There aren't a ton of turkeys in South MS. Katrina destroyed hardwood forests in '05 and the population which was once fairly healthy has since plummeted everywhere. Like other places with low populations, there are small pockets with decent numbers, followed by vast areas without any birds.
This is my 3rd spring on this local lease. The year before I joined, a 70 y/o fellow killed his limit of 3 birds just sitting in a blind and calling occasionally, most came sneaking in silent he killed. My first year on the lease, there weren't any birds except for a flock of 15 hens/jakes. I stumbled into a crazy vocal 2 y/o that came charging in right off the roost and absolutely committed suicide. That was the only bird heard gobbling by myself or any of the other hunters, and was the only bird killed on the lease that year. Last year, and I have no idea why, we were covered up with toms. I had to cover a lot of ground, but was able to hear at least 1 bird gobble every time I hunted the lease. I killed 3, my son killed one, and another member took 1. After the end of the season, there were still 4 LB's using the property, as well as 5 jakes. I saw them fairly regularly until around late Nov/ early Dec, then they all disappeared and have not returned.
I suspect the fluctuation is due to lack of burning. Turkeys LOVE land that has been burned the spring prior. A fresh burn like we had 3 seasons ago can push birds off, but they move back in and use it even more the following spring. Due to unfavorable conditions, the property was not burned last spring, so now the areas that were burned 2 springs ago are getting a little too thick for turkeys. At least that's what I'm hoping is going on.... As much corn gets flinged down here during deer season, I'm hoping they didn't aflatoxin and are now dead. But it's more likely a neighbor has been baiting since deer season and has them pulled off us.
Birds definetly are NOT still in winter flocks. But we don't really have winter flocks down here like in TN. Even in the winter, the norm for a big flock is 4 or 5 hens. Often times you just see single hens in the winter.
Most would say our birds just don't gobble as much... and I used to think that was true. But I've been able to fire up and call in birds without too much trouble once I find them. But I'm not going to sit and blind call in a spot for an hour very often. Just not my style. In the 7 miles we covered this past weekend, my son and I never sat down once. Just kept covering ground running and gunning.
