Very unofficial turkey count

[RUGER]

We traveled from South Fulton to Tim's Ford state park and around Lynchburg and back this week.
On the road from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm going and from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm coming back.

Trip up I saw 0 turkey.
Saw one gobbler and one hen just outside of Lynchburg the second day we were there.
Coming back going around 840 in Hickman county maybe??? Saw a field with about 15 hens and 4 strutters.

I would have to say numbers are down.
Normally see a bunch around Huntingdon but not this time.

 

[Remington700]

I've seen very few in fields as well. Maybe they are just late cranking up this year.

 

[TheLBLman]

I think there was above average nesting success statewide in 2022, but, that just means we have more young birds this year.

The number of longbearded Toms remains relatively low compared to times past (particularly in formerly good areas for lots of turkeys).

If not for turkeys expanding more into suburban areas, along with hunters killing a much higher percentage of the standing Toms, I believe the statewide kill would be WAY down.

 

[cbhunter]

We traveled from South Fulton to Tim's Ford state park and around Lynchburg and back this week.
On the road from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm going and from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm coming back.

Trip up I saw 0 turkey.
Saw one gobbler and one hen just outside of Lynchburg the second day we were there.
Coming back going around 840 in Hickman county maybe??? Saw a field with about 15 hens and 4 strutters.

I would have to say numbers are down.
Normally see a bunch around Huntingdon but not this time.

Carroll county numbers are wayyyy down

 

[Gravey]

I drove 840 to Waverly and back yesterday and saw quite a few in fields. Drove it the other way Wednesday afternoon coming back from Louisville and saw some on the east side too. Seems like they're just now showing up in those fields.

 

[megalomaniac]

I go thru that same area (west of Lynchburg) on occasion... amazing how many bird there USED to be in that beautiful country. Even more amazing how few there are left.

 

[drake799]

Bird numbers are down about everywhere seems like. But people are mad about the limit being reduced lol. Tells you the mindset of hunters these days

 

[tellico4x4]

Yesterday morning was like ten years ago, couldn't have been better. Heard 12-15 different birds from one location on property. Back to back nesting success in 2021&22, Wayne Co.

 

[CHRIS WILSON]

I've seen quite a bunch in the last few months while out and about. Locally, I've seen several Toms out strutting in the last few weeks. Seems like they're doing fairly well around here.

 

[Wrangler95]

Bird numbers are down about everywhere seems like. But people are mad about the limit being reduced lol. Tells you the mindset of hunters these days

Seems alot of hunters are just thinking about the kill instead of the good of the flock,its called greed!

 

[muddyboots]

Yesterday morning was like ten years ago, couldn't have been better. Heard 12-15 different birds from one location on property. Back to back nesting success in 2021&22, Wayne Co.

That would be awesome. I have accepted I will never experience that again. But maybe we will.

 

[TheLBLman]

That would be awesome. I have accepted I will never experience that again. But maybe we will.

Hard to guess.

Back when we experienced such, there were a lot fewer turkey hunters, and their experience at killing turkeys was relatively low, AND the limit was 2 birds.

Maybe between the delayed opening and going back to the 2-bird limit,
it's possible to get back to the turkeys thriving.

 

[megalomaniac]

The trend I've noticed is that birds are in pockets now... a small area with a ton of birds, then nothing around for miles.... we need to figure out what those pockets have in common!

 

[ZachMarkus]

The trend I've noticed is that birds are in pockets now... a small area with a ton of birds, then nothing around for miles.... we need to figure out what those pockets have in common!

Let me know when you figure it out. There are a couple places I know that are absolutely loaded with turkeys, terrible nesting habitat and tremendous hunting pressure in those areas and birds are thriving. Then there's places in the same general area that have prime nesting and turkey habitat and not much hunting pressure compared that have very few turkeys if any. Doesn't make any sense to me.

 

[muddyboots]

Let me know when you figure it out. There are a couple places I know that are absolutely loaded with turkeys, terrible nesting habitat and tremendous hunting pressure in those areas and birds are thriving. Then there's places in the same general area that have prime nesting and turkey habitat and not much hunting pressure compared that have very few turkeys if any. Doesn't make any sense to me.

This
We walked 9 miles in 2 days. Worst hunting I've ever had. Property east of us is unreal. Not a lot of pressure in either place.

 

[Clintos1980]

I just started in 2020, and it does seem like I'm seeing less birds in Dickson/Cheatham county this year. Can't say I paid much attention before I started. I've never seen one on public land around here, only private. With that said, my 11 year old son got his first one ever on Saturday. Looks to be a 2-year old tom.

 

[TheLBLman]

Let me know when you figure it out. There are a couple places I know that are absolutely loaded with turkeys, terrible nesting habitat and tremendous hunting pressure in those areas and birds are thriving. Then there's places in the same general area that have prime nesting and turkey habitat and not much hunting pressure compared that have very few turkeys if any. Doesn't make any sense to me.

I have a theory of possible, partial explanation:

The geographic relationship to these "pockets" of birds
to the seasonal range-shifting of those birds.

Turkeys tend to flock up in the winter, and shift to other areas often several miles from where most will nest & breed (spring & summer). I see large flocks of male birds in the winter (not uncommon to see over 20 longbeards in a single flock, or at least at use to not be uncommon) in a relatively small area, surrounding by many square miles essentially void of bearded (adult) Toms.

Hens & their young flocks (half of which are young jakes) also "flock up" for winter, may or may not range-shift as much as adult males.

Major range-shifting back to the spring-summer areas typically happens in much of TN between mid-March and mid-April. The flocks break up, the birds scatter.

It is plausible that those birds in the poorer habitat areas range-shifted in from the opposite direction of those nearby areas with better habitat. The birds are simply not aware the grass is greener on the other side of that fence.

 

[jb3]

I live in Dickson County and so far this year I've had no problem seeing birds and a lot of them. I've seen huge numbers on properties adjacent to the park and the surrounding areas small groups of birds.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

The trend I've noticed is that birds are in pockets now... a small area with a ton of birds, then nothing around for miles.... we need to figure out what those pockets have in common!

This!

No one hunts them around me. Hardly a bird around. 1 mile down the road is one of the densest flocks ive ever seen. I've counted over 100 in a 30 acre field. They're concentrated there and once you get 1/4 mile from there it's like the barrens.

I see the same on my other farms. What seems like very healthy flocks here or there, and nothing around them

 

[deerfever]

Yesterday morning was like ten years ago, couldn't have been better. Heard 12-15 different birds from one location on property. Back to back nesting success in 2021&22, Wayne Co.

Heard 10 yesterday before Church, the last few years have been an amazing hatch!