Our state has increased limits, mainly in the fall seasons. Harvesting Toms during Spring seasons doesn't affect population levels for the most part so increasing spring limits isn't usually a viable tool. Most states, like Washington, wild turkeys haven't reached the carrying capacity of the habitat. IF I was to guess Lincoln County, Palouse River (Whitman County), Blue Mountians, Klickitat are at or close to Carrying capacity. What is hard is wild turkeys are adapting to several types of habitats. Normally once that has been reached populations will level off naturally. The easterns on the coast are hard to survey to get population estimates and currently the WDFW does carry out a few winter surveys routes in NE Washington. But with turkeys and other game animals, when the public has reached its tolerance level and unfortunately wild turkeys are considered to be pests more than game animals...The wild turkey is opportunistic feeder and can take care of themselves. Education about wintering flocks, crop damage alternatives, etc...haven't been used effectively to offset local feelings. The wdfw uses this reason I guess to liberalize fall seasons. THe same communities that complain however are the same ones that like the business hunters bring into there towns and business'. So socially its a love hate relationship.
