On average....

[growalot]

Do you think there has been an increase in turkey hunters in the last 10 yrs...a decrease, or has it remained fairly steady  number wise?

[landtracdeerhunter]

I would say decrease, at least around here. Talk strong of turkeys numbers being down. Hunters, years past, weren't seeing the turkey, so kinda gave up on the hunt.

[Lawdwaz]

I don't know about THIS spring but I'd say decrease. 

[Cabin Fever]

Decrease... and I'm one of them. 12+ years ago, we had more turkeys than squirrels in my area! They were all over! In the past 8-10 years, there are very very few around. Some years, there are none, no tracks, no gobbling, no trailcam pics, no sightings, no nothing! Other years, I "might" have a couple move in during the spring, but they never stick around. Personally, I wouldn't shoot one in my area if it jumped me with a switchblade! What few we do have around, I would rather save, so my kids have something to hunt.

[WNY Bowhunter]

I'd say about the same around here.  All i do know is that I have no intentions of giving it up.  I'll be out every day of May until I kill two or season ends.  Can't get enough of it!!!

[verminater71]

. Personally, I wouldn't shoot one in my area if it jumped me with a switchblade! What few we do have around,

 

That's funny .... I'll be laughing all day

[TPhunter]

It changes from year to year here...If the Soldiers are deployed the number obviously drops but as for the locals the number seems to stay the same especially during the opening week, then after that the only ones left are the diehards.

[TeeBugg]

I'd say about the same around here. All i do know is that I have no intentions of giving it up. I'll be out every day of May until I kill two or season ends. Can't get enough of it!!!

Same here!

[growalot]

it's interesting to get perspectives from across the state...I believe we've stayed the same if not had a bit of an increase...but that is just from a observation of shots heard through out the month

[phade]

A rise and then fall....pretty poor couple of years locally.

[josephmrtn]

It changes from year to year here...If the Soldiers are deployed the number obviously drops but as for the locals the number seems to stay the same especially during the opening week, then after that the only ones left are the diehards.

Like me...

[wooly]

It's deffinately been on the rise here. That's part of the reason I don't really enjoy it much anymore.

I see more of my neighbors this time of year then I do all deer seasons combined. Ten years ago it was just the opposite.

Not being in agg country, there's a lot of guys stepping on each others toes around the few fields we do have. Just not for me anymore.

[growalot]

Wooly ...doesn't  it make you wonder....If the guys stepping on each others toes to turkey hunt are there because of........ the toes that were being stepped on in deer season...so they then switched to hunting turkeys not deer?...lol ironic isn't it?

[genesee_mohican]

I don't know what hunter numbers look like in my area of southern Livingston Co but there sure seems to be a lot of turkeys around the last 5 years. From what I'm seeing, you just have to locate the flocks. I see a lot in Letch Park and surrounding areas.

[letinmfly]

I see a lot less now than in the past years.  Spring turkey hunting was in its hay day back in the 80's.  You couldn't pick up a hunting magazine without seeing it mentioned on the front cover.  They made it sound like all you needed to do was sit next to a tree, make a call and they'd come in and run you over.  I had never seen so many turkey hunters as I did then.

A lot of these guys got discouraged and gave up when they saw how hard it really is.  We'll see what this year brings!!

[G-Man]

Decrease for sure, think a lot gave up when it wasn't like the TV shows and magazines they watched. That and populations aren't what they were in the late 90's . Poor hatch and wet springs took care of that.

[dbHunterNY]

slight increase in hunters and a big decrease in turkey numbers.  the decrease may be due to change of winter food sources though.

[TurkeyHuntPA_NY]

Seems like there has been an increase in my area. 10 years ago I never saw a turkey hunter, now there seems to be a lot more.

[2012_taco]

I think there are more hunters (after all it is addicting) and less turkeys (poor hatches last few years and more preditors) But all that said I will be out until I tag out and then I will call for any one who wants the company. I love the challenge!