Originally Posted by
Bocajnala
The only change is the requirements of taking the bird to a physical check station. And it's only temporary.
Although as I said before- many states are headed this direction and it's a good thing. I used to have to drive 23 miles to my closest check station. And there was no need for it. Poachers still poached. And I didn't start poaching when the law changed. Neither did anybody that I hunted with.
I'm in law enforcement in a city of nearly 200k people. I understand how people behave. It's not a matter of putting too much faith in anyone. People are already poaching. They aren't going to start because of a change in tagging requirements. Bag limits still exist.
I'm guessing Phil won't poach any turkeys this year. Neither will OT or myself. Kelly I think commented on the thread. I doubt he'll do any poaching this year. Where are all these bum hunters that suddenly turn into poachers because of a slight procedural change this year?
My point is not that people aren't poaching. My point is that they already are. This won't add a bunch more. It might add a few more, but it's not going to destroy the turkey population. Just like it hasn't in Ohio.
-Jake
When Phil said they did away with all tagging requirements I thought he meant they no longer did not have to put the temp tag on after the kill, that is what it sounded like to me. I do agree that check stations are a waste of time and a great inconvenience for hunters and it does no increase the reporting rate for deer or turkeys. Other states around us who have check stations have told us their report rates are no higher than theirs and they have a pretty high number of people who do not go to the check stations for the same reason that hunters do not tag big game in our state, to kill more than they are allowed. We have bear check stations mainly for collecting biological data that could not be collected without them that is important to manage the bear populations.