It seems like it's not predators, people haven't trapped much to matter in decades and even that wouldn't knock down the numbers that much. Killing predators could maybe help locally but this problem is happening over millions of square miles in many States. Coons and coyotes didn't live with turkeys for 15/20 years then suddenly learn to raid nests/eat poults and catch grown birds in the last 5 years. We all know how predators are, if there is an opportunity they will exploit it instantly. If it was predators the turkey comeback would have never happened cause the predators would have got them and wiped them out when the stocking populations were thin. I think it's some bug/mite or some invasive "something" that has migrated into the turkey's range in America sort of on the lines of the chestnut blight or dutch elm disease or more recently emerald ash borers. Maybe some other animal has brought something with them that effects turkeys. Just think about armadillos, they were unheard of 20 years ago around here but in the last 10 they have came north and have put down roots. Maybe something like that. It could be some virus that is spread from bird to bird that reduces their reproductive system health. If you think about ringneck phesants, they were never able to transplant them in the South because of some mite here that got on them but they could do well in colder northern/western areas where the mite wasn't present. I guess with all the studing of this downfall the researchers would have identified something like that by now. I don't know what has happened/changed but something has.
