Michigan Farm Bureau and Turkeys

[trout]

Turkeys:

http://www.michiganfarmbureau.com/policy/index.php?function=fetch&number=083&year=2005

Turkeys are increasingly becoming overpopulated in many agricultural areas. While the elimination of the lottery permit system is an important step, we suggest the following measures be taken before turkeys become unmanageable in Michigan:

Include turkeys under the small game license program.
Landowner permits.
A block permit program.
Out-of-season shooting permits.

Also:
Legal Action

If the DNR eliminates or severely restricts the new tools available for landowners to control wildlife on their farm, we believe the following issues may need to be resolved by legal action in order to protect agricultural businesses from economic losses or transmission of disease:

Private landowners should have the legal right to manage overpopulation of wildlife on their land in order to avoid economic losses through destruction of their crops and livestock by wildlife.
The State of Michigan will be obligated to provide full compensation and/or provide adequate fencing to landowners who are unable to control the wildlife engaged in the destruction of their crops and livestock.


What do you think of their ideas?

[Buddy Lee]

I've never really liked the Farm Bureau. I think they're a radical, anti-wildlife organization. Block permits for turkeys?? :lol: Considering that Raccoons likely do the majority of crop damage in MI, I hope these farmers are out shooting them by the truckload.

[NEMichsportsman]

:rant: Ludicrous!

They are a self serving advocacy group...I see no sense even debating their "wish list". Their proposed ideas for wildlife...deer, turkey, etc. have nothing to do with game management...simply eliminate as many of the species as possible.

Maybe they can spread some money and influence in respect to dove hunting...there is at least one species where expanded hunting opportunity could be viewed in a positive sense!

[Linda G.]

This is pretty much their standard line every year, with a few changes. Nothing new.

Left to the farm bureau, we wouldn't have any wildlife in this state.

But they do have a point about problems with birds in agricultural areas, it CAN be a problem, and farmers often have no idea who to turn to, especially in the heavy ag areas of the Thumb and southern Michigan.

Especially in the winter, when with or without snow, those birds are hungry...which is what organizations like MWTHA and the NWTF are SUPPOSED to be about-assisting in the habitat improvement and management of the wild turkey.

If you're a member of either of those groups, get hold of your local farmer and have a chat with him...we do that on a regular basis, in fact, both of the platforms I have photos of on this site were set up to help local farmers with wintering wild turkey issues. They work.

There is an answer, folks, but it takes more than just buying a hunting license.

[Adam Waszak]

Ya know Linda? I bet it is those exact same farmers that won't let you or I onto their land to hunt Turkeys though right. The Farm Bureau is way off they are the reason there is no deer in Baldwin area and the turkey will follow if we don't tell them to take a hike soon. I agree with Buddy Lee that the coons are the biggest threat right now to the crops out there because they are rarely hunted in most areas of the state.

AW

[Buddy Lee]

Ya know Linda? I bet it is those exact same farmers that won't let you or I onto their land to hunt Turkeys though right.

Those farmers will let you onto their land to hunt....for $1,000. ;)

I don't want to pile on the farmers though, because the farm bureau certainly does not represent the views of all farmers.

[Linda G.]

One of the farmers lets me hunt there, but then, he lets everyone hunt there for everything, which pushes most of the wildlife off into the surrounding areas every year, without fail. And a lot of that area no one can get into.

The other farmer doesn't let ANYONE hunt at all...he doesn't hunt, either. Their farm is known as a local wildlife sanctuary, particularly for geese, ducks, and deer. We drive around and drool.

But again, most of the wildlife isn't on that property all the time, either. We do kill birds around there, every year, and probably will this year, too.

But without the food and our assistance, those birds wouldn't be there at all.