Is it possible?

[Setterman]

That the use of corn for trail cams is having a negative impact on the population?

I think it could, either concentrating them on farms that run cams year round, allowing for easy predation, or poisoning from tainted corn

 

[MickThompson]

That the use of corn for trail cams is having a negative impact on the population?

I think it could, either concentrating them on farms that run cams year round, allowing for easy predation, or poisoning from tainted corn

As well as concentrating birds and facilitating spread of infectious disease


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[ZachMarkus]

I'd say it doesn't help, I run cameras year around on my farm that doesn't get hunted but mainly use wheat for turkeys. Honestly though, they don't come in there like you think, they come through every few days and hang around while and move on.


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[FARMTOFIELD]

I would say corn has a huge effect. You can hang a camera in the hardwoods and go pictureless for months bit as soon as you poor out corn, you have deer, turkey, bobcat, fox, coyote, possum, coon, etc. The whole good chain revolves around that pile until it's gone.it will pull nest raiders into areas that they otherwise would not travel on a frequent basis, and predators can hide feet away and pounce when they come into feed.

 

[Setterman]

I would say corn has a huge effect. You can hang a camera in the hardwoods and go pictureless for months bit as soon as you poor out corn, you have deer, turkey, bobcat, fox, coyote, possum, coon, etc. The whole good chain revolves around that pile until it's gone.it will pull nest raiders into areas that they otherwise would not travel on a frequent basis, and predators can hide feet away and pounce when they come into feed.

Good,point, on places that do it year round is it artificially supporting more nest raiders by supplying them with unlimited food?

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

I would say corn has a huge effect. You can hang a camera in the hardwoods and go pictureless for months bit as soon as you poor out corn, you have deer, turkey, bobcat, fox, coyote, possum, coon, etc. The whole good chain revolves around that pile until it's gone.it will pull nest raiders into areas that they otherwise would not travel on a frequent basis, and predators can hide feet away and pounce when they come into feed.

Good,point, on places that do it year round is it artificially supporting more nest raiders by supplying them with unlimited food?

Your dang right, it is supporting more nest raiders, with unlimited easy food. Then they have the rest of the night to prowl around the edges of the fields the feeders are in, and find nests.

 

[AT Hiker]

Our former TWRA head guy has a theory on feeders and predators and it makes perfect sense.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

I feed corn from the end of deer season until March and never get any turkey pics, turkeys just dont use my farm during those months so it't not a magnet. However, i use covered feeders so the corn doesnt get wet just in case turkeys were to come by and any time i have corn out i am trapping nest predators, saves turkeys and money on corn.


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[TheLBLman]

Yes, corn feeding can have a negative impact on turkey populations.
I've seen it wipe out entire flocks when certified aflatoxin-free corn actually developed aflatoxin.
A single kernel of corn that develops aflatoxin will kill an adult turkey.
No matter how you "protect" your corn from aflatoxin, some can get scattered around and develop this toxin.
You'll just typically never realize it, nor will you find the turkeys that die from it.

Unless you specifically purchase aflatoxin-free corn (usually have to get it at your county Co-Op, or as horse feed),
corn sold as "deer corn" (such as per Walmart) commonly already contains aflatoxins.

I also think increased predation may be more significant (around feeding stations) than many would believe.

Bobcat, coyotes, even dogs have proven quickly and very adaptive in ambushing both young deer and turkeys near feeding stations.

 

[AT Hiker]

Then again, KY allows baiting....are their turkeys fairing better than ours?


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[woodsman04]

I think it has a negative impact, so I wish people wouldn't do it. If you want to feed them broadcast it in the woods and keep it spread out.


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[Setterman]

Then again, KY allows baiting....are their turkeys fairing better than ours?


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Their harvest numbers are really bad this year. Georgia legalized baiting several years ago and their population has been in free fall. They've killed under 10,000 birds so far with a season that started a week before us

 

[Mike Belt]

No authority here but I'd guess it does more harm than good. Not only the potential for tainted corn but once a predator makes a kill in or near a pile that spot is probably kept on his radar.

 

[@fulldraw]

Then again, KY allows baiting....are their turkeys fairing better than ours?


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Their harvest numbers are really bad this year. Georgia legalized baiting several years ago and their population has been in free fall. They've killed under 10,000 birds so far with a season that started a week before us

Ky is about 6,000 shy of its average going into the final weekend. I, for one, think weather has played more of a role in this number being low. Typically I've killed my two by the second weekend. This year it was the 26th and 29th. Have seen gobblers and jakes each time; they just are now acting like they should. Even the guys from GA that lease property around us didn't show up this year. Both weekends were either cold or pouring down rain. Most of the season kills are within this time frame. Not to mention turkeys were still grouped up at this time too. Personally, I think a lot of turkeys survived this year due to the weather. I'm willing to bet, if the weather cooperates, Ky will see an increase in total kills next spring. Just my thoughts as I'm sure some will disagree.

 

[muddyboots]

Does corn that farmers spill contain this stuff?

 

[megalomaniac]

Does corn that farmers spill contain this stuff?

depends on the moisture content/ humidity. yes, aflatoxin can be in corn in the field even on the ear.

 

[megalomaniac]

I would think it certainly IS possible that the population can be negatively affected by supplemental feeding for the exact reasons already listed. Increased predation around feed sites, potential for aflatoxin, increased nest predators, etc.

But I really think more birds are killed by those hunting over bait. The pic I posted earlier this year of my lease here in MS comes to mind...

 

[Roost 1]

I would think it certainly IS possible that the population can be negatively affected by supplemental feeding for the exact reasons already listed. Increased predation around feed sites, potential for aflatoxin, increased nest predators, etc.

But I really think more birds are killed by those hunting over bait. The pic I posted earlier this year of my lease here in MS comes to mind...

I've been saying this for years, lots of turkeys are being killed by hunters over bait. What hunters don't understand is that the hens are nesting near this bait, which draws the predators. Now the hunters are killing the gobblers and the predators are getting the nests and maybe perhaps a hen on occasion.

Same thing happens in KY, and by the way our population is way down as well. I'm not going what I hear, but if turkeys are around they leave sign. No sign along with no sightings equals no turkeys.
I know a lot of good turkey hunters that haven't killed one yet and most likely won't.

However these issues are not limited to KY and TN, to my understanding it's all across the country. I honestly believe several factors are the cause. Loss of habitat, farming practices, poor hatches, baiting, too many being killed in most areas, predators, and strutting decoys (or fanning).
I know guys that mop turkeys and don't own a turkey call. Just carry a shotgun, tail fan, and a little scratch here and there for the times they want to sit and pretend they are hunting. :bash: :bash:

 

[Setterman]

Then again, KY allows baiting....are their turkeys fairing better than ours?


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Their harvest numbers are really bad this year. Georgia legalized baiting several years ago and their population has been in free fall. They've killed under 10,000 birds so far with a season that started a week before us

Ky is about 6,000 shy of its average going into the final weekend. I, for one, think weather has played more of a role in this number being low. Typically I've killed my two by the second weekend. This year it was the 26th and 29th. Have seen gobblers and jakes each time; they just are now acting like they should. Even the guys from GA that lease property around us didn't show up this year. Both weekends were either cold or pouring down rain. Most of the season kills are within this time frame. Not to mention turkeys were still grouped up at this time too. Personally, I think a lot of turkeys survived this year due to the weather. I'm willing to bet, if the weather cooperates, Ky will see an increase in total kills next spring. Just my thoughts as I'm sure some will disagree.

KY is 11,000 birds shy actually. As of this morning the total harvest is 23,000 and change

For a decade or more KY was the single best state for easterns, in 3 weeks they killed what most states do in 6 weeks with a 2 bird limit. Truly remarkable hunting. For their harvest to drop this low it is alarming

Weather sucks off and on and every year. Sure it sucked some this year, but it's also been beautiful at times. It's just spring.

The more excuses are made the less likely anything changes to return to the glory days. I understand that it may seem fine, but there's too much evidence of the opposite

 

[Bone Collector]

I would say corn has a huge effect. You can hang a camera in the hardwoods and go pictureless for months bit as soon as you poor out corn, you have deer, turkey, bobcat, fox, coyote, possum, coon, etc. The whole good chain revolves around that pile until it's gone.it will pull nest raiders into areas that they otherwise would not travel on a frequent basis, and predators can hide feet away and pounce when they come into feed.

Good,point, on places that do it year round is it artificially supporting more nest raiders by supplying them with unlimited food?

without a doubt. I have run cameras year round since 2014, so I have some data. I can tell you that when i was putting corn out that i would get 6-8 coons sometimes in one frame, and coyote's bobcats, foxes, and possums picked up too.

Finally last year we started talking about this decline in more depth and once it was mentioned about the correlation between corn and nest raiders, I decided to stop putting it out during the off season, after February. I still get picks of coons, but not nearly as many. However I still have seen no poults.....

 

[PalsPal]

If it were a very big problem, there would be more trail cam pics of the actual predator with turkeys in their mouths. In fact, it would be obvious.

People are really grasping at straws trying to find one cause, when in fact it has to be a culmination of several variables for fewer birds in certain areas. The places I hunt has never had an over abundance of birds, and therefore I really haven't seen a decline.

I do find it odd though how I got pics (timelapse set at 5 min intervals) about 6 weeks before the season of 32 turkeys in one field, and ONLY one had a visible beard. But, since that time and their busting up, the most I have seen at once in pics is 3-4, and no gobblers. I have no idea where they went when this is one of 3-4 fields within miles, unless the neighbor is throwing out corn.

 

[@fulldraw]

Their harvest numbers are really bad this year. Georgia legalized baiting several years ago and their population has been in free fall. They've killed under 10,000 birds so far with a season that started a week before us

Ky is about 6,000 shy of its average going into the final weekend. I, for one, think weather has played more of a role in this number being low. Typically I've killed my two by the second weekend. This year it was the 26th and 29th. Have seen gobblers and jakes each time; they just are now acting like they should. Even the guys from GA that lease property around us didn't show up this year. Both weekends were either cold or pouring down rain. Most of the season kills are within this time frame. Not to mention turkeys were still grouped up at this time too. Personally, I think a lot of turkeys survived this year due to the weather. I'm willing to bet, if the weather cooperates, Ky will see an increase in total kills next spring. Just my thoughts as I'm sure some will disagree.

KY is 11,000 birds shy actually. As of this morning the total harvest is 23,000 and change

For a decade or more KY was the single best state for easterns, in 3 weeks they killed what most states do in 6 weeks with a 2 bird limit. Truly remarkable hunting. For their harvest to drop this low it is alarming

Weather sucks off and on and every year. Sure it sucked some this year, but it's also been beautiful at times. It's just spring.

The more excuses are made the less likely anything changes to return to the glory days. I understand that it may seem fine, but there's too much evidence of the opposite

My guesstimation was off just a tad. Shy 7,105. I'm a numbers guy so here are the past 10 yrs totals.

2008 - 27070
2009 - 29008
2010 - 36097
2011 - 32191
2012 - 33067
2013 - 32498
2014 - 29943
2015 - 30895
2016 - 31049
2017 - 33072
2018 (as of 5/3 kills) - 24384

10 yr avg - 31489

I don't know why the harvest is down this year like everyone else. It's all opinion. But I do use numbers accurately. :wink:

 

[Shooter77]

I pulled up the weather for Nashville from April 1 - 28 for the years of 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018. You can see this year is much colder start and more up and down spikes.

 

[Shooter77]

sorry couldn't load 2018. Look at the roller coaster for 2018 compared to the past 3 years. Also the temps were about 38 for the low and increased to about 50. Other years started about 43-50 and was in the 60's.

 

[Roost 1]

But, like we've been told in the past weather doesn't matter. :bash:
I'll take a warm March every year.

 

[Shooter77]

But, like we've been told in the past weather doesn't matter. :bash:
I'll take a warm March every year.

I totally agree!

 

[Roost 1]

Looks like KY finished up around 26,900 or so....some counties had their lowest harvest totals in 20 yrs.
I hear KDFWR has been checking the livers of some birds, does this sound familiar????