Should we hunt all day in the spring?
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Doug Howlett |
Thirty-four states and three Canadian provinces allowed all-day hunting in the 2010 spring gobbler season. All-day hunting is pretty much the norm in southern and western states, but there are states in the Northeast and Midwest where all-day hunting is not allowed.
When states in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic opened spring gobbler hunting seasons, they established mid-morning to noon closures to reduce the disturbance of nesting hens. The theory was that hens were more apt to move around, be flushed or mistaken for gobblers and illegally shot later in the day, which has not proven to be the case in states where all-day hunting has been in place for many years.
Studies in Missouri, Virginia and West Virginia indicate the opening date of the season more affects the extent of illegal or accidental spring harvest of hens. The earlier the season opens, the more likely it is for hunters to encounter hens.
On the other hand, longer hunting hours do not seem to lead to higher spring hen harvests, based on the experience of states with all-day spring hunting. Spring hunting activity has the potential to disturb nesting hens, especially if hunters are on the move, so biologists must take that into account when deciding on all-day spring hunting.
Sound info = opportunities
Wildlife agencies have expanded spring hunting opportunities over the last 30 years, which has been accomplished through increased bag limits, longer season lengths, longer daily hunting hours and increased availability of permits. When wild turkey populations decline, wildlife managers typically look to the fall season to compensate for it. Based on tradition and concern for the resource, some states are not considering all-day spring hunting.
The paradigm is slowly changing in the few states that limit hunting hours to a half day. Many turkey hunters travel around the country and wonder why one state may allow all-day hunting but their home state does not, then ask what they can do about it. The decision on hunting hours is, and should continue to be, one made by state wildlife agencies based on recommendations from qualified biologists. The issue of all-day hunting reached the legislature in at least two states in recent years, and bills were introduced to expand spring hunting hours. Fortunately, none of the bills passed. Establishing season dates, hunting hours and bag limits should never be decided in the legislature. The NWTF firmly believes that the science of wildlife management should be left to the professionals working for state and federal wildlife agencies.
More hours = more harvest?
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries expanded hunting hours in the last two weeks of its season several years ago. The decision to limit the expansion of hours to the latter part of the season was designed to approach the issue conservatively, because Virginia has large public land areas. The Ohio Division of Wildlife followed suit in 2010, opening the last two weeks of its season to all-day hunting. The Pennsylvania Game Commission and Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service recently changed spring regulations to increase hunting hours in the last two weeks of the 2011 season.
Based on what was seen in Ohio last year, hunters should not be too concerned about negative impacts on turkey flocks associated with the changes. The Ohio Division of Wildlife reported that, in previous years, 75 percent of the spring harvest occurred during the first two weeks of the season and two days of youth hunting.
During the 2010 season, Ohio recorded a similar harvest distribution. In the past, 70 percent of the birds harvested in Ohio in a given week were taken prior to 9 a.m. Last year, in the final two weeks the percentage of the harvest taken prior to 9 a.m. dropped to 55 percent. Afternoon hunting (noon to sunset) accounted for 25 percent of the harvest each week in the final two weeks. The remaining 20 percent was taken between 9 a.m. and noon — an interesting change, indicating a willingness on the part of Ohio hunters to participate in afternoon hunting.
However, there was no sudden flurry of interest in spring gobbler hunting generated by the change in hours. In fact, turkey hunting permit sales were down 3 percent — similar to recent trends in sales. The harvest of gobblers in the afternoon hours accounted for 8 percent of the total 2010 spring harvest — less than 2,000 gobblers. Ohio had an increased harvest this year, the second highest on record, and that was expected because of a very good 2008 hatch. Increasing hunting hours won't hurt the population.
All day = hunting for all
Today's wildlife professionals face challenges in hunter recruitment and retention. So we should ask whether limiting opportunities for hunters in half-day states is hurting recruitment efforts for a legitimate reason. Keeping young hunters from pursuing wild turkeys in the spring during the weekdays in half-day hunting states may limit their chances to get in the field, which could curtail their interest in the sport.
Many hunters start work early in the morning, and some work six days a week, limiting their chance to get into the woods as well. Considering declining hunter numbers, if there is no biological evidence suggesting negative impacts from expanding daily hunting hours, it may be time for serious consideration of the issue by those states still providing half-day hunting opportunities. — James Earl Kennamer, Ph.D.