You have to wonder?

Been thinking all along just how accurate the turkey kill figures will be this year... With the new Online/Phone-in regestration being implimented this year how many turkeys go home and never get registered. Also, how many hunters go back out and try to bag a second bird... I like the fact of not having to travel 17 miles out of my way to register a bird and it has to save DNR statewide a pile of money... Your thoughts?

I will miss the "bands" I will feel old telling my lil girl "I remember when you would have to take your bird into a station to register you bird." hahaha

I'm pretty sure I read an article in WON that said the DNR doesn't really do counts on turkeys like they do deer. They figure one good hatch and the number can be big again. I remember it seeming kind of weird. It was one or two issues ago.

It's just as easy to not register the turkey when you needed to take it to a registration station and re-use the tag if you wanted to. You could take the bird home and cut it up and take the tag off and try to use it again just like with phone registration.

I don't think the registration method effects count accuracy at all. There will always be guys who don't register them and keep hunting no matter what the process is. Just like there will be guys who shoot them with .22 rifles out of their feeders year round. All we can do is play by the rules and do our own part to keep it as accurate as possible.

Nice Merriam's guys, love the looks of them birds... I also love the ease in registration this year, took maybe a minute, done! But given the oportunity there will be those that simply wont do it and those that will poach a second bird... Just the way it is I guess...so how can you get anywhere close on head counts?

Just got back from South Dakota. All you do is wrap your tag on the leg and you are done. No call in or registration. At the end of the year you get a survey. I like to think most sportsman follow the laws. I am all for the simple registration methods. The bad will always be bad no matter how you register your game. Oh yea, my son and I went 2 for 2 on Merriams.

I love the fact that you can call in and register your kill over the phone. But that is a good question of how many people go out and try and kill another animal. The only time I go in and register my kill at a gas station is when its something to brag about and show off.

Thought about it myself. If we see a big drop, I would guess that is part of the reason. Last year was a good winter compared to the previous 2, so the carryover from the winter should be outstanding. That should equal more birds killed, with more birds in the woods (I am aware there are many more factors, but this arguably the biggest one). You can also state, the people who won't call in for one reason or another, probably didn't register in the past years either. Kind of like the argument that having an uncased gun in the truck will increase poaching by vehicle. I don't agree, because the people who violate, already have been. My $0.02