Are Public Land Gobblers Getting Tougher To Kill?!

[DirtTime]

Well, I think I know what's messing with the population close to home. On the way to Wallyworld, the wife and I watched a pretty big black bear run across the road in front of us. Maybe 3 miles from the house and the same distance from one of the WMA's I hunt.

[mowin]

28 minutes ago, DirtTime said:

Well, I think I know what's messing with the population close to home. On the way to Wallyworld, the wife and I watched a pretty big black bear run across the road in front of us. Maybe 3 miles from the house and the same distance from one of the WMA's I hunt.

Predators definitely don't help things weather it's on private or public.  

 

[DirtTime]

18 hours ago, mowin said:

Predators definitely don't help things weather it's on private or public.  

 

So you're saying bears just go wherever they feel like going? I'm not sure, I'll have to fact-check that one.

[mowin]

1 hour ago, DirtTime said:

So you're saying bears just go wherever they feel like going? I'm not sure, I'll have to fact-check that one.

So your saying bears or other predators only stay on private or public lands and never cross over?  I'll have to check on that...

Edited June 17 by mowin

[DirtTime]

2 hours ago, mowin said:

So your saying bears or other predators only stay on private or public lands and never cross over?  I'll have to check on that...

I'm saying what I'm saying. So what I'm saying is a silly remark, to add to what I said, and should be construed as what I'm saying. So what I am saying is, I'm saying exactly what I said. Know what I'm sayin'?

[LET EM GROW]

It seems most Toms have gone silent the last few years. The years of very plentiful birds have gone by us.. Without some state and landowner help the population is only going to get worse. Good Habitat is becoming non existent, Young Turkeys and young deer require different needs for survival. Most land owners work their property for better deer growing and hunting, and turkey hunting .. but not growing and raising turkey.. once a turkey makes it through winter #1 they can live and adapt (within reason). But they also have avian predators, ground predators and nest predators as well as hunting pressure and weather pressure in terms of possible wet bad springs for a young successful hatch. Turkeys have it the worst out of all game critters.. and receive zero help other than the selective sportsman or woman..    

[Water Rat]

Turkeys are turkeys regardless if you're hunting them on public or private. It doesn't make a difference to me.

[blackbeltbill]

 Well of course " Public Land" Fall + Spring Turkeys are Tougher to Kill.

     I used to average  4,5,6  a Season for Decades. By Season,I mean Spring + Fall in 3 States  back when my Woodsmanship  + Calling Skills were much lower then they are right now. And,I consider  mature Fall Hens as Wary as a Gobbler if not more so.

  So,I have the numbers built up from the past Good Times- 124 Turkeys Killed now. 

   But in recent years,I have been averaging just 1 Gobbler a Season. Last year,I got Lucky with 1 Gobbler and 1 Fall Hen. Since a good 10 Hens flew down in front of me,I blasted one.

 Even on njwoodsandwaters- the Public Land Turkey Killers are killing just 1 Gobbler or not taking anything or Zero Gobblers. I believe  that is happening  on this site too.