http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/news/story146326.html

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Youth-only day no turkey to hunters


By MARK TAYLOR
THE ROANOKE TIMES



Turkey was the talk last Friday evening at the LancerLot Sports Complex in Vinton.

A couple hundred wild turkey hunters converged on the big building for the annual fund-raising banquet for the Roanoke chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Many hunters were excitedly talking about their favorite bird, discussing plans and strategies for the upcoming spring gobbler season. I also overheard a few discussing the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' proposed changes to turkey hunting regulations.

One proposed new rule received high praise: Hunters overwhelmingly support a proposal to hold a youth-only turkey hunting day on the first Saturday in April.

No surprise there. The NWTF is arguably the most youth-oriented of the major outdoors conservation groups. It doesn' t hurt that the youth gobbler day is just a great idea.

Another turkey proposal drew mixed reviews. The game department wants to allow afternoon hunting until 6 p.m. the final two weeks of the season.

The rationale is solid. The change would allow hunters more time in the woods, and also could open up more opportunities for young hunters who can' t chase gobblers before school. Furthermore, there' s no compelling biological argument against allowing afternoon hunting for those 12 days.

Some turkey hunters, however, aren' t crazy about afternoon hunting for one reason: rifles.

It' s no secret that gobblers often head to fields and open areas in the afternoon, after hens scurry off to their nesting sites. The gobblers can be tough to call in to shotgun range. Rifle shooters can have a big advantage.

My purpose here is not to get started on the rifle vs. shotgun debate.

The fact is, rifles are legal for turkey hunting in Virginia. Some hunters hate that law. Some love it.

I expect the game department will hear from both camps in the next two months, as they take in public feedback on the proposed regulations changes.

That' s the way it should be. The game department does an admirable job seeking public comments for its proposed rule changes, and the comments really mean something in this process.

I' ve seen the department' s staff change recommendations based on public opinion. And I' ve seen the department' s board of directors vote against the staff' s recommendations based on public opinion.

I overheard some hunters saying they planned to attend the March25 public meeting at Northside High School in Roanoke to oppose afternoon turkey hunting until rifles are outlawed for spring turkey hunting. Rifle hunters, consider yourself forewarned.