Wild Turkey population is tanking across most of its range

After killing one on Saturday morning I went back yesterday to try and fill my second tag. I was set up in a chair blind and had my decoys out. After calling for a while one of the biggest birds I've ever seen came within 70 yards but would not come any closer. He would stare at those decoys, and when I made a little "chirp" with the mouth call, his neck would stretch out like a giraffe. I bet that bird has been shot at numerous times.

At least I found out that my heart can still race. Today will be less exciting - I have to mow the yard.
 
Our youth hunters killed more this weekend than any youth hunt in the last ten years.
 
Brian662 said:
I don't go near trees when its blowing over 30 mph if I can help it.
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Glassing for elk in Idaho this past year I had a tree land within 5 feet of me; I was lucky I didn't have my headphones in I heard it starting to pull out of the ground and had time to jump out of the way if I needed to. Never can be too safe in the woods
 
Thomasc19 said:
Glassing for elk in Idaho this past year I had a tree land within 5 feet of me; I was lucky I didn't have my headphones in I heard it starting to pull out of the ground and had time to jump out of the way if I needed to. Never can be too safe in the woods
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My neighbor was bow hunting in high winds a few years ago and had a dead tree scrape his leg as it went down. He got incredibly lucky it didn't take him with it on the way down. Way too many close calls out there for me.
 
For those down and out, I’m hearing surprisingly consistent reports since Florida’s season opened that turkey numbers are good but that gobbling is extra sporadic and inconsistent. And this is reports from all over the country.

My job responsibilities, on the other hand, have been extremely consistent so I haven’t hunted much at all.
 
Zero gobbles heard by us this morning. 1 solo hen seen. It can change on a dime but this season is trending bust.
 
Had a buddy hunt this am and say you knows it’s depressing when you get an absolutely perfect morning in April and not one bird to be heard

I feel like this is what quail hunters in the 80’s would be saying if they had the internet
 
Howboutthemdawgs said:
Had a buddy hunt this am and say you knows it’s depressing when you get an absolutely perfect morning in April and not one bird to be heard

I feel like this is what quail hunters in the 80’s would be saying if they had the internet
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Agree. I told Chris while driving in that we had a decent chance. Was about to dawn a sunrise and temps were over 60. Felt like a turkey morning.
 
Everyone I know here has limited out. Great season so far
 
Turkish said:
For those down and out, I’m hearing surprisingly consistent reports since Florida’s season opened that turkey numbers are good but that gobbling is extra sporadic and inconsistent. And this is reports from all over the country.

My job responsibilities, on the other hand, have been extremely consistent so I haven’t hunted much at all.
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I have heard the same thing and a lot of the different states indicate a little increase in poult numbers. A month ago, when the hens were still bunched up - I heard several gobblers around my place. Now that the hens are setting, it is like they gobblers roaming around, looking for a receptive hen. There is an adult gobbler and a jake running together. They will be here a couple days in a row and gone two or three days. There is a single gobbler down in my bottoms and he is the same way - he is around a couple days and gone two or three. They gobble ok on the roost and then not much on he ground. They were gobbling all day a month ago.

Our season finally opens on Monday
 
The turkey numbers are solid in SE MN. My kids had the day off school, so my dad took out my 10 and 12 year old boys this morning and the boys each shot a nice tom. 3 toms came into the decoys and only 1 left. That last bird then tried to beat up his dead buddies. That bird was lucky that my dad didn't have a tag for this season.
 
Brian662 said:
That's insanity, we opened the other day here in MN.
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I agree with you. We were the first state to get gut hooked on the late season opener - 15 years ago. It is green as a jungle down here. Most trees are fully leafed out so hard to hear one very far. Did I say MOSQUITOES. Supposed to be 70 degrees at 6 am tomorrow morn. Havent looked a monday yet
 
Pulled a card walking out today. This pic is 21 days old but very encouraging for our future I hope. The browning cams that are a few yrs old are starting to have a few issues.

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I jumped 2 hens in my old field areas today. They had to be nesting or getting ready to. I walked by one a few times without seeing her. She must have been pretty safe feeling in there. I looked all over around where she flew up, and couldn't find a nest though. They can hide easy in this stuff.

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It was probably one of 3 I've seen hanging around. One was trying to figure out how to work a licking branch.

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BenA said:
I jumped 2 hens in my old field areas today. They had to be nesting or getting ready to. I walked by one a few times without seeing her. She must have been pretty safe feeling in there. I looked all over around where she flew up, and couldn't find a nest though. They can hide easy in this stuff.

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It was probably one of 3 I've seen hanging around. One was trying to figure out how to work a licking branch.

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You hear any?
 
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