I noticed the good Doc avoided going into detail around why the hens had such a high nest failure and poor poult recruitment. You would think after the lengthy studies done in SC and now GA he would be able to speak to very specific causes rather than keep preaching we have a declining turkey population. It's like he knows those answers but it does not support the agenda!
I do agree with one thing he encouraged and that was for us hunters to get off our butts and do something to help create better turkey habitat or help the turkeys some way some how. Every turkey hunter has that opportunity and in my personnel opinion will be what it takes to increase the turkey population. These regulations coming down the pipe aren't gonna make much difference in my personal opinion. Unfortunately many turkey hunters will sit on their hands and do nothing while calling on the state to impose more restrictions on the limit and season length.
I can tell you from personal experience in regards to my best friends 200+ acre property a little effort and some extra money spent on that place has paid dividends to increasing the turkey population. After moving to Birmingham area for 10 years the property was no longer managed for turkeys and it showed when I moved back home. It has taken me a few years but things are improving to the point I feel comfortable taking a few gobblers off the property if I choose to do so. It was void of a huntable population for several years due to lack of management. For those that don't believe nest predators are a huge impact on the turkey population I encourage you to reconsider. If you declarer war on those egg eaters it makes a difference within a few years!!
You should call him Mike and ask him specific questions. He seems like a nice dude that would probably answer whatever questions you have.
