Episode 823: Talking Turkeys – Population Trends, Regulatory Changes, Reaping’s Impact & Public Land Opportunity

What this episode covers

Jason Hardin has worked with turkeys for a long time. He’s headed up Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Turkey Program for the past 19 years. I am excited to have our old friend back on the airwaves this week to discuss a wide array of turkey related topics. Highlights from the conversation include: * Wildlife Biologists that actually hunt and why that is important * Jason’s early public land gobbler success this spring * Public land turkey opportunity in Texas * Chachalaca hunting (What the heck is a chachalaca?) * Are modern decoys and practices like “reaping” having a negative effect on wild turkey populations? * Interbreeding between the 4 North American subspecies * TSS shot shells stone them dead * To pull the plug or not on some restocking efforts * Working with turkey biologists in other states * What is the main cause for declining turkey populations * Fall hen harvest going away, some folks will be mad, but it won’t be the die-hard turkey hunters * Beard Rot * Lots of jakes on the landscape * Bearded hens are the best mothers * What do hens do under stress and drought conditions? * Poult recruitment percentages on a good year vs bad year * Two counties lose their seasons completely * Why he won’t lower the bag limit from 4 birds to 3 or 2 (fascinating answer) * Putting hunter opportunity at the forefront as a biologist * How many birds does the average turkey hunter kill each spring? * And much more!