turkey hunting, depending on which part of the State one hunts in.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Correct.
My biggest problem with TWRA's turkey management is they have been extremely slow to react when changes were obviously needed.
Very little proactivity with the turkey management.
Hopefully, the turkeys won't mostly disappear like the quail.
(TN's quail going nearly extinct was not caused by TWRA.)
