It’s kinda funny how all of this lines up perfectly with theories of whether or not to kill does.

Not to anyone with a shred of knowledge on the matter. There are 25+ million deer in the U.S with a fawn mortality rate of <30%. Deer populations are thriving. On the flip side there are 6 million turkeys in the U.S with a nest/poult mortality rate of >80%. This means that approximately 15% of all eggs laid mature into adult turkeys. In a hens lifetime you can expect her to raise less than 15-20 turkeys to adulthood. Turkey populations are dropping all over the nation with the exception of Florida who have pretty much priced everyone except the hardcore guys out of the game.

You are not comparing apples to apples bro.


As a footnote to this point I know Brandon was joking above about my impact on Nebraska turkey populations (and he’s pretty dang rough on them himself lol) but he’s not wrong about the population thing. We started going to Nebraska around 11-12 years ago. The first time we went up there we arrived in town around noon and just to get a lay of the land we rode around that afternoon just looking. I’m guessing just riding around we saw close to 500 longbeards in one afternoon. Fast forward to today...... you can go on those same farms that we rode around on just a decade ago for hours on end and count on one hand how many longbeard you will see. That’s a stone cold fact.

I know of 2 hens killed by me or 10 buddies in the last 30 yrs. I would be shocked if 50 were killed in Alabama this spring.

The guys I know in Nebraska have said the same thing, and not just because "those non-residents are here!" They said the increased hunting from everyone has changed things in the last decade.

As for turkeys, y'all know for fact that a heavy rain and flood can destroy a nest. The hen might re-nest, depending on the timing of the flooding. If it rains like hell during the time poults can't fly, they can and likely will drown. This doesn't even include snakes, possums, foxes, coyotes, tractors, dogs and whatever else gets them. A turkey that makes it to adulthood is a tough sumbitch, no matter if it's a hen or gobbler.

You'd be surprised how wrong you are.
The people shooting hens ain't gonna call the GW and tell him about it.

so just how many hens do you personally KNOW of that were killed this year in Alabama Mark??????

Well that's easy Troy...... None.
Are all your questions this easy? 😉

mostly easy, you gave the right answer.......

Dunno what the final estimate for gobblers killed in Alabama was. Let’s say 25,000 thousand were killed. 400 dead hens would be be 1.6% of that amount. I would say that is a pretty fair ballpark estimate of the amount of hens accidentally killed. No doubt Tennessee’s hen count is far higher with the legal fall, spring and incidental kills combined,

Out of the 250 plus you’ve seen die Fred did you see a few oopsies?

one, my Capt killed a gobbler at 20 yards and a hen standing at 50 yards that was unseen. He wrote himself a ticket for it.

Made the balls jump up asking the ole warden that one. 😆

I’ve seen a bunch of turkeys die and only seen one hen killed as collateral. I’ve known of a guy who shot a couple bearded hens on purpose. I really don’t think it happens that often in AL.

jump what, didn't bother me at all. I didn't shoot it...