Turkey Season Summary - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

2 0 0 6 - 0 7 T U R K E Y S U R V E Y S U M M A R I E STurkey observationsSurvey participants recorded all adult gobblers,jakes, hens and unknown turkeys observed whilehunting. In 2007, the number of gobblers seenper 100 hours of hunting was similar in theDelta, GCP and Ozarks, but considerably less inthe Ouachitas (Figure 4). The number of jakesand hens observed was highest in the Ozarksand lowest in the Ouachitas. The high numberof jakes in the Ozarks compares favorably withabove-average reproduction recorded during the2006 turkey brood survey. However, this surveysuggested Delta areas, particularly turkey zone17, also had above-average brood productionin 2006 – but those jakes do not appear in thisyear’s observations.Arkansas turkey observations also havebeen compared to observations in other statesby Arkansas hunters. Far more turkeys wereobserved in Plains states than in any otherregion. While turkey numbers may be higher inthis region than any other, two other factors mayhave contributed to the high observation rate –turkeys are much more visible in open, lightlywooded habitats found in Plains states, and mostof the turkeys in this region are Rio Grandesubspecies, which have different behavior thaneastern turkeys. Rios tend to roost in large flocksin river bottom habitats and are often seen inlarge groups after flydown.Comments and suggestionsSlightly less than half of the 259 participantsin this survey provided suggestions andcomments. Most of the suggestions that werereceived revolved around including preseasonscouting gobbling activity in the survey andincluding additional weather or hunting information(birds called to, birds shot at, etc.).Comments on the current turkey season and/or turkey management were quite varied. At least29 hunters commented that turkey numbersappeared down in the area they hunted, whilefive said they were up or steady. Support forrecent conservative seasons was somewhat evenlydivided, with 30 hunters expressing supportfor the 2007 season, 14 expressing support,but asking for an earlier opening date, and 34hunters expressing no support for the season,primarily because it was “too late.” Many hunterssaid they want further restrictions to seasons orbag limits.DiscussionGiven Arkansas’s current turkey population,gobbling and harvest rates compared relativelywell to those of other states and regions acrossthe country.Data from Arkansas hunters on out-of-statehunts resulted in some interesting conclusions.Few Arkansas hunters, other than those fromthe Delta, appear to be going to Southeasternstates to hunt. Anecdotal observations suggestthis was not always the case; several decades ago,Mississippi and Alabama were destinations formany Arkansas hunters. The current trend seemsto be for most Arkansan out-of-state hunts to bein Plains and Midwestern states, even with morerestrictive seasons and bag limits.Figure 4. Arkansas observation indices.302520151050Ozarks Ouachitas Gulf Coastal Plain DeltaGobbler observationsJake observationsHen observations2 0 0 6 - 0 7 T U R K E Y S E A S O N S U M M A R Y 2 1