Kansas we have a problem. The turkey population in Kansas is on a long slow train to extirpation. Last year less than half of the tag holders bagged a bird in the spring. The dwindling numbers for the past 15 years have gone unchecked by state officials and the wildlife commission. Kansas Department of Wildlife biologists and other turkey experts all want to suspend the fall turkey hunts to allow the population to recover. The wildlife commission, appointed by the governor sees no issues with the fall hunts and wants to keep them going.
Habitat loss is another reason the turkeys are declining as well as pesticides used killing bugs that turkeys eat. There is no doubt that numbers are on the decline, even at the risk of an economic impact, something needs to be done to help the birds recover.
