Setterman
Well-Known Member
That graph is completely worthless. Twra has zero idea how many turkey hunters there are, so harvest numbers mean nothing without that info.
Fewer turkeys- debate- over a decade of harvest numbers....
- Thread starter Speedwell-Hunter
- Start date
Way too many experienced turkey hunters saying their isn't a problem, new hunters don't have a clue usually about the resource. Many other states showing the same thing, turkey populations are dwindling, but a lot of influencers have a kill 'em all now attitude. Going to be tough to turn this ship around unfortunately.
These winds blowing turkeys into other states.
I was quick to blame high limits on the decline. That's just how I keep up with the years. When limits went up population seemed to go down but that does not explain the hen decline. I honestly think where I hunt there are definatelly fewer gobblers but a ton fewer hens. I personally think that a why everyone around is saying gobbling way down. I think most of the hens are already bred by season. Jmo. Jmo.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
There are a ton fewer hens on my places.
But gobbling activity is related to three things...
Number of birds (more birds, more gobbling... duh... but its not additive, increase is multiplicative, more birds means more competition for hens, so toms have to gobble more to attract hens to check them out to see if they are the most suitable mate)
Hunting pressure (toms are smart... after a few times of coming to a call, seeing a hunter- the hunter didn't even see the tom... they learn pretty quickly to shut up. Plus as the season progresses, the most vocal toms are naturally removed first)
Timing of receptive hens (gobbling peaks just as the first hens become receptive (they want some more of that!), then peaks again as the last of the hens become receptive. No need to gobble when the majority of hens are receptive, just strut and drum).
Even if your local flock is done breeding before season opens (highly unlikely), gobbling activity should be hitting its 2nd peak at season opener since there has been no pressure. I suspect you are hearing fewer gobbles because there are fewer gobblers to gobble at the start of the season.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Less hens being bred because there are less and less gobblers. Along with more dominant gobblers being killed by garbage tactics like decoys and reaping
Stlbaseball1
Well-Known Member
I'm not a fan of the reaping but decoys have been around for far too long to take too much blame. Sure they've improved from the old homemade ones of mid 90s but they are still decoys (which are allowed for so many other types of hunting).
Setterman
Well-Known Member
The strutting decoys have not been around that long unless you are fairly new to this sport, and certainly didn't gain popularity until recently.
Hen decoys, yes but they aren't the issue
don't give a rats arse about other types of hunting. Those are irrelevant to this discussion
Stlbaseball1
Well-Known Member
I can get on board with the logic behind the strutting decoys.
man those graphs do not give me a warm fuzzy feeling....
To me this is one of the main questions they need to answer. I think the decline is due to many things combined and not just one, but I do think hunter #'s and more "modern" equipment as well as poult recruitment are a big piece of it.
When I started in 2010, there were birds everywhere and you may not see a hunter all season on public lands, but now it is not unusual to see more than one in a single hunt and that is even at the end of the season. Last year on public I ran into 2 other hunters on the last day of season.
What's worse with all the new equipment folks want to shoot 60-80 yds at a turkey. No telling how many die later after a long shot peppers them. Those don't make the kill totals and just become food for scavengers.
You mean the best turkey county in the state has birds? I'm not trying to give you a hard time, but Maury is the best county followed by Williamson IMO. I saw 3 flocks on my way to work in Williamson county today. One flock had 40-60 birds with multiple strutters. One flock had 10 or so with 4 male birds 2 were strutting, and the other had 8-10 with 2 strutters.
The places that have historically had the most birds still look ok, except Giles like you pointed out. However, Wilson and Rutherford (depending on where you are) have started showing signs of decline. If it can happen there it can happen to any county. It's just a matter of time. Turkey hunting has gotten easier and that has brought a bunch of new people into the sport.
eddie c
Well-Known Member
I'm not an expert and no data to back this up. I don't see anyone mention habitat loss.
The areas I hunt and the areas I travel through to get there, I see a lot of habitat loss such as new houses, subdivisions and farming practices clearing fence rows and wood lots. These were roosting and nesting areas. Turkeys are nomads. I think some of us are seeing less birds because they move on to other areas .
The areas I hunt and the areas I travel through to get there, I see a lot of habitat loss such as new houses, subdivisions and farming practices clearing fence rows and wood lots. These were roosting and nesting areas. Turkeys are nomads. I think some of us are seeing less birds because they move on to other areas .
How big of an impact do hawks make on poults? We discuss coyotes, bobcats, coons, and other nest robbers but hawks and owls are a huge issue i would think.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Raptors seem to be the elephant in the room?
Must be. Owls could be a major issue as well. Poults are easy pickings sitting on a limb.
I hear a lot less birds than even 15 years ago. It was nothing unusual to hear 10 birds or more on a good morning, now I'm lucky if I hear 1 or 2.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
I checked the kill total last night...well less than the 10-15yr average. 
Anomaly or are we for sure seeing the result of a shrinking flock?
Anomaly or are we for sure seeing the result of a shrinking flock?
You cant keep taking when they aren't putting back. No poults = no turkeys
Less than 25k adult birds killed.
