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Closures in Matagorda and Wharton counties reflect broader shifts in Texas wild turkey management, as TPWD responds to population trends, strengthens hen protections, and prepares for additional regulatory discussions this spring Equalized Outdoors Newsroom April 2nd, 2026 It’s officially spring, and turkey season will be open in every zone in the state by the time you read this.   We have been on the go since Nashville, filming, interviewing, researching, and prepping for th

On a recent TikTok Live, Equalized Outdoors, George’s Boy Outdoors, and Ronnie "Cuz" Strickland came together for what was billed as an open discussion on turkey hunting. What unfolded instead was a rare, unscripted exchange that exposed a deeper tension—and opportunity—within modern conservation culture: how the resource is talked about, who gets invited into the conversation, and who is trusted to carry it forward.

I almost wrote Saturday off. After experiencing the crowds on Friday, I expected Saturday at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention to be heavier, louder, and harder to move through—the kind of day where meaningful conversations get swallowed by foot traffic and noise. It would’ve been easy to assume the experience and stay back.

Walking was the only option that made sense. I parked back at the hotel and walked the entire stretch to the convention center—1.1 miles, according to Apple Maps. Due to traffic being backed up well beyond reason, it was faster to cover the distance on foot. That walk turned out to be a fitting primer for what Day One of NWTF Convention 2026 would feel like.