Despite not being able to use decoys for the first 10 days of the season, Alabama turkey hunters continue to take far more birds during the first week of the season than any other week.
“Opening day is opening day, no matter if it’s March 25 or April 25,” said Chuck Sykes, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Director. “Our Game Check data from the past five seasons shows that we kill more turkeys during opening week than any other week. If that opening day had been April 1, it would have been the exact same thing.
kAm“%:>:?8 :D 4=@D6C E@ AC:>6 3C665:?8 D62D@?] %96J EJA:42==J 2C6?’E :? H:?E6C 7=@4<D[ 2?5 J@F 42? 86E 2 8@33=6C E@ 4@>6 E@ 2 42== 36EE6C]”k^Am
kAm$J<6D D2:5 9:D 9F?E :? t=>@C6 r@F?EJ @? @A6?:?8 52J E9:D J62C 7@==@H65 9:D AC6>:D6 E92E E96 3C665:?8 D62D@? :D 7F==J F?56CH2J] w6 244@>A2?:65 EH@ 3C@E96CD @? E96:C 72>:=J 72C>[ 4@?E:?F:?8 2 `_\J62C EC25:E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%9:D J62C[ E96 7@8 H2D D@ E9:4< E92E :7 x 925?’E 366? 9F?E:?8 H:E9 E96>[ x H@F=5 92G6 8@?6 324< E@ 365[” 96 D2:5] “%FC<6JD :? >@DE A=246D H@F=5?’E 92G6 D2:5 2 H@C5[ 3FE E96J 92G6 2 C62==J 8@@5 A=246] (6 8@E E96C6 H2J 367@C6 52J=:89E[ 2?5 2 EFC<6J 8@33=65] (6 62D65 24C@DD 2 =:EE=6 D=@F89 2?5 D6E FA] qJ E92E E:>6[ EH@ @C E9C66 EFC<6JD H6C6 8@33=:?8] x H2:E65 F?E:= x E9@F89E E96J H6C6 @? E96 8C@F?5 367@C6 x 42==65 E96 7:CDE E:>6] x J6=A65 2?5 E9C66 EFC<6JD 2?DH6C65 >6] p3@FE `d >:?FE6D =2E6C[ x D66 EH@ 9625D 4@>:?8 E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D] x’> b_ J2C5D 369:?5 E96 3@JD]”k^Am
kAm%96 EFC<6JD 8@E H:E9:? C2?86 @7 E96 3C@E96CD 2?5 @?6 D9@E[ C@==:?8 @?6 @7 E96 8@33=6CD] qFE E92E H2D?’E E96 6?5 @7 E96 DE@CJ]k^Am
kAm“%96 @E96C EFC<6J ;F>A65 FA[ D@ x DE2CE65 4FEE:?8[” $J<6D D2:5] “w6’D CF??:?8 2C@F?5 :? 4:C4=6D[ ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E’D 8@:?8 @?] x’> 42==:?8[ 2?5 96 DE2CED 8@33=:?8] %96? 2?@E96C EFC<6J DE2CED 8@33=:?8] %96 @E96C 3C@E96C 4C2H=D E@H2C5 9:D 3C@E96C E@ ECJ E@ 86E 2 D9@E[ 3FE 96 42?’E] %96? 2== @7 2 DF556?[ E96 3C@E96C E92E D9@E ;F>AD FA 2?5 DE2CED CF??:?8] w6 CF?D @FE @7 D:89E]k^Am
kAm“x 2D<65 :7 9:D EFC<6J 8@E FA] w6 D2:5[ ‘*6A[ 8@E FA 2?5 C2? @77]’ (6’C6 DE2?5:?8 E96C6 E2=<:?8[ 2?5 E96C6’D 2 EFC<6J 8@33=:?8 :? 7C@?E @7 FD] (6 H2:E65 23@FE 7:G6 >:?FE6D[ 2?5 x J6=A65] %96 EFC<6J 8@33=65 23@FE `__ J2C5D 7C@> FD] x C2? 324< E@ >J DA@E[ 2?5 96 8@E D6E 5@H?] qJ E96 E:>6 x 8@E D6E 5@H?[ 96 8@33=65 2?5 H2D 23@FE e_ J2C5D 2H2J] x =@@< 2?5 E96C6’D E9C66 4@>:?8 DEC2:89E E@ >6] %96J 8@E 23@FE b_ J2C5D 7C@> E96 @E96C 3C@E96C[ 2?5 96 8@E @?6 @7 E96>] x? E96 >62?E:>6[ E96 @E96C 3C@E96C 925 42F89E 9:D EFC<6J] w6 D2:5 96 H2D D:EE:?8 E96C6[ 2?5 2== @7 2 DF556?[ 96 D66D 2 9625 A@A FA[ 2?5 E96 EFC<6J DE2CE65 7=@F?4:?8 5@H? E9C@F89 E96 H@@5D] w6 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ 492D6 E96 3:C5 E@@ 72C[ D@ H6 6?565 FA H:E9 EH@ 3:C5D]”k^Am
kAm%FC<6J 92CG6DE 564C62D6D 2D E96 D62D@? AC@8C6DD6D]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 >@C6 EFC<6JD 2C6 C6A@CE65 @? v2>6 r964< @? @A6?:?8 H66< E92? 2?J @E96C E:>6 @7 E96 D62D@?[ :E 5@6D?UCDBF@jE >62? E96 3:C5D H@?UCDBF@jE 4@@A6C2E6 =2E6C :? E96 D62D@?] %96 D62D@? 7@C +@?6 `[ H9:49 4@G6CD E96 >2;@C:EJ @7 E96 DE2E6[ :D |2C49 ad E9C@F89 |2J g H:E9 564@JD 2==@H65 DE2CE:?8 pAC:= c] x? +@?6 xx :? E96 ?@CE9H6DE A2CE @7 E96 DE2E6[ E96 D62D@? :D pAC:= ` E9C@F89 |2J g H:E9 564@JD 2==@H65 DE2CE:?8 pAC:= ``] +@?6 xxx Wr=2C<6[ r=2J[ r@G:?8E@?[ |@?C@6[ #2?5@=A9 2?5 %2==25682 4@F?E:6DX :D E96 @?=J K@?6 H:E9 2 72== D62D@?[ H9:49 CF?D }@G6>36C `e\ac 2?5 s646>36C `c\ah H:E9 ?@ 564@JD 2==@H65 5FC:?8 E96 72==] %96 +@?6 xxx DAC:?8 D62D@? :D |2C49 ad E9C@F89 |2J g H:E9 564@JD 2==@H65 DE2CE:?8 pAC:= c] %96 J62C=J 328 =:>:E 7@C 2== K@?6D :D 7@FC 8@33=6CD A6C A6CD@?] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]@FE5@@C2=232>2]4@>^D62D@?D\2?5\328\=:>:ED^EFC<6J\D62D@?QmHHH]@FE5@@C2=232>2]4@>^D62D@?D\2?5\328\=:>:ED^EFC<6J\D62D@?k^2m 7@C K@?6 >2AD 2?5 >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 925 EH@ @7 E96 36DE 9F?ED @7 E96 J62C @? E96 =2DE 52J @7 E96 D62D@? E96 =2DE EH@ J62CD[” $J<6D D2:5] “%96J’C6 DE:== 5@:?8 E96:C E9:?8[ 3FE :E 2== 56A6?5D @? E96 AC6DDFC6 @? E96 AC@A6CEJ]”k^Am
kAmu@C E9@D6 H9@ 2C6 ?6H E@ E96 EFC<6J 9F?E:?8 6?562G@C[ H9:49 42? 36 :?E6?D6=J 255:4E:G6[ $J<6D D2:5 :E DE2CED H:E9 5@:?8 J@FC 9@>6H@C< 3J D4@FE:?8 E96 2C62 J@F A=2? E@ 9F?E 2?5 =@@<:?8 7@C EC24<D 2?5 D4C2E49:?8]k^Am
kAm“&?E:= J@F 86E AC@7:4:6?E H:E9 2 42==[ E96 =6DD 42==:?8 J@F 5@ E96 36EE6C[” 96 D2:5] “$E:4< H:E9 A=2:? J6=AD 2?5 4=F4<D 6G6CJ @?46 :? 2 H9:=6] %96C6 92G6 366? 2 =@E @7 EFC<6JD <:==65 324< :? E96 @=5 52JD H96? E96J H@F=5 4=F4< E9C66 E:>6D 2?5 D6E E96 42== 5@H?] %96? 4=F4< E9C66 E:>6D :? 2?@E96C 9@FC] %96 D6EFA <:==D >@C6 EFC<6JD E92? 2?JE9:?8] x7 J@F’C6 ?@E :? E96 C:89E A=246[ E96 36DE 42==6C :? E96 H@C=5 :D ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 5@ 2?J 8@@5]”k^Am
kAm$J<6D 2=D@ D2:5 H2:E:?8 @? E96 A6C764E H62E96C E@ 9625 E@ E96 EFC<6J H@@5D :D 2 >:DE2<6] *@F 92G6 E@ 36 AC6D6?E E@ H:?]k^Am
kAm“#2:? @C D9:?6[ 9@E @C 4@=5[ E96 EFC<6JD 2C6?’E 8@:?8 2?JH96C6[” 96 D2:5] “%96J’C6 FD65 E@ :E 36:?8 `__ 568C66D :? pF8FDE 2?5 a_ 568C66D :? y2?F2CJ] vF6DD H92En %96J’C6 DE:== 8@:?8 E@ 5@ H92E EFC<6JD 5@] x7 :E’D 9@E @C C2:?J[ E96J >2J ?@E 8@33=6 2D >F49] x7 J@F 5@ J@FC 9@>6H@C<[ J@F 42? DE:== <:== EFC<6JD H96? :E 9@E[ 2?5 J@F 42? DE:== <:== EFC<6JD H96? :E’D 4@=5]”k^Am
kAm$J<6D D2:5 p=232>2 EFC<6J 9F?E6CD 2C6 <?@H? E@ 36 92C54@C6[ 3FE 96 9@A6D D@>6 H:== E9:?< 23@FE >@C6 E92? ;FDE 3288:?8 2 3:C5]k^Am
kAm“p44@C5:?8 E@ @FC 52E2[ G6CJ 76H A6@A=6 2C6 <:==:?8 7@FC EFC<6JD 2 D62D@?[” 96 D2:5] “'6CJ 76H A6@A=6 2C6 <:==:?8 E9C66 EFC<6JD] |@DE A6@A=6 <:== @?6 @C EH@] qFE H6 2=D@ 92G6 A6@A=6 H9@ 5@?’E BF:E @?46 E96J’G6 <:==65 E96:C 7@FCE9 EFC<6J] &?E:= E92E 2EE:EF56 492?86D[ ?@ D62D@?D @C 328 =:>:ED H:== 492?86 E92E] (6 42?’E @FE\C68F=2E6 E92E] &?E:= A6@A=6 DE2CE AFEE:?8 3:C5 7:CDE 2?5 ?@E E96:C 766=:?8D[ EFC<6JD H:== DE2J :? EC@F3=6] xE 8@6D 324< E@ A6CD@?2= 6E9:4D 2?5 9@H J@F H6C6 3C@F89E FA] x’> ?@E D2J:?8 x’G6 2=H2JD 366? 2 D2:?E[ 3FE x F?56CDE2?5 ?@H E92E :E’D H2J >@C6 :>A@CE2?E E@ E2<6 42C6 @7 E96 C6D@FC46 :?DE625 @7 E2<:?8 42C6 @7 >J ?665D]”k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 9:D `a\J62C E6?FC6 2D (uu s:C64E@C[ $J<6D 92D H:E?6DD65 2 EC@F3=:?8 564=:?6 :? E96 23:=:EJ 7@C EFC<6J 96?D E@ C62C 6?@F89 A@F=ED E@ DFDE2:? E96 A@AF=2E:@?] %96 52E2 7C@> E96 a_ac D62D@? 5:5[ 9@H6G6C[ @776C 2 C2J @7 9@A6]k^Am
kAm“%96 3@EE@> =:?6 :D H6 925 @FC 36DE 92E49 =2DE J62C E92E H6’G6 925 :? >@C6 E92? 2 564256[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D DE:== ?@E9:?8 E@ ;F>A FA 2?5 5@H? 23@FE[ 3FE EJA:42==J J@F H2?E >@C6 E92? EH@ A@F=ED A6C 96? E@ DFCG:G6 :7 J@F H2?E 2 8C@H:?8 A@AF=2E:@?] {2DE J62C[ :? @FC DE2E6H:56 DFCG6J WpG:5 %FC<6J wF?E6C 2?5 (uu DE277X[ H6 925 EH@ A@F=ED A6C 96? DFCG:G6] %92E’D E96 9:896DE :? `a J62CD] %92E’D ?@E 8C62E[ 3FE 2E =62DE :E’D DE23=6] ~?6 J62C @FE @7 `a 5@6D?’E >62? H6 92G6 2 DE23=6 A@AF=2E:@?] xE >62?D H6 925 2 8@@5 92E49 =2DE J62C]”k^Am
kAm$J<6D D2:5 96 2?5 9:D H:76 564:565 E@ F?56C8@ :?E6?D:G6 >2?286>6?E @? E96:C AC@A6CEJ :? H6DE p=232>2 E@ D66 :7 E96 EFC<6J A@AF=2E:@? H@F=5 C63@F?5]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 8C62E 92E49 @? @FC A=246 =2DE J62C 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? 2D 72C 324< 2D x 42? C6>6>36C[” 96 D2:5] “%96 C62D@? E92E 92AA6?65 :D H6 >256 2 4@?D4:@FD 677@CE 7@FC J62CD 28@ E@ ?@E <:== 2 EFC<6J @? @FC A=246] x? 255:E:@? E@ ?@ 9F?E:?8[ H6 E9:??65 2 3F?49 @7 E:>36C 2?5 5:5 2 =@E @7 3FC?:?8] %92E’D H9J H6 925 2 8@@5 92E49]”k^Am
