Page 30 - Mar/Apr 2022 Outdoor Okahoma Magazine
P. 30
The biologists decided a year and a half ago that some-
thing needed to be done. The first goal is to immediately
address the decline. The next goal is to conduct scientific
research to learn what is causing the decline and what can
be done long-term to best manage wild turkey populations.
The quickest way to effect change is to alter the hunt-
ing regulations. So, proposals were brought forth to alter
season dates and bag limits. An opinion survey of turkey
hunters generated more than 5,200 comments — an all-
time high for hunter input on a proposed change in reg-
ulations. Interestingly, hunters supported reducing the
spring bag limit to two toms as proposed by the Wildlife
Department, but nearly 30 percent offered an unsolicit-
ed suggestion to reduce the bag limit to one tom.
Another interesting outcome from the public survey
was that many respondents said using bait to attract tur-
keys was a problem, citing reasons including increased
predation and possible aflatoxin poisoning.
ODWC Assistant Director Wade Free said the tremen-
dous response from hunters to the survey was very valu-
able to biologists, Wildlife Commissioners and staff. “We
were impressed with the public's input, which we consid-
er an important part in making the best wildlife manage-
ment decisions.”
PuBLIC DOmAIn
Current Wild Turkey Distribution
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