Turkey Harvest Statistics 2013

[3Wheelerdude]

I am the only one of a group of 5 that shot his tag in 2013. So 15% reported tags makes sense around here.

[WayneGretzky99]

I agree with you that is excessive. But making an example of a few wrong doers could be in order. Maybe not a lifetime ban. To be honest I think the mandatory call in is a joke. I would agree when they first introduced the turkeys to monitor the population. The population is very healthy now. Nobody can argue that.

Mandatory reporting is a joke, but they should make an example of 'wrong doers?'

[werner.reiche]

What they need is mandatory reporting for all that bought a license, not just successful hunters. They have this figured out already for deer/bear, eventually they'll figure it out for turkey too. If you need to add a penalty, no license next year if you didn't report the previous year.

[chris1395]

How in the world can a CO catch you for not making a phone call, possibly more than 24 hours after the kill? It is mandatory to report, but how is it even enforceable? If 55,000+ tags were sold, it is an impossibility to monitor that many tags.

[TurkeyRookie]

How in the world can a CO catch you for not making a phone call, possibly more than 24 hours after the kill? It is mandatory to report, but how is it even enforceable? If 55,000+ tags were sold, it is an impossibility to monitor that many tags.

You get a confirmation number after the report that you are suppose to write down and keep, if a CO asked for the number, I guess he could call it in and confirm?

On the subject of rewarding you with a prize for abiding by the regulations... I give my son a treat when he goes to school nicely without a hassle, because he's 2....

We're all big boys and girls and if you're responsible enough to have a firearms license and a hunting license and take game, you shouldn't have to be rewarded into abiding by the rest of the regulations such as reporting your harvest.

I very much like Werners suggestion, just make reporting mandatory whether you were successful or not.

Am also all in for not issuing a tag the following year should you fail to provide the report, that should go for any game that has mandatory reporting, your reward for following the rules, you get to hunt next year....

[kokes]

I also dont think they should let you buy a 2nd tag unless you have called in your first, but we all know they would never make it harder for us to give them more money...

[Goosesniper]

What they need is mandatory reporting for all that bought a license, not just successful hunters. They have this figured out already for deer/bear, eventually they'll figure it out for turkey too. If you need to add a penalty, no license next year if you didn't report the previous year.

Great idea.

[chris1395]

You get a confirmation number after the report that you are suppose to write down and keep, if a CO asked for the number, I guess he could call it in and confirm?

On the subject of rewarding you with a prize for abiding by the regulations... I give my son a treat when he goes to school nicely without a hassle, because he's 2....

We're all big boys and girls and if you're responsible enough to have a firearms license and a hunting license and take game, you shouldn't have to be rewarded into abiding by the rest of the regulations such as reporting your harvest.

I very much like Werners suggestion, just make reporting mandatory whether you were successful or not.

Am also all in for not issuing a tag the following year should you fail to provide the report, that should go for any game that has mandatory reporting, your reward for following the rules, you get to hunt next year....

That's if you made a telephone report that would work. If you went home, threw the bird in the deep fryer and ate the evidence that night before you are required to report by noon the next day, well then there's no record, and "no officer, I done shot no bird."

Werner's idea of reporting a yes/no harvest is good and would take care of that, as it is right now to report only a 'yes' harvest seems useless to try and regulate.

[DanO]

If they really need the data then that's exactly what they need to do. If you're going to bother to phone in, you're likely going to give somewhat accurate data.
Dan O.

[rick_iles]

I'm wondering if the reporting is really necessary now. I can understand the need when the seasons were first established. Turkey numbers have been fairly consistent. Numbers will fluctuate naturally now , due to predation and weather kills. I believe it's pretty much the same scenario with deer management. Hunter surveys give the biologists a clearer picture of turkey numbers now, rather than relying on the mandatory reporting.
Maybe we don't need mandatory turkey reporting. I think there is a greater need for accurate data relating to moose numbers than there is for turkeys, yet there is no mandatory moose reporting!
Just a thought !!!!!