The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1963-03-22
&e&ne MEs.v,
By GERALD DUNCAN
Why Shoot Turkey Gobblers In Spring?

For many years prior game Virginia
was protected from the end Of the
time IN md-wint until the following fall Spring shooting
was condemned evil practice along with
batting netting unsportsnanlke
It was radical change. indeed when the Commission
began experimenting with spring gobbr shooting two years
What brought about?
knowledge, Experience a Changed Philosophy
First OF all Virginas biologists have
deal more about the wild turkey habits requirements
its annual productive canabtes than vas known when
Of the first
Commission through the Virginia
Unit
as and Mississippi have
shot gobbes the without
ent damage to their turkey populations in spite of growing
hunting Thus actual elsewhere
pragmatc evidence biologists conclusions that
because OF inherent characteristics the
males only in the will be detrimental the
turkey population in Virginia.
And thirdly there a gradual change in game
philosophy manage
wldlife
ton merely establishing legislation
from oveshooting the
of today to provide the possible quality
uonal value from the havestabe wdfe
this positive philosophy surplus that
vested without the which
man. unnecessary waste With growing human
population and demand
creation such waste of valuable
interest.
The Biological Facts
turkeys highly polygamous one gobber mates with
spring species how
male female. Thus a turkey
population biological Though numerical excess in
the ratio of males to females
Gobblers compete among themselves in sprngtime
control choice breeding
domination harem of hens. few gobbes
come te breeders majority OF the toms physically capable of
participate in activities at all
The spring gobbler population could fifty
OF more III most areas without the slightest effect annual
reproduction
single mating usually to an
gobbg activity of the males continues how
Thus there period time, 'gobbng"
along when the disturbing effects Of hunting in the vicinity
of eobbng produces little effect the
Gobbers have been hunted the spring other
populations have continued to thrive
In some places hens protected gobbers only
legal both in the fall spring The theory
that behind the we'll known buck law on deer under which
deer herds suitable habitat only
become SO numerous IN places that an either sex season has
become mandatory keep population
with the capacity the range.
Fall the traditional hunting biologist
would claim that have any difference
build up of deer herds if bucks a
ferent Il happens that the hunting
has conceded with the deer
bucks identify,
of events takes place when turkey gobbe are hunted in the
Virtually all nothing
oooeS uS0d ABOUT removing excess males OF any poly
species regardless The process
to the action poultryman building up flock
continues to sell off all but few males while retaining
of his hens Since there time lag between completion of
breeding activity Of
bologcaly safe hunting
the spring Tins period coSevatlvey calculated
last week j April and the first May
For experimental spring gobber
hunting selected areas and in four
entire counties Careful checks year
beeen good in these experimental
adjoining spring hunting was al
lowed where spring gobber hunting has occurred. hunter
the following fall has compared ii
adjacent areas where spring hunting not allowed
More High Quality Bird
Spring gobbler hunting highly SPECIALIZED sport
turkey hunter
An analysis OF sample turkey kills
confirmed what many hunters already
killed during regular hunting
killed entirely by result
Of particular skill III the turkey hunting and calling
The birds killed frequently flushed dogs or other
hunters Purely by chance they past lucky gun
who usually hunting squirrels
the There the sudden seeing wild turkey
quick shot dead bird the values and the
satisfaction which prposefuy and successfully
employing developed hunting skill technique alert
quarry lacking
locate particular turkey usually
When the old flies hunter must
approach to within hundred of the turkeys gobbng
without being detected Then he
initiating the hen call" come
10 him since it is virtually impossible % stalk within