Proposed Turkey Hunting Changes

[bearpaw]

CedarPants thanks for going to the meeting and for providing the great comments to the WDFW and the report here. 

[turkeydancer]

 
Good job ... I especially like the idea of the youth hunts with the focus on the "excess birds" (formerly known as nuisance birds) on private land versus the states previous shotgun focus on all GMU birds no matter where they were.
 

[Wacenturion]

One can equate WDFW's lack of hands on management such as trap and transfer and relocation of birds as a toilet backing up in regards to turkeys.  Never was a problem in the 90's when birds were actively trapped when there was a problem and relocated to other areas in various counties were both sportsmen and entities like timber companies were anxiously awaiting their release.

Change of management starting in late 1999, whereas we don't want to release turkeys in any area, whether turkeys are present or not because we're to freaking stupid to know what negatives might happen.  Truth is wildlife management staff hates turkeys, always has, and this was nothing more than a ploy to end turkey releases period. 

Then the back up occurred, and landowners who were once satisfied with the trap and transfer were not left with no recourse other than complain as numbers increased.  Prefect scenario for WDFW as now they promote the liberal killing of birds.

This is just one example of how WDFW manages our resource.  It's all on paper for the most part.  Always has been and always will with the "I don't get my hands dirty" biologist mind set.  Had a great, no we had a state of the art program in the 90's with staff in the field with equipment working with landowners, and it scared the holy crap out of the go to meeting types.  They had been saying for years we couldn't do things for one reason or another and now along comes a unique approach and program that proved them wrong. 

They...wildlife management took it over through reorganization and dismantled it.  Excused it away...no money or whatever fit.  It how everything is run at WDFW in general.  There are some bright spots, but few in number. They think wolves are a success story...tell you anything.

Sorry for the rant....should avoid reading these threads...just pisses me off to no end the amount of stupidity inside the NRB!

[BOWHUNTER45]

One can equate WDFW's lack of hands on management such as trap and transfer and relocation of birds as a toilet backing up in regards to turkeys.  Never was a problem in the 90's when birds were actively trapped when there was a problem and relocated to other areas in various counties were both sportsmen and entities like timber companies were anxiously awaiting their release.

Change of management starting in late 1999, whereas we don't want to release turkeys in any area, whether turkeys are present or not because we're to freaking stupid to know what negatives might happen.  Truth is wildlife management staff hates turkeys, always has, and this was nothing more than a ploy to end turkey releases period. 

Then the back up occurred, and landowners who were once satisfied with the trap and transfer were not left with no recourse other than complain as numbers increased.  Prefect scenario for WDFW as now they promote the liberal killing of birds.

This is just one example of how WDFW manages our resource.  It's all on paper for the most part.  Always has been and always will with the "I don't get my hands dirty" biologist mind set.  Had a great, no we had a state of the art program in the 90's with staff in the field with equipment working with landowners, and it scared the holy crap out of the go to meeting types.  They had been saying for years we couldn't do things for one reason or another and now along comes a unique approach and program that proved them wrong. 

They...wildlife management took it over through reorganization and dismantled it.  Excused it away...no money or whatever fit.  It how everything is run at WDFW in general.  There are some bright spots, but few in number. They think wolves are a success story...tell you anything.

Sorry for the rant....should avoid reading these threads...just pisses me off to no end the amount of stupidity inside the NRB!

pretty much smacked that nail on the head 

[Dave Workman]

 think wolves are a success story...tell you anything.

If they think wolves are a success story, they must think Jonestown was a testimonial to the popularity of Kool Aid

[Dhoey07]

More people would participate in turkey hunts if it didn't cost 17 bucks a piece to shoot one, not including a small game license.  As for the number of birds, i hunt two different gmu's and numbers were great in both this spring and fall.  If farmers and landowners "hate" turkeys, they need to SHOOT them.  You blast enough of them and they won't come back. 

[CedarPants]

More people would participate in turkey hunts if it didn't cost 17 bucks a piece to shoot one, not including a small game license.  As for the number of birds, i hunt two different gmu's and numbers were great in both this spring and fall.  If farmers and landowners "hate" turkeys, they need to SHOOT them.  You blast enough of them and they won't come back.

The Washington for Wildlife turkey committee recently provided feedback to the Wildlife Commission regarding options for reducing the price of tags as well as expanding hunting opportunities on private lands where the birds become a nuisance.  This was for the 2012-2014 hunting season setting process. 

[Gobble Doc]

Thanks Cedar Pants for the time you put in on this.

I like being able to hunt with my kids (and myself) when we're in camo and not having to worry about high power rifles/many deer hunters.  We do a lot of bushwhacking w/o always wearing the orange but maybe I should rethink that .

I like the idea of being able to hunt property around where the the "problem" birds are at.  The fall season has been a good time for my kids to do some hunting for turkey.  Not to make it complicated but maybe the fall could work for a turkey youth hunt as well?

[CedarPants]

Expanding opportunities for youth ..... specifically in the fall ..... was a major talking point of the feedback sent to the Wildlife Commission 

[Mr T]

If the turkeys are such a issue on private lands then us out there in early April with airsoft guns and atv's  . 

We have had very little success obtaining permission on good turkey land, and we are even flingin arrows instead of lead.
How many landowners that have turkey issues allow hunters?

Surprised the wdfw hasn't developed a landowner permit system for us to apply for.  Just a few more bucks for a turkey 

[fethrduster]

Great info.  As a westside hunter, if I had such a property lined up ahead of time, I would certainly consider a trip in the fall to mitigate the damage being caused by these nefarious evil turkeys. 

[MuleySniper]

the only change i would like to see made is bring back the first free tag with the small game license.

[Cascade]

 

[Wacenturion]

Absolutely not.  Ever hear the term "free taggers"?  That idiotic move changed the whole landowner view of turkey hunters and the perception of turkey hunting by many.  Up until the free tag, landowners generally thought turkey hunters were the creme of the crop.  Always asked, always complied with wishes, whatever.  Then the free tag turned loose hoards of non turkey hunters that went because they got a free tag.  Many of those folks were idiots.  Driving down roads, seeing birds, shooting from roads, dressed in jeans and t-shirts, stalking in on people calling, flock shooting....I could go on and on and on. 

Result.....landowners now saw turkey hunters in a different light.  One of the stupidest things WDFW ever did.  Another is two bird in one day, but I'll stop my rant there.  Careful what you wish for.  

[BOWHUNTER45]

YEAH YEAH