What I Would Do

A reader recently challenged me. "Rich, you're constantly criticizing the game commission's turkey-management policies. You say these policies are a major cause of the decline of the turkey population. So, put your money where your mouth is. What would you do to improve the population?"

I wouldn't do much to fall hunting, though I might add a week of hunting, which wouldn't add much to the negligible fall harvest. I would work to make spring hunting more challenging and take a conservative approach to the harvest to improve things.

The first step would be to eliminate the $20 tag for shooting second spring gobblers. These tags have resulted in a harvest of nearly 4,000 extra gobblers per spring. Though Pennsylvania's turkey biologist, Mary Jo Casalena, is a supporter of extra harvest, biologists in other states have taken a different approach, reducing the number of turkeys that can be killed during the spring in an effort to rebuild turkey numbers. These include Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, and Georgia. According to Tom Venesky, writing in the May 13 edition of "Pennsylvania Outdoor News," "these biologists must believe spring gobbler hunting does have an impact on the overall turkey population. If they didn't, they wouldn't change it." The friend of a noted Pennsylvania hunter told him he acknowledges that second tags are harmful. "But, if the PGC is going to sell them, I'm going to buy one," reflecting a game hog's attitude.

Shortening the spring season would be next. The season would begin one week later and be reduced to two weeks. Casalena insists that the present season is timed to take place after most breeding is done. Waiting to start the season would amplify this contention. (Since I'm the Cove's worst turkey hunter, this would reduce my chances to tag a tom.)

Afternoon/evening spring hunting would be eliminated, which should save several thousand turkeys.

I would promote sportsmanlike hunting to reduce the harvest. I would advocate for the elimination of blinds and decoys for gobbler hunting. I realize many younger hunters do not know any other way to hunt for gobblers, having been indoctrinated by television shows where blinds and decoys are "essential." Eliminating blinds and lifelike decoys would encourage enthusiastic sportsmen to learn how to call to gobblers and how to gain favorable positions for humane kills. This could help develop hunters' respect for gobblers' wariness and sharp eyesight and would give gobblers a sporting chance of winning a contest.

Instituting bounties on various turkey predators, especially coyotes, fishers, and raccoons, might also be helpful.