Not looking good

[tjm08803]

Well I hate to be completly pessimistic here, but things are heading south for turkey hunting. I wont go into details about my accomplishments as a hunter because it will mainly sound like I am boasting, and thats not what I want to do. The real problem here is the decling population of New York Turkeys. A family friend told me yesterday that the DEC has been going out on helicopter runs trying to get a count for turkeys (or at least locate some). Lets put it this way, they didnt find too much. The DEC is actually thinking about shutting down the season eventually for a year or two (could be a terrible rumor, but honestly think about it). They cant believe it got to be this way. Dont get me wrong, there still out there, I have turkeys in all my hunting spots. However, I used to go out in my front yard 10 years ago and hear turkeys in mulitple directions. My dad an I would look at each other and say, "OK which one you wanna go after today." Now we go out just praying to hear one.

Obviously, the biggest issues are terrible weather for hatchings, predation, and even hunters. Hunters account for about 20000 birds a year. If the season was shut down for a year, that saves that many birds. That would be HUGE for the turkeys.

Hey, I'll be out there May 1st, and more than likely calling in a limb-hanger for pops. But, turkey hunting is turning into a serious issue. If we dont act on it, in 5 years, we will all be left scratching our heads....

[landtracdeerhunter]

Not the greatest of starts for your first post, but welcome to Hunting NY.. See you're from Wyoming County, 338 birds est. spring 2011 harvest. I believe the turkeys cycle in numbers, hopefully this being the lowest. Some members on here, will not agree with you on the low numbers. Some areas have really decent population. As far as DEC flying around looking for turkeys, I question that .

Edited April 27, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[tughillhunter]

Some areas have really decent population. As far as DEC flying around looking for turkeys, I question that.

I agree

[tjm08803]

Not the greatest of starts for your first post, but welcome to Hunting NY.. See you're from Wyoming County, 338 birds est. harvest. I believe the turkeys cycle in numbers, hopefully this being the lowest. Some members on here, will not agree with you on the low numbers. Some areas have really decent population. As far as DEC flying around looking for turkeys, I question that.

Wasnt trying to start anything, and surely will never pay and disrespect to this great sport of hunting. Im just saying it how it is, disagree or agree all you want. When you look at the big picture, there numbers are going down (just as fast as they went up). And its true about the DEC, so you dont have to question that at all. Believe me, I know that other areas have outstanding populations, you dont have to preach me on that. BUT, look at the big picture here. Be a critic of my post (isnt that the whole idea of forumns), and anybody can pull up numbers on county kills with the click of a mouse.

"hopefully this being the lowest.............."

[tjm08803]

I know that DEC does helicopter runs all the time looking for wildlife. And seeing how turkeys are becoming a serious issue in some areas of New York, you would actually question that they are concerned? All you have to do is put 2 and 2 together. I have talked to plenty of DEC officers in my time, and I have thought numerous of times of becoming a DEC officer myself. I just hope that the DEC is actually planing something here (possibly shutting the season down at some point), and not putting this issue on the backburner.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Hey, I'm real easy to get along with. Maybe your wording could of been used a little differently in your first post. If you feel that bad, don't go out hunting, then their might be 336 birds harvested this spring.

Edited April 27, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[tjm08803]

Hey, I'm real easy to get along with. Maybe your wording could of been used a little differently in your first post. If you feel that bad, don't go out hunting, then their might be 336 birds harvested this spring.

Its the attitude from hunters like yourself that causes stipulation. I was just trying to raise some awareness, and then you tell me somthing like "dont go out hunting, ill still go out and shoot em all up hahahahahaha" You seem to be real easy to get along with, "not the greatest of first posts"

[tjm08803]

and i dont see where the wording in the first post was offensive what so ever. just trying to raise awareness.

[WNYBuckHunter]

I think it all depends on the area you are talking about. The two main areas I hunt are seeing a rise in numbers and birds in areas they have never really been in before. The areas I hunt dont have much for state land, and gaining permission for hunting areas isnt always easy, so actually getting after the birds is a whole other challenge.

[tjm08803]

I think it all depends on the area you are talking about. The two main areas I hunt are seeing a rise in numbers and birds in areas they have never really been in before. The areas I hunt dont have much for state land, and gaining permission for hunting areas isnt always easy, so actually getting after the birds is a whole other challenge.

I agree. it definitly depends on the area you are hunting. I know there are some fantastic areas in New York to hunt turkeys, and hey I love Wyoming County as one of them. But, the other areas, well turkeys are being wiped out completly from them. Wyoming County is definitly growing into one of them, which makes my standpoint a little different from others.

[adkbuck]

Like tjm I must say things are looking not too good here in southern Onondaga county. I have spent countless hours in the woods cutting and splitting and loading wood and for the last month and have yet to hear a gobble. This is the first year that I have seen such a lack of turkey activity, I hope they are just being silent but I haven't been seeing many either.

[meatmuzzy]

I think I read somewhere that ever since the DEC stopped releasing turkeys into the wild, the population has been on the decline. Correct if im wrong here.

[nyslowhand]

Aren't a lot of birds in my area to begin with, but I've seen a decline in just the past 7 years.

I'd be open to a one bird limit if the DEC could prove that would potentially reestablish the numbers.

IMHO - Predators are the main issue!

Open, year round season on coyotes might be more of a help.

Raccoons are another huge problem with their nest robbing!

Not sure how that can be dealt with other than landowners trapping them.

[bubba]

I saw a big bunch at the grocery store the other day

[sits in trees]

Lower Ulster county is dead! hardly a bird to be seen or heard, very disappointing. Been sitting out mornings hardly anything, its got me bummed out for sure????

[ny hunter]

I have not heard any gobbles yet this year.

[GreeneHunter]

I saw 2 Turkeys in my back yard last week , first time in 8 years - Albany County !

[tughillhunter]

saw a group of roughly 20 in a cornfield near my hunting grounds, and a group of 10 or so 5 mins from my house.(this evening) I work on morgan rd in liverpool, and out behind the shop hear alot of gobblers, which was back in march. It may be location, idk. Maybe they should restrict the harvesting of hens to boost population????

[turkeyboy69]

that should deff. be taken into consideration...ya know the whole hen thing. im in the FBI and i could have a few of my men take at look at the hens.

[tughillhunter]

no your not.

that should deff. be taken into consideration...ya know the whole hen thing. im in the FBI and i could have a few of my men take at look at the hens.

[sits in trees]

that should deff. be taken into consideration...ya know the whole hen thing. im in the FBI and i could have a few of my men take at look at the hens.

why does every thread on this NY forum have to get stupid right away? is it a new yorker thing? oooh yea where the hell are the freakin TURKEYS!!!!

[Doc]

Well actually, this thread sounds no different than some of the deer population threads we periodically see. I have no doubt that just like deer, the state has areas of plenty and areas of scarcity. And as is human nature everywhere, we tend to project whatever we see in our individual hunting areas to everywhere across the state.

Yes you can make judgements about what you see in your area, but when you start to roll out those conclusions to apply everywhere, you start losing the real picture. I'm sure that there are stats that show what is happening statewide. If the population is in a serious decline in NYS, I'm sure the DEC is well aware of that. Harvest results should tell that story very reliably. You want the real state-wide scoop, give the DEC a call.

Frankly, our area has been a bit light on turkey populations for quite a few years. But a mere 12 miles south, my son annually has great luck with harvesting and seeing birds. Also a couple of weeks back, I saw a flock of 50 or 60 birds just 16 miles north of me. Apparently no problem there .... lol.

[First-light]

Turkey population on Long Island is growing. One difference between upstate and Long Island-no Coyotes, for now...............

[landtracdeerhunter]

The DEC. is planning a study in 2013, to assess wild turkey hen survival, breeding success, and harvest rates. You can read that in the fall turkey harvest report for 2011. Take a look at the past with the ring neck pheasant. The wild population thrived 35 years ago. Now if it wasn't for the release program of farm raised birds, very few pheasants would be harvested. Their are some wild birds still in the lake plains area, but very few. The rest of the state is pretty dry. As far as stopping the hunting season for turkey; what did DEC. do with length of pheasant season? Extend it.

Edited April 28, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[WNY Bowhunter]

This spring has been very strange so far here in my hunting area (8R) as far as turkey sightings go. You'll see the birds out in one of the traditional fields where they always are and then you won't see them again for days? They really seem to be hanging out in the woods a lot more this year. I don't know what to make of it? Typically, they'll be out in the same fields every morning/evening from April all through season. I guess the good news is that I know that they are there and if I'm not seeing them then hopefully no one else is either. There certainly isn't a lack of turkeys around here. I'm still hoping for a great season as there were a ton of jakes around last spring and there seems to be a bunch this year too. There has been no shortage of hens to compete with for the past several seasons either. In fact, they have been quite a nuisance!

Just got in from scouting a new little piece of ground that I jrecently picked up and easily heard 150+ gobbles from the 8-10 birds that were hammering around me. They went nonstop from 5:20 until they flew down @ 6:00 when the hens showed up on the scene and things quited down. It really has got me fired up for tuesday. Me and my buddy B-Mobile will be waiting for them!!!

Edited April 28, 2012 by WNY Bowhunter