Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Skylines wma schedule

Can anyone find out why skylines wma schedule shows as starting on March 26 instead of Maarch 15 as normal ?

Hmmm, thats interesting.

Why not call the DCNR and ask?

Law Enforcement, Montgomery -- (334) 242-3467

Wildlife/Fisheries, Montgomery -- (334) 242-3465

This was the answer I got ! Mark,

We recommended moving the opening date for several reasons. Due to the location of Skyline (bordering TN) there is no doubt that the weather and vegetation characteristics are far behind the southern part of the state. Last year was the first opening day without snow or ice in six seasons. Gobbling activity is extremely low before green-up, which occurs near April 1 at Skyline. Another reason is due to the harvest data from the past ten years. More than 90% of all turkeys that were signed in were taken after April 1. This is not an idea I came up with to take hunting days away from you. Many hunters I have spoken with agree, and among agency biologists, there is no debate. There are several wildlife management areas in northwest Alabama that have been opening on April 1 for several seasons. If I can help you with any other concerns, please let me know.

Frank Allen
James D. Martin - Skyline WMA
Area Biologist
256-587-3114
[email protected] answer I got !

So we just lost 12 days of Turkey season ! I wonder what it will be next ?

You didn't loose 12 days of turkey season, you just have to go to another WMA where it will open early. There are others that will be open early as they always have been and you can hunt them if you want to turkey hunt. The biologist gave a reason for opening later and I don't see that as being a problem. He is doing what is right and trying to make sure your kids have birds to hutn one day.

You don't want to harvest the majority of your gobblers before the breeding season has been going on for some time. The seasons in each state are set up to catch a certain portion of the breeding season and that is what they are doign here it appears.

I have hunted Skyline several times and it is always so open the first couple weeks of the season that it is even tougher to hunt it, if that is possible.

I don't believe the part about the lack of gobbling, sure don't believe the part about hardly any turkeys killed before April 1. The time to kill a turkey on Skyline is before April 1 in my opinion before they've heard every weekend warrior in Jackson County yelping at them. ALso, usually green-up=henned-up in this part of the state.

The part about the weather is a complete crock it had been unseasonably warm on opening morning the past 2 seasons until last year.

I hunt one property that is totally surrounded on every side by Skyline WMA. I'd be willing to bet good money I hear some shots before the 26th............


All that being said, I think this is a wonderful idea; but it has nothing whatsoever to do with what that guy said. I've said for years that I believe alot of gobblers get shot in this part of the state before they ever get a chance to breed because hens just aren't receptive to gobblers by March 15. I think it will be a great thing for our turkey population if we keep it up for 3 or 4 years.

I hunt one property that is totally surrounded on every side by Skyline WMA. I'd be willing to bet good money I hear some shots before the 26th

If so, I hope they catch them and prosecute them to the fullest.


Here's the catch - Unless the Scottsboro newspaper next spring writes about this pretty prominently on the front page or the DCNR makes signs to put up where their daily maps are located at stores and the check station, some hunters who use Skyline will not know about the change.

Since the Huntsville paper killed its outdoors section there's nothing there to benefit the hunters, either.

Whatever the reason for the move and change, DCNR needs to make sure the Jackson County news media and their permit-map outlets have signage to alert hunters.

sure don't believe the part about hardly any turkeys killed before April 1

So you think the WMA manager is just lying about six years of data?

That data is public record. Why don't you request it from him to see for yourself, or go talk with him to discuss the numbers? Anyone could do that.


I'm not thrilled about losing 12 days, either. With no turkey hunting at Wheeler NWR or Swan Creek, the next closest WMA in Madison County with turkeys probably is Black Warrior or Freedom Hills WMA or Bankhead NF. I can't drive 2 hours or more to hunt turkeys for half a day, but I can zip to Skyline. So I guess I won't be hunting WMA land around here. Skyline will be a madhouse between April 1-15 and then tougher than a $3 steak the last two weeks.