12 pm curfew on turkey hunting

[lucky strike]

This is one of those questions I never gave much thouht to and just went along with the program.
What is the reason for a 12 pm curfew . It can't be that the birds go to sleep!I've called in  alot of big toms in the afternoon while trying out new calls.

We've got that here is WV.  I believe the theory is that hens go back to the nest to sit and will abandon it if bumped off.

[frassettor]

here in WI we are finally allowed to hunt all day till I believe 5PM

[dino]

We used to have that here in Indiana and I believe it is still in effect on state property.  Never quit sure of the reason other than letting the birds rest and go back to roost unmolested. dino

[SteveB]

So I can legally go home and take a nap!
 :D  

Steve

[Big Ed]

Give ample time for hens to stay on nest.

[One eye]

We used to quit at 1:00PM here in Michigan.  They then moved it to 2:00PM.  Now you can hunt until sundown.  I believe the hunt quality has degraded (on public land) since they expanded the hours and gave out more permits.

Dan

[Dave Bowers]

Yea I used to not understand it either; since you weren't hunting the hens. But after a few years of observations, I noticed how spooky hens would get just walking near them on nest. Usually if not pressured a hen will just lay still and hide.
So now I have no problem with stopping the hunt at noon. Gotta let them youngsters time to hatch.

[DV of WI]

So you can take a knap, go shrooming or go home and make peace, without thinking you should really be out there hunting.

[BowHuntingFool]

Originally posted by frassettor:
here in WI we are finally allowed to hunt all day till I believe 5PM

We have until sunset now a days brother!

[lucky strike]

thanks for the replies your answers make sense of the 12 pm curfew

[**DONOTDELETE**]

We can hunt them all day now in Michigan, but I think the theory was about keeping hens on the nest. I don't think I have ever heard a gobble late in the day.

[KentuckyTJ]

We used to be that way, but it's now an all day hunt. Like Jim said, the state thought hunters in the woods would bump hens off their nests. We have been all day hunting for quit a few years now and believe me, we have more turkeys than ever. Another one that needs to change here in Ky is we should be allowed to shoot a hen with archery gear. We can during the fall but I don't see any reason not to in the spring as well. Now I've saved the best for last. The regulation that we need to change the most is we get two tags, but can only shoot one per day...Whats with that????

[Talondale]

VA has the Noon deadline in effect for the first half of the season and then goes to all day for the last half.  We have up to 3 tags (if one wasn't used in fall) and can only take one a day.

[Warden609]

Tom,
State don't want you killin out in one day. What fun would that be