TWRA method?

[Iglow]

Just wondering, reading through a couple of threads this morning and saw words like "honor system" and "self limiting". I know there is a majority that are law abiding and will do what is best for the game animals (put their overall well being first) but their is a significant minority that are little above slug slime that kill with abandon. Does the TWRA have an "Illegal kill" cushion built into their harvest projections they use to set season and daily limits? Is it a percentage?

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Since Shields took over as turkey coordinator they have released an annual wild turkey harvest "status report." The last few years it has included an estimate for total harvest, including those not checked in, wound loss, etc. I'm not sure exactly how they model it, but last year the estimate was over 60,000 turkeys actually killed.

2023 Harvest Survey

 

[kentuckylakebuck1]

the agency should not look at turkey management through statewide glasses! JMHO

 

[Southern Sportsman]

the agency should not look at turkey management through statewide glasses! JMHO

They are supposed to go to regional units next year.

 

[timberjack86]

What turkeys we got left our screwed. I'm to the point where I don't even look forward to season like I used too.

 

[Iglow]

What turkeys we got left our screwed. I'm to the point where I don't even look forward to season like I used too.

I feel bad for them, I've gotten ready and have hunted but I haven't pulled the trigger on one in 3 years. They are more valuable alive than dead.

 

[timberjack86]

I feel bad for them, I've gotten ready and have hunted but I haven't pulled the trigger on one in 3 years. They are more valuable alive than dead.

Only bird I called up last season I decided to let him walk. Felt if I pulled the trigger I was killing the last gobbler on South Cherokee.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I'm not sure exactly how they model it, but last year the estimate was over 60,000 turkeys actually killed.

 

[Iglow]

Since Shields took over as turkey coordinator they have released an annual wild turkey harvest "status report." The last few years it has included an estimate for total harvest, including those not checked in, wound loss, etc. I'm not sure exactly how they model it, but last year the estimate was over 60,000 turkeys actually killed.

View attachment 220706

2023 Harvest Survey

If they report 60k killed it's more like 70k I bet. And in the report there was a number of 13k shot at / wounded, that's probably low cause people lie so there may be 90k killed along with natural deaths. We need a 2 bird limit max and 1 in struggling counties.

 

[drake799]

All some want are their tags and "opportunity" back lol plenty of birds they say!!!

 

[Wooden Arrow]

i drive all over some prime turkey country daily, and seldom see birds now where i used to see dozens on a prime spring morning. it's sad.

 

[Iglow]

i drive all over some prime turkey country daily, and seldom see birds now where i used to see dozens on a prime spring morning. it's sad.

Same here.

 

[muddyboots]

Same here.

The route I take to my lease and back home in the good old days you would see 50 to 100 turkeys in 1 round trip. I've made that same trip about 5 times since February. Turkeys seen equal 0. It's just very very sad.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I don't have a gobbler on any of the 3 properties I own yet for the first time ever. My house backs up to thousands upon thousands of undeveloped acres….havent heard one single gobble listening several mornings. Not looking good.

 

[Soft Talker]

What turkeys we got left our screwed. I'm to the point where I don't even look forward to season like I used too.

This is what I like to hear. More and more people loosing interest.

 

[Kelljp]

Same here.

Same also

 

[timberjack86]

This is what I like to hear. More and more people loosing interest.

I may not look forward to it like I once did but I'll still be there. I don't hunt them because I want to. I hunt them because I have to;)

 

[Iglow]

I'm thinking maybe if I can get one I'll keep hunting but not shoot another if I have the chance. Once you call and have one close enough the final thing is pulling the trigger, if you got a bead on his head he's good as dead so you got him more or less but difference is he'll be there next time if somebody else don't kill him.

 

[Wooden Arrow]

i'm going to spray down with permethrin and go. don't CARE if i kill one. going to further handicap myself this spring by bowhunting them. got a BBO bow from Vinson Miner i haven't taken into the woods yet... if i'm not gonna kill a dang turkey, i'm going to carry the lightest hunting device i've got...

 

[muddyboots]

And I just watched the new recommendations. Rediculous. Up the limit. Geez Louise.

 

[Stlbaseball1]

They are supposed to go to regional units next year.

From what I've seen in the proposal it will be 2 regional units - a NE region and the rest of the State of TN.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

The proposal has it broken into four units. East, Middle, "Midwest" (i.e., all of West TN except the MS River counties), and "West" (the river counties). But I think the proposed regulations are the same for 3 of the 4, so it would function like two units. But they could modify regs within those four units — hopefully before the dates/limits are finalized.

 

[Stlbaseball1]

Makes sense - therefore them modifying regs within each before the dates/limits are finalized likely won't happen, well because it "makes sense"…

 

[Southern Sportsman]

It blows my mind that they want to move back the start date and raise the limit in the MS River border counties. Though I should be used to this by now.

 

[muddyboots]

I wish they would move season back to April and make limit 2. That's what it was when I started turkey hunting and it was awesome then.

 

[timberjack86]

And I just watched the new recommendations. Rediculous. Up the limit. Geez Louise.

I don't care what they do, I'll set my own limit. 2 birds for me until the population rebounds.

 

[Stlbaseball1]

It blows my mind that they want to move back the start date and raise the limit in the MS River border counties. Though I should be used to this by now.

I agree with this 100% as well as the WMAs along the river bottoms in the rest of West TN. They used to open 2 weeks after the start of season similar to MS River border counties opening 2 weeks later the last couple of years. Why did they do this? To allow more time for breeding in areas that were struggling because of a couple of years of bad hatches. From those I hear, it seemed to have worked, so in true government fashion ( I know technically the commission isn't state government) let's change something that seems to be working. I just don't get it.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I agree with this 100% as well as the WMAs along the river bottoms in the rest of West TN. They used to open 2 weeks after the start of season similar to MS River border counties opening 2 weeks later the last couple of years. Why did they do this? To allow more time for breeding in areas that were struggling because of a couple of years of bad hatches. From those I hear, it seemed to have worked, so in true government fashion ( I know technically the commission isn't state government) let's change something that seems to be working. I just don't get it.

Amen.