Harvest on Pace for Record Season

[Finn209]

Kentucky Commerce Cabinet News Release Spring Turkey Harvest on Pace for Record Season
May 3, 2006 Contact: Steven Dobey
IMMEDIATE RELEASE (800) 852-0942x474
Frankfort, KY –Last year’s mild winter and strong acorn crop have poised Kentucky turkey hunters for a memorable spring season this year. With less than one week remaining in the 2006 season, current numbers are on pace for a potential record spring harvest.
“The harvest now is almost 25,000 birds,” said Steven Dobey, Turkey Program Coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). “At this rate, and depending on weather conditions, it is likely we could see in excess of 28,000 birds taken by the closing date of May 7.”
After three years of slightly declining spring harvests, this increase is a welcome sight to most turkey hunters in the Commonwealth. These fluctuations in numbers, however, are typical of growing or expanding wildlife populations that are approaching carrying capacity in some portions of their range.
Wild turkeys are extremely sensitive to food availability and weather conditions. These two factors have played important roles in Kentucky as summer brood surveys have documented moderate to poor reproductive success among turkeys since 2003. The result of this low reproductive output will be fewer jakes and 1.5 year-old birds available for harvest during the spring and fall seasons, respectively.
“The effect of last year’s poor reproduction is now evident as jakes have comprised only 14% of all birds taken to date”, Dobey said. “What this means for hunters is that while many birds remain available for harvest, you will likely be chasing older, more wary gobblers”.
While the daily numbers thus far are comparable to the record 2002 season, a new record harvest may come down to hunter success over the last two days of the season. This “extra” weekend at the end of the season is the result of action taken by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its August, 2005 meeting. This regulatory change was made to increase opportunities, and should have negligible impacts on turkey numbers.
This year’s excellent spring season, preceded by several years of moderate to poor reproduction, is a strong indicator of the overall health of Kentucky’s turkey flock. Given last year’s poor reproductive success, however, it is likely that fewer birds will be available for harvest next year. As evident over the past 5 years, fluctuations in harvest will likely be the norm for Kentucky as the turkey population stabilizes.
Complete information about spring turkey hunting is available in the 2006 Kentucky Spring Turkey and Squirrel Hunting Supplement, which can be obtained from license dealers or by calling the KDFWR Information Center at (800) 858-1549.

[ril7572]

Here we go:eek:

[Multidigits]

Dang, and they said there wasn't any???? :rolleyes:

[ceohunter]

It might be a record harvest becuase of the extra two weekend days of season. It will be a normal harvest when the first 21 days are up on Friday. In any case, there are birds to chase and hopefully always will be!

[WBBP]

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Department for the fine job it has done over the years managing the turkey resource for our state. I know that there have been a lot of conservation organizations and private individuals involved also and they have my gratitude as well. It took a team effort to get the turkey resource to where it is today.

For the last year, I have witnessed the badmouthing of the Department by some eggheads on this forum and how bad the Department/Commission has managed the turkey resource. Obviously the "egg head know it all doomsdayers were wrong". This has been a great season.

Nothing wrong with disagreeing how things are run, but when you continually attack, you are over the line.

K

[skin_dog1]

This has been a great season for everyone I know. Most everyone I know personally is tagged out or atleast has 1 bird, and blown chances at others. I do think next year will be tougher due to the lack of jakes, but biologically speaking, there will still be plenty enough males to breed and maintain a good population. If it was easy every year then it wouldn't be nearly as much fun. I think the department overall does a great job. I don't agree with everything they do, but I also don't agree with everything our president does. that doesn't mean I'd change the way I voted the last 2 times! Good work KYDFWR!

[Willie]

It might be a record harvest becuase of the extra two weekend days of season. It will be a normal harvest when the first 21 days are up on Friday. In any case, there are birds to chase and hopefully always will be!

Maybe they will put an asterisk * by the new record total. ;)

[JDMiller]

Its been a good Spring Season!!

As of 5/4/06

Total All Counties: 25282 turkeys

Jakes / Juvenile = 3558

[lab]

I also would like to thank the department for the good job that they are dong to make sure that we have the successes that we have from season to season. This year has not been as successful fro me with just one bird to report, but I hope to change that this weekend. I have still been seeing and hearing several adult male birds that are alive and kicking. Again, great job to the department and keep up the good work.

[sirgiovanni]

It's odd how different my season has been from a lot of the comments on the board and people's success. This is not a negative post, it was a fun season. The two strange things that we experienced are explainable, IMO, by the fact that we're trying to get a piece of land back under control that has been over harvested for the past 10 years by legal and illegal hunters. The property was absolutely overrun the last 10 years.

We heard an unbelieveable amount of gobbling. Unfortunately, it was 95% of the time about 100 yards past the property boundaries. When they left the roost, they went away from the property line. :(
But no one can say we didn't hear plenty of mature gobblers.

As far as jakes, we were loaded down with them. I would assume it's due to the past over hunting of the property and they are just starting to re-populate. I'm hoping in another year or two, things will normalize for us. Not sure if I'll make it out the last weekend. Too many hobbies, so little time. But there sure seems to be a bunch of birds in KY, to me.

[Hammer]

Most people I know have had a good year or at least better than last year, and I would say a lot more people have killed birds on this board than last year. However, this season has not been too good for me. I've heard lots of roost gobbling by as many as 6 different birds, but I've only actually worked 1 bird the whole year!! I helped/put down 4 last year, but this year, only 1 so far. I couldn't go today, but I'm planning on getting out there the last 3 days, so maybe all won't be a bust. Congrats to all those who have had great seasons. Last year was great for me when many were having a tough year. Go figure??

[ryan hickey]

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Department for the fine job it has done over the years managing the turkey resource for our state. I know that there have been a lot of conservation organizations and private individuals involved also and they have my gratitude as well. It took a team effort to get the turkey resource to where it is today.

For the last year, I have witnessed the badmouthing of the Department by some eggheads on this forum and how bad the Department/Commission has managed the turkey resource. Obviously the "egg head know it all doomsdayers were wrong". This has been a great season.

Nothing wrong with disagreeing how things are run, but when you continually attack, you are over the line.

K

ummmm, what he said....:)

[Multidigits]

Should make last years total by the end of today or maybe tommorrow, still under the the 21 day framework. Yes, the Dept. has predicted the season well, and have the population est. well in hand. I hear even some birds killed out off of the I-71 travel route.

[mossyhorns]

Yes, killing a lot of birds makes for a great season. Let's see if we can string a few years together now.

[Valley Station]

Dang..... it looks like the "21-day spring harvest" may be down, yet another year from the previous season.
Spring of 2002 - 28,292
Spring of 2003 - 27,550
Spring of 2004 - 26,405
Spring of 2005 - 25,723
Spring of 2006 - 25,????


Would someone please record 2006 Telechek turkey harvest total for 21-days,
record posted on Saturday, 5/06/06 and post it here.

[ceohunter]

Dang..... it looks like the "21-day spring harvest" may be down, yet another year from the previous season.
Spring of 2002 - 28,292
Spring of 2003 - 27,550
Spring of 2004 - 26,405
Spring of 2005 - 25,723
Spring of 2006 - 25,????


Would someone please record 2006 Telechek turkey harvest total for 21-days,
record posted on Saturday, 5/06/06 and post it here.

I agree with you. I think the title of the article is missleading. I have no problems with anything at all other than the article's title being missleading.

[WBBP]

I agree also that the article should have explained the added weekend.

K

[Willie]

Spring of 2002 - 28,292 + 2355 Fall = 30,647

Spring of 2003 - 27,550 + 2805 Fall = 30,355

Spring of 2004 - 26,405 + 6589 Fall = 32,994

Spring of 2005 - 25,723 + 3279 Fall = 29,002

Spring of 2006 - 25,??? + ?,??? Fall = ??,???

Which number is wa-a-a-a-a-y-y-y out of line here?

Why it is the Fall of 2004.

You guys are killing 30,000 birds a year and you’re complaining?

[Valley Station]

Willie,
Complaining?? Stating facts on turkey spring harvest, that are public record.

[Feedman]

While the daily numbers thus far are comparable to the record 2002 season, a new record harvest may come down to hunter success over the last two days of the season. This “extra” weekend at the end of the season is the result of action taken by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its August, 2005 meeting. This regulatory change was made to increase opportunities, and should have negligible impacts on turkey numbers.

I thought that this part of the article explained it?;)

[Feedman]

While the daily numbers thus far are comparable to the record 2002 season, a new record harvest may come down to hunter success over the last two days of the season. This “extra” weekend at the end of the season is the result of action taken by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its August, 2005 meeting. This regulatory change was made to increase opportunities, and should have negligible impacts on turkey numbers.

I thought that this part of the article explained it?;)

[Willie]

Spring of 2002 - 28,292

Spring of 2003 - 27,550

Spring of 2004 - 26,405

Spring of 2005 - 25,723

Spring of 2006 – 25,742 (as of 05/05/06)

[ryan hickey]

Willie,
Complaining?? Stating facts on turkey spring harvest, that are public record.


uhhhh yeah - all i can say is - wow....:rolleyes:

[ril7572]

Dang..... it looks like the "21-day spring harvest" may be down, yet another year from the previous season.
Spring of 2002 - 28,292
Spring of 2003 - 27,550
Spring of 2004 - 26,405
Spring of 2005 - 25,723
Spring of 2006 - 25,????


Would someone please record 2006 Telechek turkey harvest total for 21-days,
record posted on Saturday, 5/06/06 and post it here.

26,269.... Looks like a great season indeed.

[Multidigits]

26,269 at the end of the 21 day season. Not a record, but it's not a decline by any means. Valley, I don't understand what your trying to get at????? Can you explain?

[JDMiller]

26,269.... Looks like a great season indeed.

At the end of 21 days 546 more birds than 2005. It's has been a good season. :D

[turk2di]

We have had a good season, reversing several years of decline. Frankly tho, i thought we would break 30,000! But that was predicated on that i erroniously assumed we had a great hatch in 05. The weather was perfect for it, but i didn't consider the effects of the poor 04 mast crop affecting hens the way it apparently did! Acorns are still laying on the ground, so with some luck regarding weather during this 06 hatch, perhaps in 08 we will break 30,000!

[ril7572]

27,253 with 1 day to go.:)