Hårde tider for kalkunjægere (USA)

[ran]

Tough times for turkey huntersFewer young turkeys available to Georgia hunters this seasonBY BRYAN BRASHERSpecial to the Ledger-EnquirerIf you're a turkey hunter and you have a hard time locking down on a Georgia gobbler this year, try not to beat yourself up too much.
For once, it may not be your fault.
According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, poult (baby turkeys) production among Georgia turkeys has been dreadful since the turn of the new millennium.
That low production has led to low numbers of young male turkeys in the woods -- and hunters could begin to feel the effects this season.
"This lack of young gobblers means it will be tougher to bag a bird, since the younger birds typically are the first birds harvested during the season," Chris Baumann, Wild Turkey Project Coordinator for the Wildlife Resources Division, said.
The comeback of the Eastern wild turkey has long been considered one of Georgia's three greatest conservation success stories, along with the whitetail deer and the Canada goose. Wildlife officials estimate that there are 350,000 turkeys in Georgia -- up from an estimated 17,000 in 1973.
Intensive restoration efforts, such as the re-stocking of wild birds and increased emphasis on biologically sound hunting seasons, have helped re-establish turkeys in suitable habitats in every county. This resurgence is due to the efforts of private landowners, hunters and conservation organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Conservation officials like Baumann insist the state's overall turkey numbers are still good. But poult production has been down in recent years for a number of possible factors, including heavy predation and excessive rainfall.
When a hen turkey begins nesting, she is more susceptible to predators like coyotes, skunks and foxes than at any other time during her adult life. Expectant mother turkeys will often defend their nests until death, meaning both she and her eggs fall prey to the invaders. Heavy rains during peak reproduction times can also increase the young birds' risk of sickness and lead to poor survival rates.
This isn't the first time Georgia has had problems with low poult production. The state experienced population declines in 1991 and 1992 primarily as a result of excessive rainfall during the nesting and brood-rearing period.
But conditions were perfect from 1993-1996, and the population quickly righted itself.
Baumann said there is no need for Georgia's turkey enthusiasts to panic.
"This year will likely be a good hunting season," he said. "We're still getting reports of abundant turkeys from many areas of the state. It's just the number of young birds that will be down in some areas."

.....når bare man har nok penge og krudt.....så går det ikke aldrig helt galt :-)

Favourite Quote: Vi løser ikke vore problemer ved at tænke på samme måde, som da vi skabte dem.....(Albert Einstein)