I can only speak of what I’ve seen up this way. I bowhunted Lauderdale a NW corner WMA and club back in the late 80s and 90s. No turkey season until mid 90s. Nothing to see 40-50 jake-hen flocks on every hunt. Groups of 10-15 gobblers most of the time. Still a decent population there but not like it was. The season had been closed for close to 25 years before reopening. Colbert had been closed too but opened in the 80s. Would see similar flicks and some much bigger flocks on the western side next to MS. That area is nothing like it was during the 90s.

The biggest changes was timber harvest and flying raptors (cats) as 257 called them. Very efficient hunters they are. Rarely saw a Coopers, now see them all the time along with other hawks.

I’ve been saying I see similar numbers of gobblers but it’s the hen population that has really crashed. Had several landowners say the same thing about the hens. They probably own over 10k and have more than that with land leases. They’re retired and know their land running cameras etc….

I can say I’ve seen more hens this year than in the past. Not huge by any means but an increase. Actually have birds around the farm last year and this year. They’ve been missing for a few years and during the 90s nothing to see almost 200 birds in that area.

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