Post by Woody Williams on May 7, 2007 6:39:32 GMT -5
State's starting dates are big fat turkeys
By Phil Potter
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Are you one of the many dissatisfied with Indiana's 2007 spring turkey season? The flack started even before the season opened when hunters in the southern third of the state found out the start date was even later than last year's tail dragger.
The felony got compounded when the "March Meltdown" threw turkey mating habits into high gear way too soon. When April ushered in the sudden freeze, the cold snap effectively caused turkeys to start sulking, so much so that hunters in many states are calling 2007 "the season that's yet to happen."
So what's the problem? First, it's not one problem but several, and they're part of a growing trend. With global warming, wildlife in general is getting mixed signals on when to migrate, breed, feed and bear young. Astute biologists have noted that many migrating bird species are coming back too early and finding normal food sources in scant supply.
In the case of non-migrating birds such as turkeys, surges of warmer weather send them into a breeding mode too early and with too little accumulated body fat. This is especially true after they survived the 2006 winter where there was little natural mast and almost zero waste grain.
When the warming trend signaled breeding time, albeit too early, gobblers also found the need to feed. This effectively turned the strut-and-rut pattern into a flirt-and-feed frenzy. Hunters decried the lack of strutting toms and their reluctance to make but little roost vocalizations. Worse yet, when they fly down, the birds seem to go into a stealth mode. When turkeys play quiet peek-a-boo, it makes for a long, tough hunting season.
So is it the turkeys' or the hunters' frustrations that are compounding the felony? Perhaps we should examine other issues, such as why the Indiana Department of Natural Resources won't manage hunting in a long state with three distinct geophysical zones with more than blanket regulations. Each zone should have a different opening and closing to best accommodate both turkeys and hunters.
This year is a good case for management change because, from Rockville northward, turkey hunters report birds running to the call while southern hunters rage against a season that yearly becomes more frustrating than rewarding.
The southern end of the state continues to labor in the shadow of the central and northern sections, where apparently the state has set reasonable season openings. Now the time has come to demand a north-south season-opening split or grant six weeks of seasons that give equality to all parts of the state.
Since Indiana takes eons to change things, write the IDNR and express your views. Grumbling does no good when it fails to reach those who should make the changes.
You can contact Phil Potter at potteroutdoors@yahoo.com
www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/06/no-headline---06c05pottercol/
By Phil Potter
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Are you one of the many dissatisfied with Indiana's 2007 spring turkey season? The flack started even before the season opened when hunters in the southern third of the state found out the start date was even later than last year's tail dragger.
The felony got compounded when the "March Meltdown" threw turkey mating habits into high gear way too soon. When April ushered in the sudden freeze, the cold snap effectively caused turkeys to start sulking, so much so that hunters in many states are calling 2007 "the season that's yet to happen."
So what's the problem? First, it's not one problem but several, and they're part of a growing trend. With global warming, wildlife in general is getting mixed signals on when to migrate, breed, feed and bear young. Astute biologists have noted that many migrating bird species are coming back too early and finding normal food sources in scant supply.
In the case of non-migrating birds such as turkeys, surges of warmer weather send them into a breeding mode too early and with too little accumulated body fat. This is especially true after they survived the 2006 winter where there was little natural mast and almost zero waste grain.
When the warming trend signaled breeding time, albeit too early, gobblers also found the need to feed. This effectively turned the strut-and-rut pattern into a flirt-and-feed frenzy. Hunters decried the lack of strutting toms and their reluctance to make but little roost vocalizations. Worse yet, when they fly down, the birds seem to go into a stealth mode. When turkeys play quiet peek-a-boo, it makes for a long, tough hunting season.
So is it the turkeys' or the hunters' frustrations that are compounding the felony? Perhaps we should examine other issues, such as why the Indiana Department of Natural Resources won't manage hunting in a long state with three distinct geophysical zones with more than blanket regulations. Each zone should have a different opening and closing to best accommodate both turkeys and hunters.
This year is a good case for management change because, from Rockville northward, turkey hunters report birds running to the call while southern hunters rage against a season that yearly becomes more frustrating than rewarding.
The southern end of the state continues to labor in the shadow of the central and northern sections, where apparently the state has set reasonable season openings. Now the time has come to demand a north-south season-opening split or grant six weeks of seasons that give equality to all parts of the state.
Since Indiana takes eons to change things, write the IDNR and express your views. Grumbling does no good when it fails to reach those who should make the changes.
You can contact Phil Potter at potteroutdoors@yahoo.com
www.courierpress.com/news/2007/may/06/no-headline---06c05pottercol/
