ThatBuckeyeGuy
Active Member
Exactly the same here and only a half hour south from Tracker1. I know what one of the big issues is around here but I won't discuss it on a public forum . The other reasons are in line with what you mentioned
2024 Spring Turkey
- Thread starter Wiley E Coyote
- Start date
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
Same here in NJ….20 years ago I could call in a Tom from my back deck…..almost anytime I wanted to…..now we only see a Turkey on my property once or twice a year. Never hear them gobble anymore. They used to roost in my front and side yard. I would be greeted with a volley of gobbles every morning in the spring while walking to my truck to go to work. We still have birds in other areas….i have 8 acres about five miles from here next to swampland and farm fields that holds turkeys, but even there the population is going downward. I have no idea why.
Chancegriffis
Active Member
All the birds must be in guernsey. I have seen a group of 3/400 birds on one 12 acre wood block. I have old dozens and dozens of trail camera pictures with 100 plus birds on them on a piece of private I used to hunt. Are bobcat pops and poaching really doing that much damage down south??
Probably opossums, skunks and coons raiding the nests is the bigger threat to the population ….
Yes I believe this is problem
Raccoons should have an open season
Fall turkey should be Tom only no hens
Raccoons should have an open season
Fall turkey should be Tom only no hens
We take care of the coons around the farms. There could be poaching but it's more of an over hunt issue. There is a reason there is only 1 bird now. The state is starting to recognize how bad they screwed up. Get rid of the 3 month "spring season" and the afternoon hunts.
Bigcountry40
Member
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If private land owners won’t allow coon hunters on their property because it will run off “their deer” open season is pointless
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I suggest you all look up Dr. Michael Chamberlain on YouTube. If you’re curious as to why turkey populations have dropped all across the range, he will answer it for you. I’m happy we have cut the t back to one bird. I wish the season dates were pushed back an additional two weeks.
The state of Arkansas did a five year study on turkey nest and found out that crows were the hardest predator on nest. Love eating eggs. Get out and blast some Crows guys
Predator management is pointless without habitat managment. A chainsaw and sprayer of herbicide is more important then a .22 or foot trap. Most of our habitat is degraded or severely compromised for a number of reasons. I'm curious to the impact the millions of pounds of dumped and molding corn piles across the state are having on wild turkeys as well. Seems like the steepest drop in populations corelated well with the popularity of deer baiting. Also, theres no sound biolgical reasons we are still shooting hens in the fall
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That's a good point lone Wolf! As a public land turkey hunter I can tell you there are plenty of birds on public property and no corn piles allowed.
I don't think it is fair to call it deer baiting anymore. It is wildlife baiting. Baiting with a junk nutrition, that without a doubt has a negative impact on the natural resources (plant and animals).
