| Author |
Message |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 8:59 am: | |
I have been asked to try and get the opinions of turkey hunters in the state about our fall turkey season. Please give any comments on the value and opinions that you have of fall turkey hunting in Virginia- especially the use of dogs, season length, limits, quality of hunting, etc.
Please help me out here guys... Thanks a bunch! I owe you one... |
Turkey576
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 10:36 am: | |
I enjoyed the fall season very much Freddy, killed a bird and my daughter one. The flocks look healthly and seem to grow every year. People tell me that they see turkey where they didn't in the past. The season is plenty long, I also like the fact that it closes during gun season, I think this helps some. I don't use dogs but would like to. The bag limit is good also. I think it is very well rounded and I like the way it is. Virginia has a very nice fall season. |
Tburt
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 12:38 pm: | |
I do not fall turkey hunt. I only spring gobbler hunt. I am pleased that the fall season for turkey does not coexist with deer gun season, minus Thanks Giving Day. That used to be dangerous and to many birds where shot with rifles. I feel rifles should be outlawed for turkey hunting all together, and I hope the current bill in the legislature passes. |
Big Bird
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 12:40 pm: | |
As I am a relative newcomer, I don't have a lot to go on. The rules and regs seem okay to me. I can see their logic in the season dates. I am extremely appreciative of the privileges available to me to hunt and fish in Virginia.
One thing has become abundantly clear though: the states numbers of harvested birds/deer is at best a guess. Unless they have an equation that factors in unreported averages, their numbers are indeed low. I can't believe how many people are too lazy or greedy to check in their birds/deer! I have found several birds/deer just shot and left for dead, some halfway dressed on the spot and heard about others just not wanting to check them in. I think NC has a 800 number that hunters can call to check stuff in. Some simple system to enable the lazy hunters the chance to check their game in may help. I know that physical game check stations often close at the same time hunting hours end so that could be a problem. Call me naive, but I do think some attention here would help the overall management efforts. |
HODY
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 2:27 pm: | |
Well I agree with the fact that it should remain closed during regular gun season. I think that definately keeps the flock numbers up. The season length overall might be a bit too long. Some states close it altogether when deer season starts. I would also not mind seeing it closed to rifle hunting, but that is only an opinion. I dont do a lot of fall hunting now that I can use that 3rd tag in the spring. As far as quality of the flock, this year I have seen more birds than I can ever remember before on my land. |
Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 3:55 pm: | |
Great responses so far guys... Give me a little more information on hunting with dogs... even if you do not hunt with dogs, what is your opinion and overall feelings about using them? |
Dale Harless
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 9:34 pm: | |
Strictly my opinion here, but the wild turkey and all it's incredible senses make using a dog logical. I've never hunted behind a turkey dog, but like most avid hunters, would welcome the opportunity. Let's face it, unlike bear dogs that simply locate, trail and corner the animal while you shoot, a turkey dog hunt is a two part show. Without good woodsmanship and calling skill, the best turkey dog in the world would go home empty handed more times than not. If owning and hunting behind a turkey dog were easy, wouldn't more people be doing it. If you could only teach Rover to cluck and purr!!!! |
knight_va
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 9:44 pm: | |
The Turkey used to feed thise at the first Thanksgiving was taken from Va in the fall. If that aint tradtion then what is. To tread the hills knowing full well of those that have been there before, that is what makes fall hunting so neat. Rifles Oulawed? Well I can only say that I feel small cal rifles have their place in the fall woods,and Hunter education & promoting safety would help solve some problems we have seen with the rifles. Fall.....thats where Turkey hunting as we know it started from. Thats our heritage gentlemen. Be proud & speak loud!
Max Rowe |
Coach
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 10:16 pm: | |
I would like to see the Fall Season come in one week earlier even at the expense of closing one week earlier. I am still trying to get a good turkey dog. I finally got a turkey to him just after Christmas. I think next year will be the trick for him. Over all He busted around 6 or 7 flocks and at the end of season was coming on great. I also would like to see thanksgiving day closed to turkey hunting. I know it was given back as a concession to all the protest, but these are just my feelings. I don't like the idea of deer hunter taking pop shots at them just because they are there. (please no offense I like to Deer hunt too)
I also don't like the idea that you can use all three tags in the spring if none are used in the fall. Since you can stay and assist other hunters why do we need to actually harvest another bird! (Its greed and I think it only hurts the population) I know the food the harvest provides is great, but lets face it most people don't hunt to survive anymore. After you take your second bird, take a kid if you want to continue hunting.
AS far as its easy and harder to hunt with a dog, I find that hunting with a turkey dog is a whole lot harder. I cover twice the ground because the dog hunts close and I find that I have to keep moving to keep him hunting. This will probably change next year because at the end of the year he started covering more ground.
Also I think it would be nice to have a youth weekend in the fall and spring before the regular season comes in.
Thanks,
Coach |
Turkey Lady
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 10:40 pm: | |
As with any hunting dog, it takes teamwork, patience, training and lots of hard work on the trainer/hunter and the dog. You have to be willing to spend the necessary time to train a dog and then take the time to hunt every year and make the most of your fall season. The Byrne's have a GREAT line of turkey hunting dog, but even the best of dogs needs a dedicated trainer.
I have recently in the past two falls had the pleasure of hunting with a great friend of ours and his Turkey Dog. Only two words can describe it for me...IT'S AWESOME!!!!
Fall Turkey Hunting with a dog is a totally different experience than I was used to. While the dog is checking the area for birds, you can spend some great time of fellowship and chatting. Then all of a sudden the "thrill" of the hunt comes full force when you hear the dog bust a flock (pretty close in my book with chasing a spring tom). Especially if you are lucky to be close enough to the bust site to see the dog in action. The way the dog goes after each bird until ALL of them are "scattered" is a really awesome site to see. It just gives me chill bumps watching the turkeys as they sail 100 yds. over your head to the next ridge, but of course I would LOVE for them to be closer. But just being in the middle of all of God's creatures with your best friends makes the whole hunt worth it, even if you don't get to take home a bird.
There have been some great articles in "Turkey Call" and other magazines if anyone is interested in learning more about fall hunting with a dog. I highly recommend it. It's great!!! |
HODY
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 - 7:56 am: | |
I believe that Turkey hunting with a dog is a team effort between the dog and the turkey. Unlike using dogs for deer and bear where the dogs do most of the work the turkey hunter must use their skills after the flush to call the birds back in. By the way nothing against the deer and bear hunters using dogs since my hunt club uses them. I have a 7 month old puppy I am trying to train to hunt turkeys so hopefully this tradition continues and my dog and I can hunt for years to come. |
TScottW99
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 23, 2002 - 11:10 am: | |
-I love the overall season setup as it stands now, especially love the fall turkey bow season.
-Since I started hunting at a very young age I have seen more and more turkeys every year. I think overall, at least where I hunt, the turkey numbers are great.
-I also love that Virginia allowes fallturkey hunting with dogs!!! I'm hoping in the next year or so to have a Boykin to hunt fall turkeys with. I think the use of dogs does not hurt the turkey nor the populations, for one the use of dogs is not quite as big as overall turkey hunting and spring gobbler. |
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