PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

From the PA Game Commission

http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/v...?Q=161542&A=11

...."The creation of this license will allow Pennsylvania hunters the opportunity to buy a second license for a second turkey in the same season," said Ross, an avid turkey hunter. "If enacted, this will in no way impact hunters' current ability to harvest one spring and one fall turkey as part of their general hunting license privileges.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

The last thing I heard on the biology of birds in PA was that the experts were waiting for growth trends to materialize based on our recent harsh winters. It seems odd that they're considering a bigger harvest when these trends couldn't have possibly been analyzed yet.

Sounds like a scheme solely to generate revenue than to properly manage the flock.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

LOL that isnt going to help me , cause in order to have a reason to buy a second tag , you have to be able to use the first one....;)

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

I hear ya DL55. I personally don't feel we need anymore pressure in the spring. I'd rather see 2 fall birds with one of them having to be a hen. The spring woods are already too crowded.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

"Ain't" that the truth. ;)

I can't shoot one bird and now they want to give me two? Well, I am all for increased opportunities sooooo....:)

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

There needs to be some focus on culling some hens....that's all I'm seeing anymore is hens. Flocks and flocks of hens everywhere. I'm not much of a turkey hunter, but everyone around here is having trouble getting birds to gobble and come in. They're all henned up....why go searching for something that you don't have to move for?

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

Getting people shooting hens in PA is 100x worse than getting people to shoot does was. In a lot of areas it is badly needed.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

im gad for it.......second season in the row i tagged out sometime during the first week and couldnt go on me and dads trip to tionesta or anything......kinda bums me out....i know i didnt have to shot them birds....but for my first 2 spring turkeys whose going to pass a 8 3/4 inch beard 3/4 inch spurs for the first one last year and a 9 inch beard 1 inch spurs on my bird this year??? i think them are decint first spring gobblers......when the extra tag is available i think i will be buying it for sure.....and now that i can drive my fall tag isnt very tough to fill......i mean its not easy....but i hunt alot more and found ALOT more turks in the fall......cant wait for that extra tag.......

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

thet need to get hunters to shoot hens there every were you cant go in the spring woods with out having half the gobblers hened up

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

I was just told about this today and had to express my opinion. I personally would not like to see a second turkey tag. I think with all the pressure these birds see now is greater than any other state. PA was rated number one in the amount of turkey hunters believe it or not. I feel that a one bird limit is good in the spring. I feel that it doesn't put as much pressure on them. I feel that if we leave it the way it is a YOUNGSTER may get a chance to harvest one. I feel that people will shoot the first turkey that comes in whether it is a jake or not, because they will think to themselves I still have another tag to wait on a long beard., and that will take a possible jake away from a KID! Just my opinion. My Taxidermist fond where in 1995 70% of pa hunters were against it, and in 1999 another poll was done and it was found that 4 out of 5 turkey hunters were against it again. I found out that the represenative that is pushing for it is a turkey hunter and wants the season extended. I believe that this is just another way for the game commission to get more money. Sorry if this offends anyone. Pat

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

Why should anyone be offended Pat? Personally, I don't agree with you, but not offended.

I think it should pass, not because I know enough about our turkey population to set limits, but because I feel those decisions should be in the hands of the PGC, not our Legislature. Even if I opposed it like you do, I'd feel that way.

While we can sit and debate many of the management decisions made by the PGC, the problems we each may have with their decisions pale in comparison to the problems cropping up in many other states where politicians get involved. Folks that live upstate may not realize it but our demographics are very similar to many of those states where game management decisions are being influenced by non-hunters and the emotional, non-factual appeals of anti-hunting or animal rights organizations to people who know nothing about game management or animal husbandry. Over 40% of our population lives in the currently defined SRA's and there are a couple more counties that will probably be added in the near future pushing that number to well over 50%. At least one county in the far NE is now considered part of the Greater New York City Metropolitan Area and there's serious discussion about a commuter train line into the Poconos to turn it into an even larger bedroom community for N. NJ and NYC.

Personally, I think removing as much political control as possible from game management decisions is one of the most important steps in preserving the future of hunting in PA, that the less temptation our Legislators have to interfere, the better we will be able preserve sound scientific game management as the basis for setting seasons and limits for future generations.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

I agree with rybohunter.I'm all for a 2 tag fall season where one of them HAS to be a hen.I'm not in favor of a 2 bird limit in the Spring for the reasons Pat stated.

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

i have heard that the second turkey tag is going to set you back 20 bucks!

RE: PA may get to hunt 2nd turkey in spring/fall
 

Ruffed grouse I understand what you are saying and Yes I agree with it being taken out of the politicians hands, maybe I didn't state it properly, the person that is psuhing for the two tags is a Politician, I will try to find out his name and I know he is a north eastern PA rep just don't remember where exactly he is from. Jalvja I agree if it does pass it should be a fall tag and one should have to be a hen.