Fall Forecast: Mild to Moderate
A Chat with Bob Eriksen, NWTF director of conservation operations
State Turkey Hunting Laws
Q: How do you know when a state is ready for fall turkey hunting statewide? Our state only has fall hunting in three or four counties, and you must own 100 acres or more of land in that county to hunt.
— Steve Chappell, Tupelo, Miss.
A: Some states will never have a statewide fall turkey hunting season. Differences in habitat quality, hunting pressure, hunter preferences and turkey reproduction mandate that biologists manage hunting seasons on a scale smaller than statewide.
In some parts of the country there is a strong, long-standing fall turkey hunting tradition. In other areas, fall hunting is not popular. Hunter surveys provide biologists with information on the preferences of turkey hunters. Harvest data and brood surveys provide those biologists with information on which to make sound management decisions. If a majority of hunters indicate a strong preference for spring hunting over fall hunting, the agency may decide to limit fall opportunities in favor of spring hunting. On the other hand, if there is substantial demand for fall hunting, the agency might decide to give hunters a conservative fall season that is not likely to affect the spring harvest.
Spring gobbler hunting is very popular in Mississippi. In heavily forested areas turkey productivity can be low, a cause for concern when dealing with fall seasons. Large blocks of public land can receive intense hunting pressure. Heavy fall hunting pressure can cause turkeys to be over-harvested, another cause for concern. All of these issues enter the decision-making process. I am certain that biologists in Mississippi can provide you with the details of the basis for the season structure that is in place in your home state.
Q: When will there be a fall season for the piedmont region in North Carolina?
— Quinton Cooper, Nashville , N.C.
A: Fall turkey hunting seasons can provide turkey hunters with recreational opportunities. Fall turkey hunting is a great sport, but there are some places that simply cannot support a fall season. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will make the decision on when to open a fall season on the piedmont.
There are a number of things to consider. First, are there adequate numbers of turkeys to support a fall season? Usually the decision to have a fall season relies on the consistency and density of the spring gobbler harvest. Biologists use the spring harvest as an index to evaluate turkey populations.
Second, is there any way to control the number of turkeys taken in the fall? Biologists attempt to control fall harvest through manipulating season lengths and even issuing limited permits in some cases. Fall harvest of turkeys of either sex can be an added mortality on the turkey flock. In other words, it has the potential to negatively affect turkey numbers, which is something that would negatively impact spring hunting quality.
Third, is there demand for a fall season? There are many other hunting opportunities in the fall and the popularity of fall turkey hunting in many areas is declining. These are just a few of the things wildlife agencies consider when discussing fall turkey seasons.
