It’s a common theme in these days of wild turkey management: birds appear of their own biological accord where there were none before, and residents, often non-hunters, react. In this case, we’re told, the turkeys are blocking traffic, and in one situation, a turkey pecked at a resident’s glass door (no doubt at the image reflected there), prompting a call to the local animal control officer.
That animal control officer had no leverage to solve the challenge since wild turkeys fall under the charge of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The whole issue seems analogous to the resident goose challenges we experience around the country, and especially here in the Northeast, where you’ll find honkers loafing in city parks, golf courses, school grounds and even traffic circles, where they feed on green grass (and spoil the area under their feet with goose poop) before agricultural harvesting disperses at least some of the birds to where we might hunt them. Or not.
In the case of these (ahem) invasive suburban turkeys (and others around the country), they live where they can’t be hunted (inside city limits), though the Colorado fall turkey season begins Sept. 1.
Tricky stuff
What do you guys think should be done about this “problem”? Should a special bow season be created inside Colorado city limits (much like expanded archery deer seasons in some areas)? Should the turkeys be live trapped and transferred to where they might be hunted?
For more on this story, check out:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24770675/detail.html
For more on the Colorado fall turkey season:
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/Turkey/
Comments (6)
there are so many options this should not even be an issue!
My solution to the problem, just three letters, PSE. Of course, I'm sure Matthews, Bear, etc. would work just as well. In Columbia MO, where I live, they allow bowhunting in city limits and even have a special program for people to hunt on city properties, for deer only, to keep the numbers down. We also have a problem with geese and, I think with my bow I could take care of a couple of them, so far that's not an option. It's not the wilderness experience that many people want while hunting, but I enjoy hunting these places, they're close to home, the animals are often used to human presence, and it still counts as hunting. For me, I'd rather go out a couple times a week for a couple of hours than go out for one week at time for the whole week. Watched 5 bucks feeding in a soybean field last night, almost walking distance from my house, come on September 15.
I'm with ya Charlie. So long as the non-hunting crowd recognizes that many of us love wild game on the supper table, we'll score at least a few points (I think?). Heck, I just looked at a new chest freezer for the basement this morning. The power of positive thinking! Thanks, Steve.
Well if the town won't at least allow bow hunting then they must endure. How else they going to learn?
I looked at the CO regs for a loophole under taking; they allow #2 shot, that will knock em down on the fly.
Favorite line in the news story -"turkeys, known more as a holiday meal"; at least this reporter has his priorities straight.
later,
charlie
Hey Cap'n. Thanks for checking in. Emphasis here is on "should they be trapped and transferred" so they can be hunted. Illegal to hunt 'em in the city limits right now.
Should they be hunted?... uh, yeah. What kind of crazy question is that?
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Well if the town won't at least allow bow hunting then they must endure. How else they going to learn?
I looked at the CO regs for a loophole under taking; they allow #2 shot, that will knock em down on the fly.
Favorite line in the news story -"turkeys, known more as a holiday meal"; at least this reporter has his priorities straight.
later,
charlie
Should they be hunted?... uh, yeah. What kind of crazy question is that?
Hey Cap'n. Thanks for checking in. Emphasis here is on "should they be trapped and transferred" so they can be hunted. Illegal to hunt 'em in the city limits right now.
I'm with ya Charlie. So long as the non-hunting crowd recognizes that many of us love wild game on the supper table, we'll score at least a few points (I think?). Heck, I just looked at a new chest freezer for the basement this morning. The power of positive thinking! Thanks, Steve.
My solution to the problem, just three letters, PSE. Of course, I'm sure Matthews, Bear, etc. would work just as well. In Columbia MO, where I live, they allow bowhunting in city limits and even have a special program for people to hunt on city properties, for deer only, to keep the numbers down. We also have a problem with geese and, I think with my bow I could take care of a couple of them, so far that's not an option. It's not the wilderness experience that many people want while hunting, but I enjoy hunting these places, they're close to home, the animals are often used to human presence, and it still counts as hunting. For me, I'd rather go out a couple times a week for a couple of hours than go out for one week at time for the whole week. Watched 5 bucks feeding in a soybean field last night, almost walking distance from my house, come on September 15.
there are so many options this should not even be an issue!
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)