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Post by Woody Williams on May 13, 2009 10:15:10 GMT -5
Change the starting date for turkey season?
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Post by Decatur on May 13, 2009 10:59:20 GMT -5
Since there are basically no turkeys where I live, I don't get to hunt them enough to have any sort of real opinion. I do however, hear a lot of guys complaining that the toms are already henned up when season comes in. Not sure how accurate that is?
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Post by freedomhunter on May 13, 2009 11:09:57 GMT -5
I voted keep it the same. There are just too many variables to predict when they will have hens.
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Post by danf on May 13, 2009 11:31:44 GMT -5
Starting it a week earlier won't change anything- usually by the end of the season (as it is now) the hens are pretty well bred and the toms aren't henned up as badly. IOW, the hens aren't as interested in the toms, but the toms are still looking for love. Moving it ahead a week, I believe, will take the season into the vast majority of the breeding season and the toms will be henned up from the beginning to the end of the season. Scheduling-wise, it won't be favorable for me any way you swing it- from April 1 until the end of May I'm usually working 5-6 days, 60+ hours per week. Throw in two kids with April 26th and May 9th birthdays and my time gets even shorter.
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Post by hornharvester on May 13, 2009 12:30:31 GMT -5
Keep it the same but maybe start a North - South zone like ducks. Up north its a might bit colder than it is along the Ohio River. h.h.
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Post by Ahawkeye on May 13, 2009 13:07:55 GMT -5
HH has a point about temps and such up north, I live in SW Indiana and could see where that would be a factor. My vote is to keep at least the south the same and if the northern guys want it a week later than so be it. On another note I still don't think we're ready to see a 2 bird limit in IN for the spring but I hope we continue to grow the # of birds to see another spring tag. Turkey hunting is so fun to me that I'm a little disapointed when I get a bird and my season is over. Do you guys think we're seeing more birds?
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Post by hunter7x on May 13, 2009 13:12:09 GMT -5
If anything start it later!
I dont think some really understand that being henned up means its too early for good calling. If a gobbler is henned up, it means to me anyway, he has live hens that havent been bred and they call better than I do. At least thats the way I see it. I love late season Turk hunting.
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Post by tickman1961 on May 13, 2009 13:12:10 GMT -5
My vote was keep it the same, I do see HH point about North and South zones.
What is strange about turkeys is I rarely see one during the deer season but covered up with em in the spring and think it won't be long before we are able to kill more than one bird.
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Post by gobblerstopper on May 13, 2009 13:38:50 GMT -5
Now this is my kind of topic ;D. I went fishing yesterday morning and heard three different gobblers between 6-9am. This morning at 10am I went to take my blind out of my food plot and ran a gobbler off out there strutting by himself. I wish season was still in!! I do however, hear a lot of guys complaining that the toms are already henned up when season comes in. Not sure how accurate that is? It is very accurate. The toms are usually henned up pretty good from the start of April-early May. The season is set to catch the middle-end of the breeding cycle and the secondary peak of gobbling. What is strange about turkeys is I rarely see one during the deer season but covered up with em in the spring and think it won't be long before we are able to kill more than one bird. Usually this is because turkeys are focused on different things in the spring/fall. The fall is all about establishing dominance and eating...and staying alive. Turkeys have different food sources in the spring and fall, that is usually why you see flocks shifting throughout the winter. In the spring, it is all about breeding. Hens will move to the other side of the woods or out of the woods to find suitable nesting habitat. The gobblers just follow them. I don't like the idea of raising the limit to two at all. A lot of the state does not have enough birds to do so or do not have suitable habitat to support enough birds in the future to do so either. An additional bird by area (meaning certain portions of the state) is only going to increase pressure from both resident and non-resident hunters. I have a lot of friends from around the country that want to come and hunt Indiana gobblers, but not for $200 for one bird. For two birds, they would be here each spring. If anything start it later!..... I dont think some really understand that being henned up means its too early for good calling. Late season hunting is the best. And probably more productive if you look at the number of birds killed vs. the number of hunters in the woods. The only thing I wouldn't like about a later season is the foliage and the ticks. Keep it the same but maybe start a North - South zone like ducks. Up north its a might bit colder than it is along the Ohio River. h.h. I'd go for this if the DNR sold a North or South Zone tag also. I am fortunate enough to live in the most southern part of the state. It is loaded with birds and I have great public ground within 20 minutes of my house. Although there are a lot of birds around, I don't know that it could handle the pressure that would occur if the northern half of the state could come down here and hunt birds a week (or two) earlier. Don't take that the wrong way, I know that not everyone has as many (or any) birds in their areas, but if I could drive a couple of hours and hunt a week early, I would be doing it too. Actually, I do drive to Kentucky every year to hunt a week earlier. Hey Woody, can we talk about changing the hunting time back to 5:30-noon next?
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Post by Ahawkeye on May 13, 2009 14:10:25 GMT -5
I say no way to the noon stop time, I like being out there after lunch. Most guys give up I say that's more area for me to hunt when they go home but then again I'm not the one making the game laws either.
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Post by bschwein on May 13, 2009 14:22:29 GMT -5
I'd say keep it the same. If anything, I'd like to see them extend it another week!
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Post by mullis56 on May 13, 2009 14:37:11 GMT -5
If anything start it later! I dont think some really understand that being henned up means its too early for good calling. If a gobbler is henned up, it means to me anyway, he has live hens that havent been bred and they call better than I do. At least thats the way I see it. I love late season Turk hunting. If you don't believe it go out next weekend (Memorial Weekend) and set up just like your hunting....(i.e. - locate a bird, set up and try to call him in) and see what happens!
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Post by throbak on May 13, 2009 14:58:47 GMT -5
I say leave it to the biologist they have done a good job so far so i voted leave it alone
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Post by songdog on May 13, 2009 15:43:41 GMT -5
Starting it a week earlier won't change anything- usually by the end of the season (as it is now) the hens are pretty well bred and the toms aren't henned up as badly. IOW, the hens aren't as interested in the toms, but the toms are still looking for love. I agree with DanF, well stated.
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Post by Sasquatch on May 13, 2009 16:42:19 GMT -5
I don't know about the rest of the state, but in the extreme south of the state, the peak of activity is WEEKS before the season opens. I guess the DNR is going for a middle of the road approach on the date to keep things simple and fair.
What I think would be more helpful than moving the date is adding a week in either direction. I can't hardly get any spare time in the spring, getting the yard up to speed, the gardens started, etc.
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Post by larryhagmansliver on May 13, 2009 16:51:06 GMT -5
First of all I must say that "leaving it to the biologist" is not fun at all. They are gonna do what they are gonna do anyway. Second of all, I would say move it up a week so it doesn't interfere with Mothers day.
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Post by hoosierwilk on May 13, 2009 17:20:24 GMT -5
It's fine the way it is. If they were going to change it I would vote for a week later. There will be alot of older birds out looking this week that have had hens with them all season.
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Post by Woody Williams on May 13, 2009 19:48:04 GMT -5
Hey Woody, can we talk about changing the hunting time back to 5:30-noon next? Sure... go ahead.. You start it..
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Post by featherduster on May 14, 2009 19:20:28 GMT -5
It was trained educated people who restored this countries turkey population. Let them decide whats good for the turkeys.
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Post by hoosier on May 14, 2009 19:28:14 GMT -5
I voted to keep it the way it is. Extending it a week later would make calling easier, but, we want to keep things challenging, don't we ;D? ? The greater the endeavor, the sweeter the success . Maybe we can suggest going to chokeless muzzleloading shotguns only!!!
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