First off, mine was good. I did (and I sincerely hope others on here did) participate in the ACDNR avid turkey hunter survey with HONEST answers. This is the kind of good data that we bitch about that the State does not have.

Weather was pretty rough, lots of rain and poor conditions, especially with consecutive nice days - seems to me to be better gobbling with a 5+ day string of nice weather. This corresponds to Ben Stimsons article in the AWF magazine regarding 50 years of harvest data. Early season is typically rough for me anyway. I do WAY better late season. I usually hear more gobblers and more gobbling per gobbler in late season and gobblers are often more receptive to calling. This was the same this year. Didn't kill one till first week of April and it was afternoon, had called up one for someone else that AM.
I have properties that usually have NO gobblers early on them but they show up later in season. Some of this is due to neighbors baiting. I also think there were a lot of places that the gobblers didn't gobble much at all early. The place I killed one Tuesday was hunted probably 10-12 am's this year and probably 3 of those mornings we heard 0. Most mornings 2-3. Good turkey place and had had ONE good morning until 2 weeks ago. The last couple times we have heard 8+ gobblers gobbling. This is a big place so I believe they were there, just not gobbling.
In the 10-12 county are we work and hunt, I believe the population is "normal". There is a paucity of 2 year olds and I don't remember seeing a jake last year so that adds up. Lack of 2 yr olds means lack of consistent gobbling, exactly what we are seeing. I did see plenty of hens early. Have not seen many lately - good! Haven't seen a nest or poult yet.
I do worry about the rain this spring on nesting efforts and poult survival. We need a couple dry weeks when the nests that made it hatch, to get a bunch of poults up and running. As we all have read here, nest and poult survival is paramount to good turkey populations. Not adult gobblers, not infertile eggs, not hens not nesting... Flat out how many nests make it to hatch and how many poults survive to be old enough to roost in a tree. Nesting cover and poult (brood) habitat that produces abundant insects accessible to chicks is what drives a turkey population.
Just my initial thoughts

Nice summary that reminds how different turkey hunting can be in AL for different areas of the state. I can't identify with those who long for the old days when they expected to hear 20 gobble every morning. Its never been that way where I have hunted.

I'm fortunate in that I've been able to hunt a tract of land every year since 1967. We went thru a really down stretch in the 80s when the pine plantation was just getting started, but by 1990 turkeys were back and populations haven't changed a lot since. If I hear a turkey gobble it is a good morning. If hear 2 or 3, it was great morning. In every season, there has always been multiple days of hearing nothing.

Turkey hunting has always been a challenge. I wouldn't expect it to be anything else.

Good Summary of your season.


I apologize for hijacking your post. I misunderstood and thought you were asking for thoughts, but you were giving your thoughts.
So I deleted my rant.
Karl

Actually encouraging more thoughts! Rant away

Nice summary gobbler


I have had a good season,and I would say in the area I hunt that the gobbling was just about on par with the last few.
It started off slow for me,and that is a little odd for my area.I usually kill 2 or 3 in the first week,but this year I didn't kill until 14 days in.
I heard a good bit of gobbling,in and around the properties I hunt,and have seen several jakes this year,so hopefully next year will be on par as well.
I also killed 2 public land birds this year(have not been on public ground in 20 plus years),and can report there was a good population in the area I was in.
I have been very fortunate to kill another limit in Alabama,and hope to continue chasing these cotton picking rascals for many more years.
I forgot to mention,I also got to be a part in several more birds being taken,and those are some of the most rewarding!

Congratulations to all who have connected,and those of you still hunting,good luck and be safe,I hope to get another Tn. hunt,and a possible Georgia hunt!