Is there ANY turkey hunter on here who supports later opening dates 3/20; 3/25,4/1 and ending in May?

Probably most of them in far north Alabama

Heck no! They are pretty much done by may in my neck of the woods. If youth season was this last weekend my son would have had a awesome experience and probably an opportunity at a gobbling fool of a turkey.

I dont see any positives in the changes except the decoy stuff. typical radical plan proposed and then we escape with just alittle taken away and consider it a win. We will only have more and more taken from us.. give an inch and they will take a mile

I have long since been a proponent of a later opener and later closer up here in Jackson County. March 15th is simply too damn early here. However, even here in the furthest latitude north in the state, April 1st is too damn late. The thought of having an opener that late in the southern part of the state is honestly the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

I have noticed over the years, the last few days in March- 1st week in April have been the best days of the season, as far as hearing gobbling, they are definitely more vocal and more responsive around then. I’m on the fence with the new changes, I’d like to see some of the data they have that caused them to make these changes.

I’m ok with the later opener. The one bird in the first 10 days, which are arguably the best 10 days of hunting in the entire season, is what I have a problem with.

Heck - do it 3/10 to 4/10 - I would much rather that and sacrifice shorter season - for bottom half of Bama April lot tougher than March
Top half May prefer something else

Old saying -- If it is not broke don't fix it. Absolutely nothing I or you have seen backs up what they did. As far as decoys are concerned, us older guys that can'walk far in the woods and need set ups in fields, need decoys most of the time/ For those that are against decoys, how is it hurting you if others use them. You should have your personal choice and not push it either way. March 15 thru April 30 worked and everyone could fit the best time to hunt in that range. Why do you care if someone in the south wants late dates or early dates, same for the north. March 15 thru April 30 covers everyone. What fits for the north may not fix for the south, so if they refuse to lay out dates by region,then lets go with dates everyone can live with.

It doesn’t matter when they open season if there are no birds to kill. North central part of the state might as well be allowed to hunt purple hippos and pink giraffe. No danger in killing either of those or a turkey. The state never let the birds populate some counties before they kicked the door wide open on extending seasons back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Small land ownership and people turning them into powder puffs during deer season and it didn’t take long to kill them out with a couple of bad hatch years, natural predation and a little disease thrown in to assist in their demise.

I don’t know why the don’t have enough sense to split the state.

They sure as hell split it up for deer season! Not to mention dove is split between north and south zones as well. Why not turkeys? I am in central AL, but honestly never hunt after April 15th, maybe the 20th, because by then my birds are completely done and all that is left to do is bushwhack one that is coming to a field anyway.

Where exactly would you draw the magic line?

I normally stop hunting the mid to end of April. By then if you have any left you can’t do anything with them and spend most of the time tip toeing in the woods trying to dodge rattlesnakes and mesquitoes because it’s so damn hot. They season in the south needs to come in about March 15 or sooner

Stoney - agree w u - if u hav wide open ground u need decoy r he will hang up likely

I don’t care who uses decoys r not. Been around lot of people and places turkey hunting - never seen folks who cared if u used decoy r not until here

If state takes it away I don’t care - does not make or break me. It is or it was just a choice

Yep. It's probably been 4 years since I saw or heard a turkey anywhere near where I live.

I’m with Stoney, if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it. March 15 - April 30 statewide. 5 bird limit If there was a noticeable downcline in numbers , maybe drop to a 3 or 4 bird limit. As of now they need to leave it alone.

Late April early May afternoons have always worked for me,..

I only get to hunt a few days and the majority are during my spring break. Next year I’ll lose half of them due to this later start date. I’m against it 100 %.

IMO, may is too late. March 15- April 30 was about as perfect as you could get it.