Turkey247
We had turkeys all around here in 80s and it was always said they were hard to hunt so many didn’t play it was fishing season. Just like most didn’t hunt the rut in January. It was the norm around here.
I started chasing turkeys in the early 90s and have killed limits pretty much every year until the last several. I retired for lack of a better words a few year back. Declining population was one reason. The other was the shear number of hunter encounters I had and not always good ones. The competition factor kicked in and I didn’t care to participate.
Both the shear number of hunters and the actual number of hours afield have increased significantly around here. So it’s more than a double whammy.
Hunters afield not only educate the gobblers but disturb the nesting hens too.
So does that exacerbate the problems? Probably lowers gobbler killed
I get that ALL locations do not suffer from this. I can only speak of my experiences
Private properties may or may not have these experiences. I hunted both private and public
I know guys that own large amounts of continuous land and they are experiencing the same thing. One land owner quit letting anyone hunt their land, themselves included.
The map I posted is where I hunted mostly but I used to kill birds on a few WMAs. Especially the ones opening on March 20 and then March 15. Sam R Murphy became overwhelmed with hunters so I quit going. We opened April 1.
I’ve noticed birds using habitat that was once not considered suitable for turkeys. Killed many in the thick stuff.
I could go on and on. I’m trying to be a realist about my experiences. I started on properties that held unreal numbers. The main property I hunted was 400 acres it so unreal, was nothing to hear 25 birds a morning in the draws and up and down the creek. There were mornings I heard more I bet. Also can tell you others will tell the same thing. We often talk about it. I figure those days are gone for us.
Duck hunting has had the same problems
Hunters have not only increased but hunting tactics have, which also include hours per day in the field.
Travelers have also increased and so have hours afield with them in particular
I get the push back from folks with good steady numbers and work done on properties.
It is what it is
I’m that guy that pushed for a 3 bird limit back when I was killing 5 birds a year.
I guess the real question is sustainability of turkey numbers versus turkey hunter numbers. There’s a balance but what is it?
It’s interesting that most of the southern states are experiencing the same problems.
