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Long Beards & Spurs
Turkey Population Decline - The data I think we need
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<blockquote data-quote="TheLBLman" data-source="post: 5619875" data-attributes="member: 1409"><p>I agree with you, at least in that the nest raiding predation is little different than it was decades ago (across most of TN). I have thousands of acres where the racoon population has steadily declined in large part due to habitat becoming more ideal for bobwhite quail (and most of the hardwoods larger than 12" being cut).</p><p></p><p>These habitat changes were "supposed" to greatly enhance turkey nesting success as well.</p><p></p><p>Also, the coyote population is resilient, but less than it was in the past (when we had 10 times more turkeys).</p><p></p><p>In the areas I'm looking at, turkey nesting success actually appears pretty good. It's the young poult survival that has dramatically decreased over the past couple decades.</p><p></p><p>So what else has dramatically changed over the past couple decades?</p><p></p><p>The only thing I can finger is a dramatic increase in raptors, and their rapid evolution to more specifically "hunt" for turkey poults (most specifically during the 1st 3 months after hatching).</p><p></p><p>Initially, it seems to be the Cooper's hawks slaughtering the young poults, along with all the owls.</p><p></p><p>If you want to count "all" turkeys (regardless of age), I suspect the Cooper's hawks kill more turkeys than all other predators combined (in TN). They slaughter them when their young.</p><p></p><p>As the poults become older, it may then be more the larger hawks & owls that finish off most the survivors of the Cooper's hawks. Sure, coyotes, dogs, housecats, bobcats also get a few.</p><p></p><p>But by fall, the typical hen that may have successfully hatched a dozen baby turkeys now has only a couple which have survived. One of those is at high risk of being caught by a bobcat or coyote. Then come Spring, the bald eagles, bobcats, and coyotes will focus more on adult strutting Tom turkeys.</p><p></p><p>Just saying, in many areas, the problem is not nesting success, and it sure ain't chicken chit, nor is it a lack of good habitat, nor is it over-hunting. But it does appear to be heavier, more targeted predation by raptors.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TheLBLman, post: 5619875, member: 1409"] I agree with you, at least in that the nest raiding predation is little different than it was decades ago (across most of TN). I have thousands of acres where the racoon population has steadily declined in large part due to habitat becoming more ideal for bobwhite quail (and most of the hardwoods larger than 12" being cut). These habitat changes were "supposed" to greatly enhance turkey nesting success as well. Also, the coyote population is resilient, but less than it was in the past (when we had 10 times more turkeys). In the areas I'm looking at, turkey nesting success actually appears pretty good. It's the young poult survival that has dramatically decreased over the past couple decades. So what else has dramatically changed over the past couple decades? The only thing I can finger is a dramatic increase in raptors, and their rapid evolution to more specifically "hunt" for turkey poults (most specifically during the 1st 3 months after hatching). Initially, it seems to be the Cooper's hawks slaughtering the young poults, along with all the owls. If you want to count "all" turkeys (regardless of age), I suspect the Cooper's hawks kill more turkeys than all other predators combined (in TN). They slaughter them when their young. As the poults become older, it may then be more the larger hawks & owls that finish off most the survivors of the Cooper's hawks. Sure, coyotes, dogs, housecats, bobcats also get a few. But by fall, the typical hen that may have successfully hatched a dozen baby turkeys now has only a couple which have survived. One of those is at high risk of being caught by a bobcat or coyote. Then come Spring, the bald eagles, bobcats, and coyotes will focus more on adult strutting Tom turkeys. Just saying, in many areas, the problem is not nesting success, and it sure ain't chicken chit, nor is it a lack of good habitat, nor is it over-hunting. But it does appear to be heavier, more targeted predation by raptors. [/QUOTE]
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Turkey Population Decline - The data I think we need
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