https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8WzJykWzfA
Tennessee study clip
I doubt it. Not anytime soon. State agencies don't want to admit they were wrong.
Can't see Akansas moving it back ever! Glad my home state, Ms. never caved and moved it back to begin with!
Arkansas proved this theory wrong a decade + ago. It's why many of us were confused when it took off like wildfire. And state agencies jumped on board wholesale with an easy pen stroke fix. Total hoax
Tennessee still not start until the 11th. It is possible this information was not available when they set the 2026 season dates. We will see what happens in future years.
I hope not up here, I will lose 2 days at the beginning of the season. May 1st is still too late here but that's what we will be stuck with. We really need more support for our long range turkey management plan. I am vocal but don't have any juice where it is needed. :OGturkeyhead: Z
Dates for my state have already been set for 2026 so I agree with others ... NO ....
Well... this information has been out there since April of 2024 and the TN commission has completely ignored the findings of this study when setting our seasons for 2025 and 2026. So I'm going to go with No, We will not be getting moved back to usual openers.
We interviewed Dr. Harper and Dr. Beuhler in April of 2024 if you'd like to hear more about this study-
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-turkey-hunter-podcast-with-andy-gagliano/id859529852?i=1000652354433
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It seems to me that IF it has been clearly established that the traditional/earlier season starting dates have no impact on breeding/fertility, then any decision to return to those traditional dates might best be determined by polling the state's turkey hunters to see what they prefer?...
Having said that, it is counterintuitive to me to think that starting to hunt BEFORE turkeys have had a chance to breed for a period of time prior to hunting them is a good idea...especially in struggling turkey populations. So, the question that comes to my mind is "when do the turkeys in a state actually begin to breed?" Having a firm grasp on that might make establishing season dates based a bit more on science rather than "guess and by gosh" like it seems some states do.
My conclusion, or speculation, in this specific instance is that the TN turkeys in question are/were perhaps initiating breeding a week or two before the traditional early starting dates...which would indicate to me that there is some degree of breeding saturation occurring prior to hunting them. In my mind, that would account for the study's findings.
Regardless, as a general statement, I am personally a proponent of a management strategy that includes not starting to hunt before the turkeys have had a reasonable opportunity to breed. I just fundamentally think that is a good idea. :icon_thumright:
100% agree Gobblenut. That should be the main consideration for setting seasons.
I'm not aware of any studies that show hens are failing to initiate nests..... fact is we are chasing a reason for decline. And we are rejecting what the science tells us. Because we don't like the answer.
My opinion:
Public outcry has influenced season dates.
Public outcry will again, influence dates.
Unless you're a Turkey Biologist take a back seat to those that are and let them do their job!
I am not a turkey biologist, but I enjoy flopping turkeys. Know your place and stay in your lane.
As long as we have openers to enjoy, I'm good whatever dates they choose.
I like to start when the Dogwoods are blooming. Starting later does not seem natural. It is like starting the game at halftime. I think that habitat degradation is the number one issue affecting populations, and that takes a lot of effort and money.
Quote from: WV Flopper on October 13, 2025, 08:48:00 PMMy opinion:
Public outcry has influenced season dates.
Public outcry will again, influence dates.
Unless you're a Turkey Biologist take a back seat to those that are and let them do their job!
I am not a turkey biologist, but I enjoy flopping turkeys. Know your place and stay in your lane.
This. X100.
Seems that they might be starting to settle in on hen mortality. All states have trended the wrong direction for a while except Wisconsin.
In SC, whatever the state legislators decide trumps any wildlife biologist. It's amazing how having a law degree makes one an expert on seemingly every thing.
Quote from: Shiloh on October 15, 2025, 09:25:57 PMSeems that they might be starting to settle in on hen mortality. All states have trended the wrong direction for a while except Wisconsin.
And that same conclusion has came from different research projects across multiple states. When I first saw this from a model, it was definitely an eye opener. And honestly a bit of a headscratcher as the significance was so much greater than other variables. Even a "no hunting" scenario. But then another research project finds similar results. And another. So one of the main drivers of turkey decline could actually be something pretty much completely irrelevant to spring hunting. Kinda ironic considering all the changes that have been made that have resulted in a loss of opportunity.
Some places will likely never get their opportunity back as agencies don't like to admit they were wrong. Especially when they jumped the gun. But it is refreshing to not see "dominant gobbler theory" being blasted everywhere you look now.
Hen survival involves predators, so that will make the trapping crowd happy knowing they are doing good and their efforts aren't for naught.
HABITAT, HABITAT, HABITAT trumps all though. And Mother Nature ultimately decides what kind of hatch we are going to have. Not how many gobblers hunters kill by legal means.
Quote from: PalmettoRon on October 16, 2025, 08:40:26 AMIn SC, whatever the state legislators decide trumps any wildlife biologist. It's amazing how having a law degree makes one an expert on seemingly every thing.
The saddest part of modern "wildlife management"
In Arkansas.....the commissioners make all decisions. They are selected by the governor. All are wealthy political donors.
100% agree with the habitat statement from DH88.
Not a chance in PA.
Our entire turkey program is run by a biologist who couldn't find her hind end with two hands AND a flashlight. :angry9:
She's more likely to recommend moving the opener into June so all hens get a second chance to re-nest before hunters disturb the woods.
Quote from: Yoder409 on October 19, 2025, 07:09:50 PMNot a chance in PA.
Our entire turkey program is run by a biologist who couldn't find her hind end with two hands AND a flashlight. :angry9:
She's more likely to recommend moving the opener into June so all hens get a second chance to re-nest before hunters disturb the woods.
I just hope ya'll get Sunday hunting next spring. There was a presentation posted on here recently where she recommended against it.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on October 19, 2025, 08:50:18 PMQuote from: Yoder409 on October 19, 2025, 07:09:50 PMNot a chance in PA.
Our entire turkey program is run by a biologist who couldn't find her hind end with two hands AND a flashlight. :angry9:
She's more likely to recommend moving the opener into June so all hens get a second chance to re-nest before hunters disturb the woods.
I just hope ya'll get Sunday hunting next spring. There was a presentation posted on here recently where she recommended against it.
OK. Here's how ditzy this gal is....
She's allowing Sundays in the fall. The fall harvest is pedominantly hens. And a very large portion of fall kills are incidental....people hunting squirrels or bowhunting. Well, they legalized crossbows several years back as "legitimate" archery equipment. (That's a whole other issue). It is MUCH easier to take a turkey with a crossbow than with a bow that must be drawn in the turkey's presence. So the incidental fall kill WILL go up with 2 or 3 extra Sundays to hunt. Killing hens is THE thing you do NOT want to do if you are facing populations that are not the best.
BUT..... There will be no Sundays in the spring to harvest toms.....which only affevts the population by ONE BIRD AT A TIME. :z-dizzy:
The lady is TOTALLY lost in the ozone. A while back I posted a video of her, here, addressing the PA board of game commissioners. Very hard to watch.
Anyways..... I'm not a supporter of Sunday hunting, myself. So, the opportunity mattereth not to me. But, yeah..... PA at its finest.
Steve says "It makes perfect sense to me".