Been reading some of y'alls threads on your current population and steps your commission is/isn't taking to correct the problem. I have family in TN and hunt there quite often so it is of interest to me. Let me start by saying that here in AR we have been down the exact road you are currently heading down.
Some of you might not be aware, but AR was one of the very first destination states for turkey hunting. The Ouachita Mountains used to boast incredible turkey hunting in the 80s. The state as a whole peaked in the late 90s and early 00s and we crashed around 2009-2010. We went from killing 20,000 at the peak to 9,000 in 7-8 years. AGFC began shortening our season when the harvest numbers and poult production continued to fall but it was too little too late.
Ultimately, we went from a 31 day season that opened in late March/early April to a 16 day season that opens in late April. We also implemented a no-jakes rule in 2012 or so. Fall season has been cancelled statewide for a number of years.
At first the response from the public was very negative. Personally I agree with the regulation in premise, however I would structure things differently. Fortunately, the proof is in the pudding for the most part. Our numbers while far from great are definitely better than at the low point. We are sustaining a population rather than being in a decline phase. Instead of a turkey on every ridge, you'll find pockets of turkeys around. The last couple years our harvest has leveled out at 11,000-12,000 during a 16 day season some of which can be attributed ot the increased gobbler carryover from the last year's jakes.
Our previous turkey biologist at AGFC was very proactive and outstanding. He led a number of efforts including the current season structure, jakes rule, etc. From what I can glean from the data he compiled is that everything boils down to poult production which is no surprise to anyone. The main factors affecting poult production are weather, predators and habitat. They all work together. One study banded 45 hens in the Ouachita Mountains. Only TWO were successful at raising a brood! TWO! Most were killed on the nest by coyote or were raided by coons. Weather does play a role in that the drier the year, the harder it is for predators to detect the nest. 2012 was a bad spring drought here in AR and not surprisingly we had our best hatch in a decade. Habitat is crucial in that the wetter years it might help older hens escape predation. Poults are also very susceptible to pneumonia during the first two weeks and cold rains can definitely kill a bunch in a hurry.
Rambled a bit there but we have been at the very point TN is facing now. People assume where there are an abundance of turkey there always will be. Point of all this is, you can't regulate more turkeys and an expanding population, but I feel you can limit harvest and sustain a population to a certain degree.
Some of you might not be aware, but AR was one of the very first destination states for turkey hunting. The Ouachita Mountains used to boast incredible turkey hunting in the 80s. The state as a whole peaked in the late 90s and early 00s and we crashed around 2009-2010. We went from killing 20,000 at the peak to 9,000 in 7-8 years. AGFC began shortening our season when the harvest numbers and poult production continued to fall but it was too little too late.
Ultimately, we went from a 31 day season that opened in late March/early April to a 16 day season that opens in late April. We also implemented a no-jakes rule in 2012 or so. Fall season has been cancelled statewide for a number of years.
At first the response from the public was very negative. Personally I agree with the regulation in premise, however I would structure things differently. Fortunately, the proof is in the pudding for the most part. Our numbers while far from great are definitely better than at the low point. We are sustaining a population rather than being in a decline phase. Instead of a turkey on every ridge, you'll find pockets of turkeys around. The last couple years our harvest has leveled out at 11,000-12,000 during a 16 day season some of which can be attributed ot the increased gobbler carryover from the last year's jakes.
Our previous turkey biologist at AGFC was very proactive and outstanding. He led a number of efforts including the current season structure, jakes rule, etc. From what I can glean from the data he compiled is that everything boils down to poult production which is no surprise to anyone. The main factors affecting poult production are weather, predators and habitat. They all work together. One study banded 45 hens in the Ouachita Mountains. Only TWO were successful at raising a brood! TWO! Most were killed on the nest by coyote or were raided by coons. Weather does play a role in that the drier the year, the harder it is for predators to detect the nest. 2012 was a bad spring drought here in AR and not surprisingly we had our best hatch in a decade. Habitat is crucial in that the wetter years it might help older hens escape predation. Poults are also very susceptible to pneumonia during the first two weeks and cold rains can definitely kill a bunch in a hurry.
Rambled a bit there but we have been at the very point TN is facing now. People assume where there are an abundance of turkey there always will be. Point of all this is, you can't regulate more turkeys and an expanding population, but I feel you can limit harvest and sustain a population to a certain degree.
