Changes in turkey hunting proposed

Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife News, Hunting, Wildlife
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The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing changes to our turkey hunting rules.

During the spring season the split A/B season in WMDs 1 through 6 is proposed to be eliminated and would be open to all hunters.

During the fall season the Department is proposing to change the start date to the Monday closest to September 17 annually; establish a youth fall wild turkey hunting day; increase bag limits in WMDs 15-17 and 20-26, and expand options for shotgun gauges and shot size legal for wild turkey hunting to include shotgun gauges 10 through 28 and .410 with the use of shot sizes 2 through 9.

Here is the department’s explanation.

If adopted, this rule will open the spring wild turkey hunting season in Wildlife Management Districts 1 through 6 to all hunters for the entirety of the season by eliminating the split A/B season based on even and odd birth years; will expand the regular fall wild turkey hunting season by starting on the Monday closest to the 17th of September and running to November 7; open a youth only wild turkey hunting day in the fall on the Saturday preceding the first day of the regular fall wild turkey hunting season; increase the fall wild turkey hunting season bag limit in Wildlife Management Districts 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 from two to five birds, of which can be either male or female; increase the fall wild turkey hunting season bag limit in Wildlife Management District 26 from one to three birds, of which can be either male or female, and expand the options for shotgun gauges and shot size legal for wild turkey hunting to include shotgun gauges 10 through 28, and .410 with the use of shot sizes 2 through 9.   

 BRIEF SUMMARY OF RELEVANT INFORMATION CONSIDERED DURING DEVELOPMENT OF THE RULE (including up to 3 primary sources relied upon): Input from regional biologists and harvest rates indicate that overall, turkey numbers in Maine have been stable to increasing in some areas of the state and could sustain an increased harvest and participation. Non-toxic, denser than lead shot size options are becoming more available in various shotgun shell gauges that are effective in harvesting wild turkeys. These options allow smaller gauge shotguns for youth hunters to pursue wild turkeys. The Department also recognizes the need to educate wild turkey hunters on recommended shot sizes, load densities and chokes that are most effective.

 

 

 

George Smith

About George Smith

George stepped down at the end of 2010 after 18 years as the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to write full time. He writes a weekly editorial page column in the Kennebec Journal and Waterville Morning Sentinel, a weekly travel column in those same newspapers (with his wife Linda), monthly columns in The Maine Sportsman magazine, two outdoor news blogs (one on his website, georgesmithmaine.com, and one on the website of the Bangor Daily News), and special columns for many publications and newsletters. Islandport Press published a book of George's favorite columns, "A Life Lived Outdoors" in 2014. In 2014, George also won a Maine Press Association award for writing the state's bet sports blog. In 2016, Down East Books published George's book, Maine Sporting Camps, and Islandport Press published George and his wife Linda's travel book, Take It From ME, about their favorite Maine inns and restaurants.