LOW KILL?

[joekat46]

Was I the only one turkey hunting yesterday? I hunted the normally heavily hunted Clarks River NWR yesterday and had it all to myself. I couldn't find the birds but I know there are some around. Did not see any other hunters and didn't see any cars parked in the usual access spots when I left. The total Marshall County gun kill stands at two (2) when I just checked the web site. I guess that will leave a few more for the spring but why aren't more guys taking advantage of this season. With today's weather I can't imagine many more will be taken this weekend. I'll give it another try Monday and Wednesday.

[Multidigits]

Fall hunting is boring. I went, and will be going again today, but it's not much fun with out the gobbling. The high wind didn't help much. We were at least hearing some hens in the morning, but not yesterday. Oh well.

[mossyhorns]

Most of us realize that if we want to really enjoy hunting turkeys in the spring, we can't go out and kill them in the fall.

[Boss Gobbler]

AMEN mossy! That would be like going out in the summer and shooting all the buck fawns. Not a good management tactic.

[turk2di]

I didn't think it was possible but i slipped around Peabody this morning for 6 hours and never crossed paths with birds or sign of any[:(]Could the hatch of 03 be worse than we thought[:0]Granted it was dreary for the most part.Oh well, on to bow-hunting rutting bucks[:p]

what u get out, is what u put in

[joekat46]

Old traditions do die hard don't they? I'll bet the Frankfort guys that set these seasons and bag limits have to be shaking their heads[:0]. To each his own I guess. I could dig through a bunch of NWTF stuff and quote all the reasons a fall season doesn't hurt a healthy turkey population but I know when I'm beat. Kentucky could save a lot of money by not hiring all those wildlife biologist. We have an overabundance of self proclaimed experts right here.[:p][:p].

[joekat46]

I just read my reply to yesterday's comments and was almost feeling embarrassed but then thought - nah - not really. I'm up, dressed in camo, and ready to head out for a fall turkey hunt. I have nothing to apologize about. These fall seasons don't hurt the turkey population and may even make the gobblers more responsive in the spring. Thanks to KY Wildlife for setting the October season. I'm enjoying it.[:D][:D].

[mossyhorns]

You're probably right, joekat. After all, the biologists say it's OK. And while you're at it, be sure to kill extra does this year like the biologists say. And kill off some of those spikes and forkhorns -- after all, "any deer is a trophy."

Seriously, you have nothing to apologize for. It's a legal season and if you enjoy it, have at it without guilt.

As to tradition, that's what the Frankfort boys don't always get. Hunting and hunting seasons are deeply entrenched in tradition cultivated over generations of hunters and hunting families. Tradition is what keeps our sport going. Lose the traditional aspect and you lose future hunters. Of course, tradition has to start somewhere so maybe the fall turkey shoot will carry on through the generations. It will be difficult for the fall turkey season or any season to become steeped in tradition if the Dept. feels the need to tinker with it every year.

[Hammer]

unless I'm remembering wrong, the tradition IS TO HUNT turkeys in the FALL and WINTER. Somebody rebutt that if it's incorrect. I would argue that the Spring season is a much newer tradition than one in the Fall and Winter. We do eat turkeys on Thanksgiving, right? The Pilgrims and settlers weren't eating those white ones either.

[Valley Station]

Yes, back in those days they shot them in the fall.
But, they also, gathered the eggs from the nest and shot turkey from the roost at night with a lantern.[V]

[mossyhorns]

So when will they be opening season on injuns, too?

[Hammer]

lol, weak comebacks, boys! Gobble, gobble.

[Multidigits]

Just think, ole Ben wanted to make the turkey the national bird, instead of the eagle. Had he gotten his way, we be hunting eagles now, and saluting all them damn turkeys. What's the limit on injuns????

[Feedman]

Sunday's Lexington Herald said that this year's hatch was the worst in 10 years. Central Kentucky was 2 poults per hen and and southern and eastern ky was 2.3 poults per hen. It will be tough the next couple of years.

Take a breath, Let it half out, slowly squeeze the trigger. Oh!! what a feeling!!!!!!!!!

[GSP]

I saw over 40 today. Couldn't do anything with them

[CVN71 Ordnance]

I don't doubt that. I have been watching 5 hens and 2 gobblers all summer long, not one had any youngn's. Maybe next year we will have a better hatch.

GO NAVY!!!

[Multidigits]

Total checked was 1116

[schuyler olt]

After all that stuff I took last year getting the October season established, would you believe I never even came close to having a chance to go hunting?[:(!]

That kill number sounds right in line with what the biologists figured. With the fall tags now a part of the Sportsman's license, it will be a little harder to guage whether this caused an increase in the number of fall hunters. Does anyone know how many tags were sold?

I too have heard reports of a less than spectacular hatch, although some areas apparently did okay. This is probably a factor of the early June weather, which didn't hit some areas as hard as others. You probably won't hear alot less gobbling this year, but if there was ever a year to let the jakes walk, this is it. If we hammer the jakes this spring, the next spring will be really quiet.

[joekat46]

Thanks for your efforts S. Olt. I tried 4 out of 5 days and didn't get a shot. There was enough sign yesterday in Peabody WMA to let me know there are still some lurking around.[:)]. December 6th is just around the corner. I'll do a lot more pre scouting before then. I had so little trouble taking an Ohio bird I went in overconfident[:I].

[schuyler olt]

Texas did the same thing to me this spring.[:0]