AL HJR212

Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources eliminated the fall turkey season in all but six counties and shortened it by 50 percent in those remaining counties.

Turkey hunters received no advance notice of the 2013 Conservation Advisory Board action and had no opportunity to address the issue before the elimination was implemented.

Alabama has over 500,000 turkeys with the highest density of any state, and over 40 other states maintain a fall turkey season, indicating no biological reason for elimination.

Fall turkey season contributes to the economy of rural counties as part of economic development and a time-honored tradition.

Legislature urges the Commissioner to restore the historical fall turkey season in all counties and directs copies of the resolution to be sent to the Commissioner and Conservation Advisory Board chair.