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Post by Woody Williams on May 30, 2011 16:03:28 GMT -5
Indiana turkey season by zones?
The Indiana turkey season opening date should be by zones with the south zone coming in a week earlier.
Yes
No
No opinion
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Post by gobblerstopper on May 30, 2011 16:46:29 GMT -5
What would be the line for the "south" zone?
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Post by Woody Williams on May 30, 2011 17:20:39 GMT -5
What would be the line for the "south" zone? Cut 'er in about half.... make it I 70.. |
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Post by gobblerstopper on May 30, 2011 18:00:12 GMT -5
Cut 'er in about half.... make it I 70.. Ok. Still don't like it.  |
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Post by mattfinney on May 30, 2011 20:16:05 GMT -5
I would rather just see expansion of the spring turkey season. I think we should add a 2 week archery season to start immediately before the regular season (and have youth season start immediately before that). Would almost double the available time in the field for turkey hunters, and with the total turkey season running more than a month, the chances of intercepting one of the peak gobbling periods would be greater. The reason I suggest an archery season, is that Steve Backs (Indiana's turkey biologist) stated that that we can't move the general season earlier, due to too high accidental hen harvest (Indiana season begins, on average, when the majority of the hens are incubating). With archery hunting, I speculate that the accidental hen harvest would be much lower than that of firearms due to the necessity of having the turkey closer, and in clearer view.
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Post by tomthreetoes on May 30, 2011 21:42:54 GMT -5
I'm dead set against the zone idea. I think folks from up in the northern zone would flock down south. While we're voicing opinions I don't like the late season dates. The idea of more accidental hen killing just doesn't make good sense to me . If anything the extra foliage would make it harder to identify the sex of a turkey. The bugs and higher temps take away from the enjoyment of the hunt too.
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Post by gobblerstopper on May 30, 2011 21:57:02 GMT -5
I see a two week archery season having it's pro's and con's.
Pro's...Seperate season would mean a seperate tag and more revenue for the DNR.
Con's...The vast majority of the few people who turkey hunt with bows aren't capable of doing so in the first place. Besides that, who doesn't want guys tromping around in the spring woods for two weeks before season starts. You might "intercept" one of the peak gobbling periods, but it will probably be the only peak also.
Adding two weeks of archery doesn't expand season at all for the majority of turkey hunters that only hunt with firearms. If I was going to worry about anything, it would be the lack of gobbling that most hunters have talked about for the last several years.
Other than that, I have heard that the earlier start date might be receiving some attention and that the arguement for the two zones is being met with the idea of the northern hunters heading south as one of the hold ups for it.
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Post by mattfinney on May 30, 2011 22:30:27 GMT -5
Voted no opinion because I'm not necessarily opposed to zones...considering the latitude that Indiana covers, 2 turkey zones would make a lot of sense, but if I had to choose between that, and just expanding the current season, I would take expanding the current season any day.
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Post by dbd870 on May 31, 2011 4:28:20 GMT -5
I'd move it earlier in the whole state.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2011 5:28:49 GMT -5
I'd be very much against adding a "archery only" season in front of the regular season. It would screw the pooch and drasticly mess up the season for the majority of the turkey hunters. Besides, you can already hunt with archery gear if that's what turns your crank. Major changes should be considered only if it improves the experience for the majority, and that isn't adding a two week season for a very small group.
My vote would be to expand the season to one week earlier in the South, leave it as is in the north until populations equal the number of birds in the South.
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Post by 76chevy on May 31, 2011 7:13:12 GMT -5
I agree with Matt on this one. ;D ;D I would rather just see expansion of the spring turkey season. I think we should add a 2 week archery season to start immediately before the regular season (and have youth season start immediately before that). Would almost double the available time in the field for turkey hunters, and with the total turkey season running more than a month, the chances of intercepting one of the peak gobbling periods would be greater. The reason I suggest an archery season, is that Steve Backs (Indiana's turkey biologist) stated that that we can't move the general season earlier, due to too high accidental hen harvest (Indiana season begins, on average, when the majority of the hens are incubating). With archery hunting, I speculate that the accidental hen harvest would be much lower than that of firearms due to the necessity of having the turkey closer, and in clearer view. |
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Post by 76chevy on May 31, 2011 7:16:17 GMT -5
does the 1.5 month long early archery season 'screw the pooch' for the deer firearm hunters?  the number of hunters that hunt turkey with archery equipment has gone way up in recent years, not sure you can call them a 'small group' anymore I'd be very much against adding a "archery only" season in front of the regular season. It would screw the pooch and drasticly mess up the season for the majority of the turkey hunters. ..... |
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Post by countrystyle56 on May 31, 2011 7:34:29 GMT -5
"The reason I suggest an archery season, is that Steve Backs (Indiana's turkey biologist) stated that that we can't move the general season earlier, due to too high accidental hen harvest (Indiana season begins, on average, when the majority of the hens are incubating). With archery hunting, I speculate that the accidental hen harvest would be much lower than that of firearms due to the necessity of having the turkey closer, and in clearer view."
Are they serious?! Illinois' season has started the first of April since I have been hunting. I have never accidentally harvested a hen. Nor has anyone I have hunted with or talked to. That is a lame excuse. If you can't tell the sex of a turkey, then you are too far away to kill it anyway.
I think Indiana should move the season up. I am all for zoning.
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Post by oneshot on May 31, 2011 8:09:22 GMT -5
IMO turkey hunting is about the turkeys, not the turkey hunter. We come in second. Seeings how I'm no turkey biologist, I trust Steve Backs to do the right thing for turkeys. I have tagged a turkey every year since '94. So far the season structure has worked for me.
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Post by stevein on May 31, 2011 8:46:51 GMT -5
Keep it the way it is. The population continues to grow and the range expands yearly. No special seasons except youth. I do not see the need for an archery ONLY season before or after the TURKEY season.
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Post by stevein on May 31, 2011 8:52:36 GMT -5
I was not aware us Northerners were not allowed to come south. I am sure the end of season draw hunts up north would be limited to those that live in that zone.
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Post by tomthreetoes on May 31, 2011 9:04:40 GMT -5
You yanks have to stay north of the "Turkey Chasin' line"!
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Post by Ahawkeye on May 31, 2011 17:08:33 GMT -5
"The reason I suggest an archery season, is that Steve Backs (Indiana's turkey biologist) stated that that we can't move the general season earlier, due to too high accidental hen harvest (Indiana season begins, on average, when the majority of the hens are incubating). With archery hunting, I speculate that the accidental hen harvest would be much lower than that of firearms due to the necessity of having the turkey closer, and in clearer view." Are they serious?! Illinois' season has started the first of April since I have been hunting. I have never accidentally harvested a hen. Nor has anyone I have hunted with or talked to. That is a lame excuse. If you can't tell the sex of a turkey, then you are too far away to kill it anyway. I think Indiana should move the season up. I am all for zoning.  Here but I really don't care if they move it or not but that's a dumb excuse to give. |
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Post by racktracker on May 31, 2011 17:23:09 GMT -5
"The reason I suggest an archery season, is that Steve Backs (Indiana's turkey biologist) stated that that we can't move the general season earlier, due to too high accidental hen harvest (Indiana season begins, on average, when the majority of the hens are incubating). With archery hunting, I speculate that the accidental hen harvest would be much lower than that of firearms due to the necessity of having the turkey closer, and in clearer view." Are they serious?! Illinois' season has started the first of April since I have been hunting. I have never accidentally harvested a hen. Nor has anyone I have hunted with or talked to. That is a lame excuse. If you can't tell the sex of a turkey, then you are too far away to kill it anyway. I think Indiana should move the season up. I am all for zoning. Here but I really don't care if they move it or not but that's a dumb excuse to give. +2 I'd like to see some study on that and not just some theory. |
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Post by mattfinney on May 31, 2011 18:37:58 GMT -5
It would screw the pooch and drasticly mess up the season for the majority of the turkey hunters. How would it mess up the season for the majority of the turkey hunters? I assume that you're talking about archery hunters putting too much pressure on the birds and making them call shy before the gun hunters get a chance? 1. That wouldn't affect the majority, because the majority doesn't hunt public land. Private land gun-only hunters might actually benefit, as archery hunters on adjacent properties push birds onto their property. 2. If you are talking about public land, then shouldn't we prohibit mushroom hunting prior to turkey season? Take Fairbanks Landing FWA (where I shot my bird this season) for example. The weekends leading up to turkey season, there were easily over 100 mushroom hunters in there, while turkey hunters are restricted to about 20 or so. Do you really think 20 bowhunters sitting in tent blinds, will disturb the birds more than a 100 mushroom hunters combing the woods? |
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