Thursday, April 16, 2009
Bill Cochran's Mailbag: Turkeys on the clock
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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BILL: Why is it that you have to quit spring gobbler hunting at noon during the first portion of the season, but can hunt them until sunset during the later part of the season?
R.S.
R.S.: Back in the early 1960s, when the spring gobbler season was established, the quitting time was 10 a.m. Then it was extended to noon. With spring hunting a novel concept, there was concern that gobbler hunters would disturb hens. The answer to that was to get the hunters out of the woods early, perhaps even before the hens got off their nest to feed, water and stretch.
In time, it was determined that hunters aren’t a real threat to hens, so the hours were extended during the latter part of the season. I remember many discussions by game officials concerning the extended season. Kit Shaffer, the veteran wildlife biologist and avid turkey hunter, was asked it the longer hours would hurt turkeys. His answer was classic:
“It won’t hurt the turkeys, but I don’t know if hunters can stand it.”
The noon ending is a safeguard for turkeys, but I think it is as much a matter of tradition as anything else. It could be eliminated, but there is no real campaign to do that. Hunters appear to be happy with the season regulations. And as Kit says, anything more than a half day of hunting these animals is enough to kill you.
BILL
