Post by: Ridgeratt on March 29, 2016, 05:43:17 AM
An egg hunt of a different kind. Several wild turkeys on Spokane's South Hill are causing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to up the ante when it comes to cutting down on the growing number of them roaming in the area.
Right now it's wild turkey mating season and there is an abundance of them south of town.
"Between Cannon Park and 29th you'll see them all the time," says Scott Maclean, who lives on the South Hill.
"I've seen traffic held up for two blocks," Anita Kernie tells KHQ.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife says the overpopulation also leads to other problems, like sanitation issues and sometimes the turkeys fly into windows and cars.
"You watch them and they sometimes they strut," says Kernie. "Sometimes they even flap their wings." Kernie enjoys the turkeys but she can see why so many of them would be a problem.
"You come across about what seems maybe 15 of them all at once," says Maclean. "It's quite a sight."
Bob Pederson says they're in his yard a lot. "They eat the shrubbery," says Pederson, "but they're part of the scene."
Fish and Wildlife is planning an egg hunt. They are looking to train volunteers to go into the parks on the South Hill and look for the turkeys' nests. The volunteers will then oil the eggs that are not viable so they never hatch. They say that will help cut down on the population.
While some say they should leave well enough alone, others understand why it's being done. "I think they're pretty much a nuisance for most people," says Kernie.
The Dept. of Fish and Wildlife will hold a meeting this Thursday, March 31st at 6:30. That will be at the Moran Prairie library for anyone interested in volunteering with the egg hunts or learning more about the problem.
http://www.khq.com/story/31584488/turkey-troubles-on-spokanes-south-hill
Last week there were about 40 of them wandering around a couple of blocks from Northtown
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/mar/26/wdfw-kicks-off-effort-to-decrease-number-of-hatche/
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 07:23:52 AM
Post by: huntingfool7 on March 29, 2016, 07:56:43 AM
Post by: lokidog on March 29, 2016, 10:48:29 AM
"The volunteers will then oil the eggs that are not viable so they never hatch." Not viable eggs will already not hatch, duh....
Honestly, it would be really easy for WDFW to trap these birds.
Post by: Jonathan_S on March 29, 2016, 10:59:46 AM
Maybe WDFW needs to spend some time editing their information, they already look stupid enough most of the time. :chuckle:
"The volunteers will then oil the eggs that are not viable so they never hatch." Not viable eggs will already not hatch, duh....
Honestly, it would be really easy for WDFW to trap these birds.
I saw that too. Wondered what the point of it would be :chuckle:
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 11:14:38 AM
Post by: flatbkman on March 29, 2016, 11:17:16 AM
Post by: lokidog on March 29, 2016, 11:20:44 AM
Loki they have tried, with little success. The traps were not very effective with the minimal snow we had where baiting would have been helpful. And I read they even had traps vandalized.
Maybe they should have put out chicken food, a friend has them go through her coop every day.... :chuckle:
Another way to address the problem would be to allow some of the hens to be taken out of the flocks so there isn't even a bigger problem next year.
This doesn't require as much effort/$$ as looking for/oiling eggs and it makes the problem go away instead of be a continuous one.
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 12:59:22 PM
Again we have wildlife management being dictated by popular vote.
Me, i'd say we have a neighborhood BBQ with a few
Post by: huntingfool7 on March 29, 2016, 01:33:39 PM
The ones they did capture by trap were transported to some WDFW land near Kettle Falls as the neighbors involved in the trapping were against any lethal means of dealing with them. Imagine what that would cost?Would those be the same neighbors doing the complaining?
Again we have wildlife management being dictated by popular vote.
Me, i'd say we have a neighborhood BBQ with a few
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 01:38:15 PM
Post by: JDHasty on March 29, 2016, 04:01:58 PM
Post by: NRA4LIFE on March 29, 2016, 04:11:25 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 29, 2016, 04:34:52 PM
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 04:37:38 PM
I like the barbecue idea. I'll bring my deep fryer and make turkey McNuggets.:archery_smiley: and :cue:
Post by: quadrafire on March 29, 2016, 04:39:27 PM
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 29, 2016, 04:45:37 PM
Funny thing Ridgeratt, I've been turkey hunting up by Colville in the past, skunked and driven home 2 hrs empty handed and have had to wait for Toms to cross the road just down the street from my house.
They are where you find them. One year I was standing on my deck up north after chasing them in the morning and heard a Gobble. There is a tom Strutting in my back pasture so I throw a cut at him and here he comes wanders up to the burn barrel when I could have one 30 feet behind the house and starts spinning and a twirling. Hadn't filled the tag yet but just couldn't shoot him he was to much luv struck.
But for what it is worth birds were going off last weekend. Did see some large flocks between Colville and Chewelah
Post by: JLS on March 29, 2016, 05:04:51 PM
WDFW should make airgun hunting legal.
Wouldn't matter if they did, Spokane city ordinance does not allow pellet guns.
Post by: huntingfool7 on March 29, 2016, 09:29:53 PM
A city ordinance against pellet guns makes more sense than a statewide ban on hunting with one.WDFW should make airgun hunting legal.
Wouldn't matter if they did, Spokane city ordinance does not allow pellet guns.
Post by: jasnt on March 31, 2016, 06:48:45 PM
Maybe WDFW needs to spend some time editing their information, they already look stupid enough most of the time. :chuckle:i wondered if any one caught that
"The volunteers will then oil the eggs that are not viable so they never hatch." Not viable eggs will already not hatch, duh....
Honestly, it would be really easy for WDFW to trap these birds.
Post by: tlbradford on April 01, 2016, 01:05:53 PM