http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=22709

AGFC votes to close 2009 fall turkey hunting in Arkansas


Story date: Sept. 27, 2009
Last-minute action may cause enforcement problems

By Kevin Hill
Assistant Sports Editor
Amid concerns of a declining turkey population in the Natural State, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) voted Thursday to close all 2009 fall turkey hunting seasons. Saturday would have been the opening day for archery season, with firearm season on its heels Oct. 26.
Commissioners Emon Mahony, Ron Piercem Rick Watkins and vice chairman Craig Campbell all voted for the cancellation, while George Dunklin, Ron Duncan and chairman Brett Morgan voted for the seasons to continue.
Campbell said he’s certain there is a problem with the state’s turkey population. One way to stop its continued decline is to close the entire fall season.
“I’m convinced we have a heck of a problem,” Campbell said. “But I’m convinced we’re moving in the right direction. We’re going to mess around and not have a spring turkey season if we don’t do something.”
Dunklin said he felt like a decision to close the season would polarize the commission and Arkansas’s hunters.
“What concerns me is we’re dividing our user groups,” He added. “We’re saying the hunter is the problem. Hunters are our partners. Without hunters, the resource goes away.”
AGFC commissioners weren’t the only ones who spoke out about the late closure.
Joey Fisher, Russellville Middle School teacher and outdoors columnist for The Courier, said Friday he thinks the commission is trying to protect the hens through the spring hatching for a couple years to increase population.
“I think it’s probably a good decision,” he added. “Most people — at least your hardcore hunters — hunt in the spring. Our turkey numbers are low and this will be the best thing for the number of turkeys. The hunters won’t like it.”
Justin Wilkins of Wilkins Brothers Outdoors in Russellville said he thought it was a good idea, though he is definitely disappointed.
“I understand because of the turkey population,” Wilkins said. “But they should have done it sooner. They’ve already printed the rules and regulations book and it said turkey (season) was in. I think they’re going to have trouble enforcing it.”
Wilkins added due to the parallels between deer and turkey hunting, he hasn’t seen any significant problems with his business.
The toughest job for the AGFC is going to be — as Wilkins pointed out — preventing hunters who have already outfitted for turkey season from hunting anyway. Many people may claim ignorance of the closure even in an era of immediate communications.

Its a shame they didn't make this decision sooner. I do hope that hunters that know about it don't go out and hunt anyway.

HAHAHAHA...Bullshit... they've been talking about closing the fall turkey hunt for months,yet waited until last Thursday to act on it..less than a week from opening day. From what I've been told,they are basing numbers off of the last 2 years spring season harvest..which was moved FOREWARD two weeks,well after the Toms quit gobbling. Also numbers thrown at me was that the Fall seasons(Gun and Archery) combined accounted for less than 5% of total kills for the year. Closing the fall hunts will have no effect on the population of the Birds ,but I will bet money that it won't have any effect on the Spring hunt..where the AGFC makes a killing from the hunters. I can understand their concern with "low" numbers,but they keep ignoring possible long term solutions that very well could help. They could be less restrictive on feral Hog hunting.allowing year round seasons on public land. Extended seasons and night hunting for coyotes.and get rid of the limit on them..even to go as far as to stop having controlled burns during nesting seasons.

Stupid bureaucrats.

Predation by coyotes and prescribed burns about did us in a few years back here.

The so called "experts" were told numerous times by hunting orgs in my state that the prescried burns were the culprit in our area. It only took three years and all of a sudden front page news stating what we had said for years. Now we have a boatload of turkeys. They said our population doubled in about three years. Of course the burns had been stopped three years at the time.

educated idiots.

I don’t know the specifics in this instance, however generally speaking, if a decision is delayed until nearly last minute while information is gathered and analyzed, experts are consulted, etc in order to make an informed judgment, to me that’s a sign of intelligence rather than stupidity. But at least one other fellow claims that an informed judgement was not the case at all.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=91887

Conway Man Sues Over Cancellation Of Turkey Hunt
A Conway man has filed a lawsuit over the cancellation of the fall turkey hunting season in Arkansas.
The lawsuit by David Clark claims the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission was arbitrary and capricious in its decision. It also says hunters didn't have opportunity to object to the decision.
A Game and Fish Commission spokesman declined comment on the lawsuit.
The commission voted last week to cancel the fall turkey season over concerns the turkey population is falling too low.
A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday in Wynne.

Sometimes it is but as often as not it isn't. I've worked on many projects where decisions were left to the last minute out of procrastination and/or general incompetence on the part of management.