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Do You Think Spring Turkey Hunting Is Tougher/Easier/ Or About The Same In The Last 10 Years?


blackbeltbill

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   This is just a Summer Thread to keep the Forum Alive. The Deer Posts Go Year Round Right.

   But,I digress. In the last 10 Years on both Public and Private- do you think with increasing  Technology- that Turkey Hunters are evolving more into Turkey Shooters? That with TSS,Improved  Scopes, The best in 2- Man Blinds, Food Plot Shooting Houses, The most realistic  Gobbler + Hen Decoys, Huge increase in Turkey Hunter Numbers and a corresponding Decrease in The Turkey Population, huge increase in Mountain Bikers/Hikers- who now show up at Dawn and regularly  Bike and Bushwhack Hike off Trail to view many more Fields,  Trespassers, etc-- Has Spring Turkey Hunting become easier for you or just so much Tougher then 10 years back+ ?

    No agenda here. Just a Honest Question. No need to throw the Author under the bus on this Thread- lol.

  Any Points that,I missed- please bring up. I should also add the Tremendous  Popularity  of traveling  Utube Turkey Hunting Groups /50+ easy- who have caused a massive wave of Turkey Hunters on Public who want to emulate their success with ever increasing  Trail Cameras in " Claimed" Public Hotspots.

 Again- this Thread is just a Down-Time Thread. 

 

 

 

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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I don’t use tss, I used an optic 10yrs ago, don’t use decoys, blinds or anything else you mentioned. There are definitely more hunters now than 10yrs ago. 


I’ve evolved with the times and don’t hunt the same places or style I did 10 yrs ago but my success is still the same. So I’d have to say it’s the same or easier. When/if a year comes that I still have a NY tag in my hand after the season ill have to figure out if it’s a me issue or if the hunting has gotten tougher.

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    This Thread might be a little Tougher for me because  in the last 10 years+,I have taken  my Brother in Law for a good 3 years or me. Jeannine for 3 Years, and Cynthia  for 4 years now.

  So,I took a Backseat so to speak to ensure others Success. And,I enjoyed every day out with them.

    In my Neck of the Woods- I live 52 Miles North of NYC,I have seen a huge Spring Turkey Hunter increase on Public Lands in the last 10 years+ 

   So for me and the 3 People,I have taken out,It has gotten much Tougher. I have evolved though.  Remember the old adage- The Early Bird Gets The Worm?  Well at least more opportunities to call to the Toms first and less Hunter intervention-- " For Awhile" or sometimes not.

    I have no problem  at all arriving at 3.30am with my Coffee and Dozing awhile while keeping  awake. Not easy- lol. I usually  walk in with Cynthia at 4am when She arrives.

   Really on Public today- it comes down to a Huge increase in Spring Turkey Hunter Numbers and Alot Less Gobblers then 10+ years back to go around.  You just keep Grinding away. Personally, I Love the Challenge of Killing a Tough/Wily Bird that alot of Good hunters have called to or tried to Sneak up on.

   Now years back ,I used to take alot more Birds each year in 3 States. Lucky to get 1 Bird a year now.  

 Tougher- but still very Enjoyable/ No Complaints.

   Plenty of Jakes this Spring- " And 1 did not get a pass from me". Should be plenty of 2 Year olds next Spring and another big bunch of Jakes due to the dry Spring. Probably  less Mortality  from Cold Rain and Predators  finding easy to smell/Wet Young Turkeys.

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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Only hunt private, and the same parcels for around 30 yrs.  I don't need to scout, I know where they will be. Don't use deeks, have a blind for deer, but haven't used one for turkey.  

Are there more turkey hunters, probably, but I'm not affected by it at all because there's no public land bordering lands I hunt. 

Don't care if I ever shoot another.  I like taking others and showing them how fun turkey hunting is.  Only hunted a handful of times this year, due to work and family obligations.  Won't shoot a Jake.  They get a pass, but if the person I'm with wishes to, I'll encourage them to do so.  

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 One thing,I have noticed especially since the 2015/ 3-way change to the Fall Turkey Season -- that of a cut in half of the Bird take of 2 to 1-- a 6 week Fall Season- " zones 3 + 4" - cut by 2/3 to a 2 Week Season. And the October 1st opening date moved way- way back to varies by year-- usually around October  19th- 21st.

   What,I am observing since 2015 is the Hen Turkey Population  exploding.  

  Now this is something  that has not really been talked about. Most talk about Declining Gobbler numbers.

   Again,I Hike Year Round in different  areas of Public . Plus my 12 years of helping out and observing from 2-4 feet away.

   Just my opinion  from my personal  observations  since 2015,I think more Turkey Hens need to be taken  out.  I have completely  changed my mind on this Subject  in the last few years.

   Obviously  the fewer available  Gobblers will Gobble less with Many more Hens right with them the whole Month of May.

  That would also make for Tougher Hunting on Public.  

I now tell people- don't  feel bad about Killing a called in Jake- novice or seasoned Hunter.

  I don't  know what the Turkey Populations are like on Private as,I have only hunted on True Private perhaps 4 Times.

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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I mostly just turkey hunt to kill time and as an excuse to visit my parent’s and my in-laws,  but it seemed much harder around home for me in WNY this spring, when I did not see or hear a single bird, in the 3 or 4 mornings that I hunted.  
 

It seemed much easier, up in the remote NW corner of the Adirondack park, where I only hunted one morning over Memorial Day weekend.  I heard at least (4) gobblers that morning, and saw and blew a chance at one, not even getting off shot.  
 

I think hunting pressure is the primary factor in both spots.  On that remote corner of the Adirondack park, it’s entirely possible that the birds that I saw and heard have never heard another hunter’s call.  Here in WNY, they have been hearing lots of that since late April.  
 

I think it has little to anything to do about other predators or turkey populations.  I think there is as many or more turkeys, in both spots where I hunted, than there has ever been. 
 

Edited by Wolc123
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I think the turkey numbers are basically starting to level out.   We had a peak a few years ago and most likely the numbers they are at now, are more realistic.  We like to think they are in decline when most likely they are in a more realistic zone.  I'm sure they have seen some decline from the increase in predators but maybe the increase in predators was because they were feeding so well on turkeys cause the numbers were so high.  I dont see it crashing like back in the 70s and 80s when you never saw one. There was an increase in license sales during covid and that may have gotten more hunters out there which is generally a good thing for income for wildlife projects.  Bill always talks about the pressure of public turkey lands that he sees in person but i think he is looking at "public" land that is an hour from the densest populated city in the county with half of the entire state residents.  Public land turkey hunting up here is sparsely done at best so i dont see it as a large overall factor in the decline but just one of them.  I think its probably more of a leveling out from nesting season weather, predators,land development, hunting pressure, and for us hunters to want to be surrounded by turkeys all spring esp after a boom of them in prior years.  Our expectations as to what is normal turkey population is prob to expect what it is now.

Also have to take into factor that many have been able to hunt turkeys now for several years.  That as many have said - I dont even call or put out decoys , i just know where they roost now-.  Since we have had a huntable population we have learned these things and have become more effective at killing turkeys.  So you're going to see less 3 YO turkeys at your location if your shooting turkeys there every year.  

I think the levels we are at now are about to be what is expected for turkey hunting with waivers from time to time.  

"it's pointless for humans to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it"- Ron Swanson

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48 minutes ago, Wolc123 said:

I mostly just turkey hunt to kill time and as an excuse to visit my parent’s and my in-laws,  but it seemed much harder around home for me in WNY this spring, when I did not see or hear a single bird, in the 3 or 4 mornings that I hunted.  
 

It seemed much easier, up in the remote NW corner of the Adirondack park, where I only hunted one morning over Memorial Day weekend.  I heard at least (4) gobblers that morning, and saw and blew a chance at one, not even getting off shot.  
 

I think hunting pressure is the primary factor in both spots.  On that remote corner of the Adirondack park, it’s entirely possible that the birds that I saw and heard have never heard another hunter’s call.  Here in WNY, they have been hearing lots of that since late April.  
 

I think it has little to anything to do about other predators or turkey populations.  I think there is as many or more turkeys, in both spots where I hunted, than there has ever been. 
 

Sounds like you will definitely  fill a Tag next Spring!  Some areas are definitely  better then others. 

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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18 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

I think the turkey numbers are basically starting to level out.   We had a peak a few years ago and most likely the numbers they are at now, are more realistic.  We like to think they are in decline when most likely they are in a more realistic zone.  I'm sure they have seen some decline from the increase in predators but maybe the increase in predators was because they were feeding so well on turkeys cause the numbers were so high.  I dont see it crashing like back in the 70s and 80s when you never saw one. There was an increase in license sales during covid and that may have gotten more hunters out there which is generally a good thing for income for wildlife projects.  Bill always talks about the pressure of public turkey lands that he sees in person but i think he is looking at "public" land that is an hour from the densest populated city in the county with half of the entire state residents.  Public land turkey hunting up here is sparsely done at best so i dont see it as a large overall factor in the decline but just one of them.  I think its probably more of a leveling out from nesting season weather, predators,land development, hunting pressure, and for us hunters to want to be surrounded by turkeys all spring esp after a boom of them in prior years.  Our expectations as to what is normal turkey population is prob to expect what it is now.

Also have to take into factor that many have been able to hunt turkeys now for several years.  That as many have said - I dont even call or put out decoys , i just know where they roost now-.  Since we have had a huntable population we have learned these things and have become more effective at killing turkeys.  So you're going to see less 3 YO turkeys at your location if your shooting turkeys there every year.  

I think the levels we are at now are about to be what is expected for turkey hunting with waivers from time to time.  

Definitely  depends where you hunt on Public as you pointed out when you mentioned me.  That's a big part of the game that,I love. -- Take The Multiple  Use Area Challenge.   No complaints here. I called 2 Gobblers in for Cynthia  this past May and killed a Jake myself.  

  In Crowded  conditions one needs to up their calling and Woodsmanship skills. 

  However North Jersey Turkeys are not " Leveling Out".  Right now that Population  is at a very low ebb.

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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21 minutes ago, blackbeltbill said:

Definitely  depends where you hunt on Public as you pointed out when you mentioned me.  That's a big part of the game that,I love. -- Take The Multiple  Use Area Challenge.   No complaints here. I called 2 Gobblers in for Cynthia  this past May and killed a Jake myself.  

  In Crowded  conditions one needs to up their calling and Woodsmanship skills. 

  However North Jersey Turkeys are not " Leveling Out".  Right now that Population  is at a very low ebb.

I would think the overwhelming bear population might have something to do with that.  Who doesnt love eggs after a good winter nap? lol 

 

"it's pointless for humans to paint scenes of nature when they can go outside and stand in it"- Ron Swanson

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10 minutes ago, Robhuntandfish said:

I would think the overwhelming bear population might have something to do with that.  Who doesnt love eggs after a good winter nap? lol 

 

Indeed! That was part of my response  to Grampy in the Thread- Fisher Cats. 

Take The Multiple Use Area Challenge. 

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Haven’t hunted NY Turkey in two spring seasons now. Our Ohio farms each have birds on them. I think over the past four seasons, I’ve taken two really good adults and one Jake. Across all four seasons is only 11 days of hunting for me. Our NY turkey hunting has evaporated as our access is dwindling and I don’t have interest in hunting public for Turkey any longer. I used to a fair amount but my time is valuable and there is nothing more aggravating to me to have to deal with someone else while I am out with the little free time I have.

I’m not a huge Turkey hunting addict. I actually like getting out for a few days a season simply to get out and get away. Armed napping is even fine by me. Going to Ohio for Turkey is like a mini vacation. Hunt the mornings, do some fishing, eat like kings at the campground. Go to the area gun and hunting stores. Maybe do some habitat type work. Low key, not stressful and that IMO is what makes it fun. Last two years we’ve been caught in our blinds in pretty heavy storms passing through and that was pretty cool. 

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I'd say things are about the same here as 10 yrs ago. I'm predominantly hunting a couple different properties that I gave access to now that I didn't back then. Turkey numbers are definitely down and hunter numbers are up overall but I'm still managing to grind it out to tag a couple birds per season by being able to adapt to the different challenges that each spring brings. Typically, I'm able to tag one during the first week and then the other midway through to late season after they get pressured or start losing hens to nesting. This past spring was only the third time in 29 seasons that I was tagged out during the first week. I put a lot of miles on the truck during May trying to roost potential prospects to go after.

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