I've hunted the unit for the last three years and it appears that there are fewer turkeys each year. I know part of this is "being in the right place at the right time" but I'm starting to wonder if winter survival (or over-hunting) is becoming an issue. I know that the flocks around Blacks Creek Rd are pretty much gone. Another concern - out of 5 hunters and about 12 hunt-days, we saw a good number of hens, some toms (one harvested), but none of us saw any jakes. That leaves me questioning what next year will be like.
Answer:
We currently have no plans to release turkeys in Unit 39. The SW Region is developing a turkey managemet plan to guide decisions such as where and when and why to translocate turkeys. The previous turkey releases have not faired well as the winters of 2008 and 2010 were hard on turkeys. And the wet, cold springs we have experienced the previous 4 years, have not recruited many poults into the population. Fall harvest was closed in 2006 because we were concerned about overharvest of hens. Turkeys can rebound quickly if mother nature will cooperate and provide some favorable weather conditions this spring and winter.
Answered on:
Friday, June 1, 2012 - 3:02 PM MDT