Turkey limit question / poll

[RUGER]

I read the turkey kill number thread and it got me to thinking. I know that is dangerous.
Read some very good points and discussion on that thread. Also read some very ignorant stuff as well.
ANYWAY....
I was just wondering.
I would like some input but in order to keep any resemblance of order to it the discussion needs to be on another thread or it will be impossible to keep track of it.
My question is this, and I ain't real sure how the best way to ask it is.
Also, remember that bag limits are set for the ANIMAL, not THE HUNTER.

Guess I will go with the multiple choice and hopefully I will get them close enough to "right" that everyone can pick one, or two that they would feel comfortable presenting to the TWRC for future season setting.

1) No change to present bag limits statewide.
2) Reduce statewide limit to 3 birds, no change to fall season.
3) Reduce statewide limit to 2 birds, no change to fall season.
4) Reduce statewide limit to 3 birds, change fall season to 1 bird, hen only.
5) Reduce statewide limit to 2 birds, change fall season to 1 bird, hen only.
6) Leave spring season as is and remove fall hunts all together.
7) Reduce spring season limit to 3, outlaw killing of jakes or limit it to 1 jake only.
8) Reduce spring season limit to 2, outlaw killing of jakes or limit it to 1 jake only.
9) Increase limit to 5 statewide, no change to fall season.
10) Increase limit to 5 statewide and eliminate fall season.


There ya go, ten choices. Any of them something you would like to see presented to the TWRC to try and get it changed to help protect the birds in the future?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I like #8, allow 1 jake.

 

[buckdead]

8. + knock out the fall hunts during the poor hatch years.

 

[Blue5]

7 I dont see the purpose of fall hunts?

 

[TW]

# 2

 

[jbranham63]

4 and 7 combined would be good.

 

[Gravey]

So now we're talking the QTMA. :D

Seriously, for me personally I'd say a combination of #5 and #8. Two birds total in spring with no more than 1 jake and then 1 hen only in fall. Biologically I have no idea what's right.

 

[big 8s in Weakley county]

2

 

[stretch]

I'm gonna vote for # 1 simply because thats what the folks who are alot smarter than me when it comes to turkey biology have set it at.

 

[4onaside]

#1 preferably, #2 acceptable, except in either case, no hens, ever.

 

[bigdog7mm]

I'll go with #7. with limit jakes to 1.

 

[TNDOC]

#3

I'd be happy with 3 birds a year if it meant more gobbling. As for the no jakes, I just don't see how that is possible. Sometimes you just kill a jake, it happens, sometimes they come gobbling, running, and carrying on and if they aren't strutting or you can't see the beard.... well bang!

 

[TurkeyBurd]

#2,but outlaw killing of jakes except for the kids.

 

[Dodgeball]

#1

 

[Anonymous]

#8

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

#7

 

[8pointbetter]

#9 no jakes more hens

 

[stik]

#11 no closed season-no limit either sex :/ ;)

 

[RUGER]

TTT

votes recorded thus far...

 

[Bow Hunter]

I like #7 but #1 works for me as well.

 

[showmehorns]

Because I want my son and daughter to hammer them like I have when it comes their time, I've taken the #7 stance. However, in a perfect world, I would drop it to 3 birds, no jakes except for the Juvy hunts and do away with fall season all together.

 

[Hawk]

I'm gonna vote for # 1 simply because thats what the folks who are alot smarter than me when it comes to turkey biology have set it at.

1) No change to present bag limits statewide

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!

Not an option on the poll but I think if Tenn. ended each spring day's hunt at 12:00 Central/1:00 DST like Mo. the gobbling would increase and less hens would be bumped off the nest.

 

[Cabbage]

2) Reduce statewide limit to 3 birds, no change to fall season.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

#4 or #5 and only allow 1 jake. But put this spin on it.... allow juvy hunters to take any bird that they want.... long-beard, jake, or hen.

 

[Buck Assassin]

4 and 7

 

[user 972]

1 or 9.

I am no biologist. I think TWRA can handle that department just fine.
I also dont think we should restrict the harvest of jakes or hens any more than it already is. The reason I feel this way? I think if we restrict what our NEW hunters(reguardless of age) can shoot(deer or turkeys, jakes or spikes) and their sucess rate is zero, they would get discourged and quit hunting all together. The same with hunters that have limited time in the field, no sucess, quit hunting, no sales of any products.
I know of some guys that their hunting time got limited due to having kids. This was before Unit L was created. they ended up quiting hunting because all they were seeing was does during their limited hunting time and the does were not legal to shoot.
I also dont care what legal weapon a person uses just as long as that person is in the field enjoying the hunt.

 

[CopperHead77]

#5

 

[RUGER]

Hawk I forgot about that one.
I meant to add that as well.
Time for another poll. :D

 

[VolDoug]

I wouldn't mind going back to 3 statewide & 1 WMA bird, or 2 and 2 like it used to be in the past. Of course, I have a WMA about 20 minutes from my house, and if we went that route, it would be covered up with hunters trying to get that extra bird.

Leave the fall alone. It is a different kind of hunting that those guys are just as hardcore about as the spring hunters are. Only 2000 birds were taken last fall, with 2/3 being hens.

Reducing the jake harvest to one is futile, because most hunters who would take a jake aren't going to kill more than one anyway.

 

[buckhorn40]

7