Guaranteed nothing changes. They don't like admitting they are wrong. I've heard of multiple studies continuing to prove that it has no impact. My bama people are pissed as well with our CAB.
I guess coyotes are infinitesimaly easier to call in at night vs day.... but we have had great success calling them in and killing them in daylight hours.
Yep.
Hunters would rather hunt the first 2 weeks than the last 2 weeks regardless of when those weeks fall. Under the old dates, hunters weren't a fan of hunting into May. Turkey harvest is front loaded horribly.
Again it's just a matter of preference, either way we killed 30k birds last year, same amount we harvested steady since the year 2000 most killed either 1 or two just the same as it was even when the limit was 4. Last year was the 3rd year of there being delayed season in some or all of TN. The hundreds of hens studied for 6 years in the TN study were in delayed and non delayed areas with no difference for our turkeys in nesting success whatsoever. The common theme to the great hatches of the last 3 years has been weather, same as the article about great hatches I have posted in Mississippi which opens March 15, dry weather at the right times. Weather and predators 100 percent of the time will determine the success. Also this year will be the second year of the delay for the entire state, so we are on the same page if all things are the same again this year with nesting success as in the past. We will have to wait to see what happens with the weather, let's all hope it's dry again at the right times and not wet. Remember all the success you speak of last year for hunters were birds from a non delay in TN. Again if nothing else just move it back a week, juvenile would have been March 30 this year and opener would have been April 6. I will survive either way just stating my preference, I realize opinions will vary. Hurry up April 13!!!
How would they know after 1 year. Seems you'd need at least 3 years of data.
This is fair but studies out of the other states are showing the same thing this increasing the power of the study. It's purely common sense as well but wild we have to make studies to prove this. My problem is a state making a change based off a theory and not what the state biologists are saying. This happened in both Tennessee and Alabama. The states are too proud to change it back is why I fight this. In bama we went from March 15 to March 20 to March 25…when does it stop? In south bama it's a jungle in early to mid April so the early season is key to us.
They are OUT OF CONTROL... since Fri am, I have heard over 20. Now granted, I've been in the woods a lot, but every year I hear more and more.
Amen and talk about a poults worst nightmare
I agree they are not in check at all.
Study dates were 2017-2022. First time I read thru it, I thought some of the counties studied had 2+ years of delayed season opening.
I have to believe you left out illness. Whether turkey pox, or aflotoxin, or bird flu, there is definitely somthing else impacting some regions.
I do want to take up for TWRA in this instance, they did not suggest or propose the season change. TWRA and it's turkey coordinator suggested our same start dates at the season setting meeting that year, I have watched that meeting numerous times. Their logic was exactly as you said. TN was finishing up a 6 year study two of which was comparing hundreds of hens in delayed to non delayed areas of TN to see if it benefits our turkeys. They told Commission this. Commission didn't want to wait another few months for the data to be released. One of them suggested a week delay then it suddenly went to two weeks. What you say makes complete sense and is the logical approach to doing something that has been set for 40 years or more,. Especially knowing it was being studied. I see lots of people complaining that TWRA should have waited , they tried but once commission cast those votes it was over, no matter what they had suggested. That's why you see all the scrambling now and talk of moving it back at least a week towards the old opener. Waited 6 years and couldn't wait a few more months for the results? TWRA tried to tell them
Agree and when I said "they" I meant both the commission and the TWRA. If the commission is going to disregard the recommendations of the TWRA, then they sb replaced. They can have and should have their opinions. But, disagree and disregard are two different things.
This. This used to be an awesome time of year. I have yet to encounter a person in this neck of the woods that is excited. Just sad.
