link below is to an article on the current Tenn season and the leveling off of the population. The article also had a chart (which is not available apprently to a link), saying among other things, that it took an average of 22.5 hunting days for a hunter to kill a turkey. It said 33% of the hunters kill at least one bird in Tenn; less than 5 % kill four. http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/outdoors/ar ... 90,00.html

Those results suprise me because I saw lots of birds this year. I only hunted in Hawkins and Hancock counties though. I think that the results would be more accurate if TN would go to a phone in system like VA has. Finding a check station in Hancock County was a problem and I ended up driving about 40 miles out of my way.

It suprises me to. I don't know just how the TWRA gets their information but if were me I'd be talking to a whole lot of turkey hunters. The people that are out in the field actually seeing whats going on.
Thanks to the NWTF we do have a good population and the only things I see that would effect it, is the loss of habitat and mother nature.
I don't agree with Mr. Haskey about when most of the breeding takes place (3rd week in Mar.). He might be right if he was talking about W.Tn. but up here in the east the 3rd week of March their still gathering up hens. From what I've seen while hunting, I think around here the 2ond week of April is when the heavy breeding starts.
I've also heard complaints about having to drive long distances to check out a turkey. From what I hear this is the last year they're going to drive 35-50mi to check one out.
I had a problem this year also checking one out on Sunday, the first store was closed, the second store the machine wasn't working so I had to drive another 20min. to the third store to check it out. I guess I spent 1 1/2 hours and 45miles from the time I started till the time I got home. But that doesn't make me mad, I understand.......it the TWRA way.
GS...