Wish granted

[Coker]

For those of yall that complained about Turkey decline in TN and wished for a change or anything different........your wish has come true. :mad:

https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/twra/hunting/big-game/turkey.html#springturkey
I don't like it at all.

 

[Spurhunter]

Needed to be done. Better late than never. But why Tennessee allows deer hunters to fling arrows at turkeys during the fall is beyond me.

 

[younggun308]

I'm confused, since you linked to the page full of all manner of regulations.

Are you reacting to the new regs adopted at the end of the last season?

 

[Gravey]

Looks like they lowered the limit to 2 (only 1 can be a jake) and pushed the season back 2 weeks. I have no preference on the season dates and am ok with 2 per year as I only try to kill 1. What part don't you like or is it both?

 

[Gobble4me757]

Haha no data backing any of these changes…just saying. No data showing that it has worked in all the other states that have tried it. Decreasing opportunities doesn't work in improving the population. Trapping and habitat management has been shown to improve. I'm sick of this crap.

 

[Coker]

I'm confused, since you linked to the page full of all manner of regulations.

Are you reacting to the new regs adopted at the end of the last season?

Yes, reacting to the dates in particular. Mid April to Late May??? IMO, the best part of the season is the 1st two weeks in April. By the 3rd or 4th week, the gobbling has slowed way down, gobblers are not interested anymore, and the hunting is almost over. Don't get me wrong, gobblers can still be killed but the "vocal" part of the season is almost over.
As Gobbble4me stated, no proof any of these changes have worked. TWRA is shooting in the dark hoping something will fix the issue.

 

[BigRod]

only thing I hate about it is the push back in dates. I'm all for the 2 limit and only 1 being a jake.

 

[Gravey]

Yes, reacting to the dates in particular. Mid April to Late May??? IMO, the best part of the season is the 1st two weeks in April. By the 3rd or 4th week, the gobbling has slowed way down, gobblers are not interested anymore, and the hunting is almost over. Don't get me wrong, gobblers can still be killed but the "vocal" part of the season is almost over.

That's strange for me because I hardly ever kill one at the beginning of the season as they're all henned up. This year opening day had 5 longbeards gobbling but wouldn't leave hens. I'd rather hunt them mid-April through the first week of May as I've always had better luck then. By the end of May it will be too hot for me more than likely.

 

[drake799]

Man I've seen birds gobble their heads off last weekend in season and I've seen birds breeding in June I would imagine pressure is what shuts birds up 3 weeks into season

 

[Spurhunter]

Man I've seen birds gobble their heads off last weekend in season and I've seen birds breeding in June I would imagine pressure is what shuts birds up 3 weeks into season

Ding ding ding! Winner winner chicken dinner!

 

[woodsman04]

Pressure/less gobblers to be heard is what shuts them up later in the season. Last week in April-first week in May are they best to hunt around here because most hens are starting to set.

Dr. Mike Chamberlain has tons of research on that with hunted vs non hunted populations. Basically after people start driving around calling from roads being "googans" the turkeys shut up. Pretty simple.


I don't like the reduced limit but oh well. Probably needs to be done. I think the moving the dates back will accomplish more than anything.

Also nest predators need more eradication and people need to do more to help beating and brooding habitat.

Outlawing decoys will -also help a lot

 

[th88]

This is what happens when everyone becomes brain washed by a theory that is not even backed by actual data. A theory by a biologist that rose to stardom after appearing on a Meateater podcast. Another contributing factor is all the new turkey hunters who whine when it isn't easy for them to get their limit on years without lots of 2 year olds. Well, at least now they can have an easier time posting "#taggedout".

 

[th88]

Oh, and we can't forget about the new WMA restrictions on certain WMAs. We can thank one of our very own YouTubers for contributing to that one.

 

[megalomaniac]

Decreasing opportunities doesn't work in improving the population. Trapping and habitat management has been shown to improve. I'm sick of this crap.

Opportunities unchanged. Same number of hunting days.

You do lose a bird with the new regs ( 2 if you are a jake killer). I don't think the limit needed to be reduced, but wished all jakes were illegal to kill.

Certainly the new regs are a hodgepodge of things that will help while others will make no real difference.

 

[younggun308]

The three of y'all must've been a hoot when they lowered the buck limit.

 

[Hduke86]

I wished they would have made non resident a draw hunt and very limited at that. I also like they gave trapping year round on raccoons cause I've been putting to use the 25-30 dog proof traps I have. I just wished all these freaking feral cats would stick their paws in there.

 

[TnKen]

I wished they would have made non resident a draw hunt and very limited at that. I also like they gave trapping year round on raccoons cause I've been putting to use the 25-30 dog proof traps I have. I just wished all these freaking feral cats would stick their paws in there.

Use a fish based bait and convert to a push pull trigger. Will Also catch skunks and possums

 

[Hduke86]

Use a fish based bait and convert to a push pull trigger. Will Also catch skunks and possums

I have all z-traps which are push/pull sets and they are great on catch rates. I've gotten a few possums and fortunately I've only seen one skunk in my area in 15 years but I usually toss a small piece of tuna or sardine in the bottom for scent. Maybe I'll try some moist cat food and see how it goes.

 

[XCR-2]

Yes, reacting to the dates in particular. Mid April to Late May??? IMO, the best part of the season is the 1st two weeks in April. By the 3rd or 4th week, the gobbling has slowed way down, gobblers are not interested anymore, and the hunting is almost over. Don't get me wrong, gobblers can still be killed but the "vocal" part of the season is almost over.
As Gobbble4me stated, no proof any of these changes have worked. TWRA is shooting in the dark hoping something will fix the issue.

It's probably because "they dead"

 

[PalsPal]

Oh, and we can't forget about the new WMA restrictions on certain WMAs. We can thank one of our very own YouTubers for contributing to that one.

What are those restrictions?

 

[woodsman04]

This is what happens when everyone becomes brain washed by a theory that is not even backed by actual data. A theory by a biologist that rose to stardom after appearing on a Meateater podcast. Another contributing factor is all the new turkey hunters who whine when it isn't easy for them to get their limit on years without lots of 2 year olds. Well, at least now they can have an easier time posting "#taggedout".

I like your thoughts, not arguing and I've thought the same thing on if he's right or not. But this guy I think is legit. I read his stuff way before he got popular on social media. I don't know about his "dominant gobbler theory." But I do think too many may be being killed before breeding is done. Because it's so easy to for people to stake out dekes and double or triple up with their buddies on opening Saturday 10 minutes after flydown.

 

[woodsman04]

Oh, and we can't forget about the new WMA restrictions on certain WMAs. We can thank one of our very own YouTubers for contributing to that one.

Yea. I knew it would happen and it did. I was hoping thought it would be a fad that didn't last long, but so far it's been about 9-10 seasons and getting worse since THP guys.

 

[th88]

I like your thoughts, not arguing and I've thought the same thing on if he's right or not. But this guy I think is legit. I read his stuff way before he got popular on social media. I don't know about his "dominant gobbler theory." But I do think too many may be being killed before breeding is done. Because it's so easy to for people to stake out dekes and double or triple up with their buddies on opening Saturday 10 minutes after flydown.

He is legit, but has went "all in" so to say on this theory. He's so deep at this point, he can't back out. Especially since state agencies are now changing seasons based on his theory. I know how academia works. He will try to twist any data and results they gather to try to fit his narrative. He can't be wrong at this point.

Don't get me wrong, I'm THRILLED to see the latest push in turkey research. I think A LOT of the current studies are needed. Others, such as throwing up audio recording devices to see the differences in private vs public gobbling activity and chronology. Eh.... Its been done plenty of times.

Another pet peeve of mine is how Chamberlain will post outlier data, not specifically mentioning its outlier data, but your average joe blow turkey hunter runs with that outlier data and thinks its more "the norm". Example: spur length and gobbler age. Yeah, some 2 year old birds will have 1"+ spurs. Some 5 year old birds may not have 1"+. But in general, gobblers do fit into spur length age classes.

One thing is for sure, all a turkey hunter needs to be a biologist today is a social media account to follow a few people.

 

[Huntaholic]

PERSONALLY, I would prefer them to close the season May 1st. All they really did was add the 2 weeks lost on the front to the back end.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

Yea. I knew it would happen and it did. I was hoping thought it would be a fad that didn't last long, but so far it's been about 9-10 seasons and getting worse since THP guys.

Plz explain what you guys are referring to, I haven't read the changes to any of the wma rules.

 

[scn]

I totally support the changes in the regs. I just wish they had happened several years ago. I'm afraid it may be too little, too late.

Easy to see in this thread who cares more for the grip-n-grins than the future of the turkey population.

 

[Gravey]

PERSONALLY, I would prefer them to close the season May 1st. All they really did was add the 2 weeks lost on the front to the back end.

If the weather gets hot by mid May moving those 2 weeks from the front to the back will eliminate them for me. Not going after them when it's 85+ degrees. If others follow suit maybe that'll save a few more. I think maybe they didn't eliminate days but are counting on guys not hunting when it gets so hot.

 

[Huntaholic]

If the weather gets hot by mid May moving those 2 weeks from the front to the back will eliminate them for me. Not going after them when it's 85+ degrees. If others follow suit maybe that'll save a few more. I think maybe they didn't eliminate days but are counting on guys not hunting when it gets so hot.

I hate to sound like a setter, catmando, mega, whoever, but if youre not done in 2 weeks with a 2 bird limit something is bad wrong with your approach.

 

[megalomaniac]

If the weather gets hot by mid May moving those 2 weeks from the front to the back will eliminate them for me. Not going after them when it's 85+ degrees. If others follow suit maybe that'll save a few more. I think maybe they didn't eliminate days but are counting on guys not hunting when it gets so hot.

I don't think it was as much as 'counting on guys not hunting' as it was the decision to give toms a chance to breed hens before they are killed while not taking any hunting days away from the general public.

I agree, late season turkey hunting is feast or famine. Days of not hearing a gobble, then all of a sudden you hit a small bachelor group that races one another to your call. Turkey hunting itself in late May can be just as good as early April, just way more inconsistent. But at least the bird you kill in Kate May has had every chance to breed the available adult hens, maybe even a 2nd time for those renesting. And hopefully the jakes have matured to the point where they can clean up the 3rd nesters and jennies who are just breeding late May/ early June.

As far as warmer temps, more bugs, more snakes, etc, etc, etc, whine, whine, whine at the end of May... well it's those guys losses. While turkeys may not act like turkeys every day of late season, there are some days where they want to read the script and play ball like a man. Just got to be in the woods to play the game.

The biggest boon for delayed season opener will be those areas with a marginal populations.. 1 tom, 2 jakes, 4 or 5 hens... not another flock for 3 or 4 miles around. Now that single tom will have a chance to breed many of the hens before he is killed. Sure 90% of his ladies nests will be destroyed by predators after he is killed, but at least the hens were given the chance to initiate a nest of fertile eggs.

 

[megalomaniac]

A serious question... those of you hunters who hunted in southern middle TN or far western TN this past season where season opening was delayed 2 weeks... did you feel the 2 week delay hampered your ability to kill a turkey? Was opening day for you mid April silent ('birds all gobbled out') by your opener?