Later breeding?

[G-man]

This is 1st year since the mid 90s that snow cover hasn't dissapezred in a mid winter thaw  or just never came.  Two ft  in the woods  crusty   not going anywhere soon  looking at temps.  

While breeding is suppose to be based on daylight the 90s snow pac seemed to  push the birds back into late April  early may.  Vs  march and April   the last dozen years.  

Perhaps this year will be a return to the 1st 2 weeks of May being special. Where gobbling is common and birds aren't hened up already  if the bird flu doenst  kill  them all before season . Was a great hatch last two years and  should  have lots of gullible 2 year old around as well as a large group of jakes around. 

Seems weather pushes  the domestic chicken  n turkey back a bit  hoping  it's the same for their wild  breatheren.

[mowin]

I don't think it's going to matter much if at all.  The hens are going breed around the same time every year.  Might vary a few days, but not weeks.  Haven't noticed much difference from the 80's to now. 

[Bond,James Bond]

Hopefully More Gobbling This Spring and More 2/Year old Gobblers to Fool with.

    There was Plenty of Jakes last Spring in North New Jersey  and My area if New York. 

   I start my Season on April 21st in Jersey. Looking Forward to getting out and Tagging a 2 Year Old.  

[Bucksnbows]

We saw a lot of late broods last year in NJ. Hard to say if that is late breeding or that hen lost her first poults and had a second nesting. But either way, our bird numbers have increased (finally) the last two years. Need another dry Spring to get them back closer to normal. 

[LET EM GROW]

1 hour ago, G-man said:

This is 1st year since the mid 90s that snow cover hasn't dissapezred in a mid winter thaw  or just never came.  Two ft  in the woods  crusty   not going anywhere soon  looking at temps.  

While breeding is suppose to be based on daylight the 90s snow pac seemed to  push the birds back into late April  early may.  Vs  march and April   the last dozen years.  

Perhaps this year will be a return to the 1st 2 weeks of May being special. Where gobbling is common and birds aren't hened up already  if the bird flu doenst  kill  them all before season . Was a great hatch last two years and  should  have lots of gullible 2 year old around as well as a large group of jakes around. 

Seems weather pushes  the domestic chicken  n turkey back a bit  hoping  it's the same for their wild  breatheren.

I guarantee you'll still see birds breeding in Late March as usual. I've watched them breed in snow storms in March.. When the first hatch fails, Thats when you see them breeding gobbling hot and heavy AGAIN in LAte April May..  

I always thought ground temps controlled breeding seasons, But frozen ground is frozen ground when its March and snowing and theyre doing that dirty dance..

I think lack of gobbling has more to do with Adult tom to viable hen numbers being low as well as increased predation.. 

[ZAG]

It just reminded me I haven't had one turkey on cam in a long time. 

[Bond,James Bond]

29 minutes ago, Bucksnbows said:

We saw a lot of late broods last year in NJ. Hard to say if that is late breeding or that hen lost her first poults and had a second nesting. But either way, our bird numbers have increased (finally) the last two years. Need another dry Spring to get them back closer to normal. 

Absolutely.  I hunt both Passaic  and Sussex Counties in NJ. Numbers seem to be coming back!

  

[mowin]

I seen tom's gobbling and strutting following hens around in late June.  Don't know if those boys were just hopeful, or really confused, lol. 

[Bond,James Bond]

 Possibly the High number of Turkey Hens will have the Gobblers Breeding later. 

  Plenty of Hens in my area. I have wrote about that before. Might be different  in other areas of NY.

[Fab]

Last few springs I saw a lot of jakes.  Had multiple birds coming in at multiple spots 

 

I kept thinking next year is going to be good.   Well.  More jakes.   Amazing the survival rates is as low as it is even after they make it one year.  Making it to year two is not a given.  

[LET EM GROW]

2 hours ago, ZAG said:

It just reminded me I haven't had one turkey on cam in a long time. 

as in since the growing season, or in years?

[ZAG]

42 minutes ago, LET EM GROW said:

as in since the growing season, or in years?

Late Oct early Nov was the last pics I have. Now its been so damn cold every weekend I haven’t really walked around scouting at all, but have done a few atv ride arounds and haven’t seen any tracks either.

[LET EM GROW]

1 minute ago, ZAG said:

Late Oct early Nov was the last pics I have. Now its been so damn cold every weekend I haven’t really walked around scouting at all, but have done a few atv ride arounds and haven’t seen any tracks either.

ahh, yea thats typical. Theyll be back with better weather. We hunt 1500 acres.. When winter hits they seem to hide out on hillsides out of the winds 

[Bond,James Bond]

2 hours ago, Fab said:

Last few springs I saw a lot of jakes.  Had multiple birds coming in at multiple spots 

 

I kept thinking next year is going to be good.   Well.  More jakes.   Amazing the survival rates is as low as it is even after they make it one year.  Making it to year two is not a given.  

I am Glad the recent NJ Black Bear Hunt was a success and Thinned them out. I see Black Bears as another Turkey Nest Robber if they are Lucky  in finding a Nest. Be a Quick Snack for Them.