Setterman
Well-Known Member
Rumors swirling about TWRA voting today on lowering our limit, any one else hearing this?
Vote to lower limits
- Thread starter Setterman
- Start date
Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Have not heard this rumor but it would be sweet to my ears if true,I'd be very pleased with a statewide limit of two gobblers!
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Any talk of pushing season back 2 weeks? I don't think a lower limit by itself will be enough.
I had a self imposed limit of 2 birds for over a decade on my farms, and it didn't make a difference... granted, neighbors were killing 4 themselves.
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I had a self imposed limit of 2 birds for over a decade on my farms, and it didn't make a difference... granted, neighbors were killing 4 themselves.
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Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
My thinking as well. So what if it saves a few toms, if breeding/nesting success still sucks not sure how much a difference it'll make in the overall health of the population over the longer term.megalomaniac":2jxnp4oz said:
By this statement, it is the breeding/nesting success that is more to blame than the number of toms for breeding. If that is correct, why even lower the limit or push the season back 2 weeks? I am playing devil's advocate and I do understand your point.Boll Weevil":ruzcjzka said:
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
The April meeting of the F&W Commission will discuss proposals for upcoming seasons. That meeting is Friday (remote Zoom meeting.) It will be streamed online I believe. I'm sure the commission and TWRA are discussing lots of things right now for possible proposals. The final vote will be at the May meeting. So pay attention Friday and if you don't like the proposed changes, call your commissioner and rally everyone else you get to call as well.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Coker":1cia8163 said:
I honestly believe nesting success is based on fertility. And fertility is based on number of toms available for the hen to pick from when she begins ovulating, as well as the number of toms that remain available during the 2 weeks of laying (since the hen continues to breed fairly regularly to maximize fertility of the eggs toward the end of her clutch). A hen that isn't bred will stay lay eggs, but somehow she senses they are not fertile and she may just drop them random places instead of laying them in an actual nest.
In areas with a ton of male birds, removing a couple early won't affect nesting success. But there are more areas in TN with just a smattering of turkeys instead of a ton, and removing even just a couple could have devastating effects on fertility. In all areas of the state, having a holdover of adult toms after season ends is also very beneficial to ensure jennies actually get bred, as well as those hens who have to renest get bred again.
In other words, the number of male birds killed is important, but not nearly as important as WHEN they are killed during the breeding season (or in the case of TN, killed even prior to breeding.)
I used to be on the "lower the limit" bandwagon a decade ago when I began seeing turkeys disappear from areas they had been present for the 15 years prior. But after examining so many nests and eggs found during 1st hay season, I realized nests weren't even being initiated until the 2nd to 3rd week of April, and hens weren't setting on average until the first week of May. That observation made me realize that delaying season start would produce far more benefits to allowing turkeys to expand in population and recolonize areas that have lost birds.
If they move season 2 weeks Later I won't have a season.
Southern Sportsman
Well-Known Member
muddyboots":rgzwshff said:
Why?
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Southern Sportsman":1rdjrj9q said:
x2.
Southern Sportsman":1ampmdro said:
For some reason our turkeys act way different than majority of state. Right now hunting here is basically deer hunting and I care nothing for that. Hens are with hens. Gobblers with gobblers. If our season starts 2 weeks later I have no desire to go. I care nothing about sitting in a blind and hoping a gobbler walks by. I personally don't think thats the problem. Our season used to open last Saturday in March and hunting was phenomenal then. But limit was 2. I think that is the key. Just my opinion.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
For the record this wasn't a poll or opinion, there were rumors today that our season was going to be adjusted immediately to lower limits or early closure due to kill totals. That's where this originated
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Setterman":2z8hxl6y said:
That's most likely only a rumor, as the agency almost never does anything proactively.
gobblesandgrunts
Well-Known Member
AgreedWrangler95":2m7a4o3z said:
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AlabamaSwamper
Well-Known Member
I've been expressing my concerns for 9 years since 2011
When they did respond it was always I'm dumb and nothing is wrong
Hope they are happy.
When they did respond it was always I'm dumb and nothing is wrong
Hope they are happy.
woodsman04
Well-Known Member
I think they should try a later season for 4-5 years and see if that helps. Limits don't matter as much as timing on when they are shot.
April 12 or so would be a good start date in my area, this is the time of year when you see lots of single hens spread out over the countryside nesting.
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April 12 or so would be a good start date in my area, this is the time of year when you see lots of single hens spread out over the countryside nesting.
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I'll support any common sense measure to help the turkey population because up to this point it's been nonexistent.
THIS THIS THIS.muddyboots":ksyubtk8 said:
i miss those days of hunting the last week of March. The last week of March until the 2nd week of April is the best time to be in the woods where I hunt. It is the 3rd week of the season and it has just about shut down. The gobblers wont come to a call or a decoy. You can still catch them in a field strutting but good luck trying to kill them. Don't get me wrong, they can still be killed but a lot of patience, knowing the lay of the land, and setting up in front of them is key. It is more of a waiting game than anything.
timberghost3591
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I talked to a fella today from TWRA. Said the lowering of limits was given. It's gonna happen. Only thing now in debate is whether they want to also change the dates and if TWRA thought Zones like deer hunting would be a good idea. Say Zone 4 can sustain a 3 bird limit, but Zone 1 (MS River area) can only handle 2.
I'm all for limiting Out of State hunters. Hell Ark is doing it with ducks. Why can't we do it with turkeys. Do something. Hell I have been fighting a guy from MS all yr. I tried working with him early in the yr, but once I figured out he would work with me as long as he was getting the better end, I said to hell with it. Let's just say, he hasn't had any luck in the last wk cause what he is hunting ain't there anymore... He doesn't know that tho...
I'm all for limiting Out of State hunters. Hell Ark is doing it with ducks. Why can't we do it with turkeys. Do something. Hell I have been fighting a guy from MS all yr. I tried working with him early in the yr, but once I figured out he would work with me as long as he was getting the better end, I said to hell with it. Let's just say, he hasn't had any luck in the last wk cause what he is hunting ain't there anymore... He doesn't know that tho...
I am for a lower limit possibly. How many hunters kill 3 and 4? If it is a very small percentage, it will have little impact on population.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Seems the real discussions have been more about budgetary funding than turkey management?timberghost3591":1vz4u8g2 said:
Having a later opening date would be the one change that would help turkey populations the most?
Yes, I'll vote to lower the limits, too.
if that is actually a voting option.
Turkey zones may be a good idea in theory,
but a statewide simple plan could work best.
As a starting point . . . . . . . .
I'd go whole hog on a season opening date of the 2nd Saturday of April
with a statewide 2-bird limit.
If our turkey population and its sustainability in the presence of more hunters,
and more effective hunters, becomes better,
then re-visit.
The biggest problem is TWRA has gone too long with the same ole, same ole
failure to do much anything different regarding our turkey regs.
The turkeys are thriving and expanding in many urban subdivisions where they aren't hunted.
Why?
On the other hand, with the expansion of baiting and illegally killing turkeys over bait,
maybe none of this really matters much?
Except that baiting would be less effective if the season opened later?
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
I believe what's really mattering more then the limitHillbilly Hunter":2gsaxcc8 said:
is just how many turkey hunters we now have "afield".
Never before has the "average" turkey hunter afield been so "effective"
with his (or her) abilities to kill a turkey, or a bunch of turkeys.
The real issue (regarding limits) may be more about how many hunters kill 1 (or more)
of a dwindling resource?
Also, not reflected in any harvest data,
what are the numbers of "shot at" birds that simply run or fly away
later dying from a pellet in their gut?
Hunters are taking longer range shots than ever before,
wounding more birds than ever before?
A single TSS pellet to the gut of a turkey 70 yards away,
likely means death within the coming week?
Just saying, we collectively kill a lot more turkeys than end up in the harvest data.
elknturkey
Well-Known Member
You're crazy if you think they're going to limit NR. $332 is too good to pass up. Most expensive turkey tags in the country. Bag limit and season dates will happen before that. How many birds have nonresidents killed? How did the nonresident affect you if you made it "quiet". I'm for lowering the limit but what percentage is killing 4 birds? 3? 2? Isn't this the same forum that had guys crying over lowering the buck limit? I honestly don't mean to come off as a jerk and this is not directed towards you but the whining gets old. I'm all for managing by region.timberghost3591":3kprwjbl said:
Kill 30000 birds and there's too many nonresident hunters or bag limit is too high! Kill 20000 and there's not enough turkeys! Same song and dance for the last 10 years
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
For they guys thinking birds are done and the good hunting is over after 1st week of April, I PROMISE you will have the best hunting you've ever experienced if you delay season start 2 to 3 weeks, retain 20,000 to 25,000 gobblers statewide, and start mid April hunting unpressured/ unhunted birds.
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Bgoodman30
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timberghost3591":3oo4ruve said:
Do you hunt other states?
timberghost3591
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Bgoodman30":x9wsawhg said:
I do not. Not even ducks anymore. My turkey hunting is done on public land. I make it work best I can and will help a total stranger. Hell I just sat for an hour and made a map for a fella from Memphis who got drawn for achickasaw this wknd to show him where we heard birds gobbling and killed birds last wknd. I have no problem with other hunters, UNTIL they go out of their way to ruin my hunts. Most of the time I get up at 1:30 or 2:30 in the morning just to make sure I have the spot I want. Some nights I sleep at the gate.
I didn't even mean for this to be a moaning and groaning thing. And I wasn't doing that and I apologize if SOME people took it that way. I thought this was a "discussion" and I could say MY opinion on the subject.
