Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

    Up front, I  have nothing against New Turkey Hunters. But these days, I  am seeing so many more Spring Turkey Hunters afield here in New York State. Maybe the Southern  States have the same problem.
   No complaint  here- just an observation.  I know, I  will always get my 2 to 4 Spring Toms- but many others will compete with so many New Hunters afield.
   On Public, I  witness " Field Edge Sprinting" to close distance with a Vocal Gobbler. And these days, I  witness Guys walking full Blown in the middle of a Big Field at 45 minutes or even earlier  Before Sunrise.
   I know these are the newer Spring Hunters because a veteran will know that a Roosted Gobbler will " make Him" and drop down later possibly  without Gobbling and move back into the Wetlands.
   Again- just my observation on Public Lands.I can go to plan B- but plenty of other guys will have their hunt blown and probably  just remain at that Field edge and hope for the best later on.
    These Spring Days, I  am hoping to have a Gobbler that Gobbles just once or Twice.

There are lots of edges to this sword.  Turkey hunting is becoming more popular with the masses due to the aesthetics of spring gobbler hunting and the fact that it is just a very enjoyable and interactive type of hunting.  However, as more and more pressure is put on the resource, the law of diminishing returns will eventually come into play.  As turkeys adapt to the increased hunting pressure,....less gobbling, less willingness to come to calls and decoys,...less dedicated turkey hunters will drop out.

As for the theory that "we have to recruit more hunters in order to protect the future of hunting". well, I for one do not buy that at all.  That theory is promoted by folks who make money off of having as many hunters around as they can.  The number of hunters in this country right now is somewhere around 5% of the population, maybe even a little less than that.  If the general public decides they want to see hunting outlawed in the U.S., adding a few more percentage points to that total is not going to make one iota of difference. 

In addition, the resource can only handle so much pressure put on it before measures have to be taken to protect it.  As of right now, we are all discussing declining turkey numbers, decreasing bag limits, shorter seasons, hunts going to lottery draws, and the like.  If we keep killing more turkeys than are being replenished through reproduction every year, hunter numbers will be decreased one way or another. 

That applies, not only to wild turkeys, but to most other game species, as well.  If we keep promoting the concept of recruiting more and more hunters when there are limited resources and limited places to pursue them, we are slowly cutting our own throats. 

Good points gobblenut, however if there are less of us then funding for wildlife suffers. If our primary contribution is to funding for wildlife and wild places then we need more of us.

Fortunately the taxes on guns and ammo provide major funding for wildlife, I do not think hunting tags etc. can support it on it's own.

I guess we all have to realize we were new hunters also at one time.

Quote from: GobbleNut on May 09, 2021, 09:03:08 AM
There are lots of edges to this sword.  Turkey hunting is becoming more popular with the masses due to the aesthetics of spring gobbler hunting and the fact that it is just a very enjoyable and interactive type of hunting.  However, as more and more pressure is put on the resource, the law of diminishing returns will eventually come into play.  As turkeys adapt to the increased hunting pressure,....less gobbling, less willingness to come to calls and decoys,...less dedicated turkey hunters will drop out.

As for the theory that "we have to recruit more hunters in order to protect the future of hunting". well, I for one do not buy that at all.  That theory is promoted by folks who make money off of having as many hunters around as they can.  The number of hunters in this country right now is somewhere around 5% of the population, maybe even a little less than that.  If the general public decides they want to see hunting outlawed in the U.S., adding a few more percentage points to that total is not going to make one iota of difference. 

In addition, the resource can only handle so much pressure put on it before measures have to be taken to protect it.  As of right now, we are all discussing declining turkey numbers, decreasing bag limits, shorter seasons, hunts going to lottery draws, and the like.  If we keep killing more turkeys than are being replenished through reproduction every year, hunter numbers will be decreased one way or another. 

That applies, not only to wild turkeys, but to most other game species, as well.  If we keep promoting the concept of recruiting more and more hunters when there are limited resources and limited places to pursue them, we are slowly cutting our own throats.

Exactly. Way to many hunters for the resource right now.

God made squirrels and rabbits for a reason.  Like it or not, the newbies have and will continue ruining the great sport.  Get used to it.

Quote from: Greg Massey on May 09, 2021, 12:55:10 PM
I guess we all have to realize we were new hunters also at one time.

Indeed.. not saying tell em your spots, but be kind to all men. If they need advice on how to get started or how to try and go about it, well... We all were there at one point or another

It's great to recruit new people to deer hunt. There's lots of deer and the population just keeps growing.

If decoys and fanning were outlawed, there would be much fewer "turkey hunters" in the woods... 

Quote from: Dtrkyman on May 09, 2021, 12:33:32 PM
Good points gobblenut, however if there are less of us then funding for wildlife suffers. If our primary contribution is to funding for wildlife and wild places then we need more of us.

Fortunately the taxes on guns and ammo provide major funding for wildlife, I do not think hunting tags etc. can support it on it's own.

theres been record gun and ammo sales since 2012.....there hasn't been record amounts of manipulation to wildlife and their habitat. The ratio of the money raised for wildlife and the amount that has changed or been done is very disproportional.

ive been saying all this for a quite a while now.......your gonna get the recruitment whether you like it or not. YouTube is here to stay....and that's probably the most effective recruitment there is. My state depends on license sells.....nothing will change here until there is no resource to hunt. History will probably come close to repeating itself for the wild turkey in some places. Its dang close in some states already. like louisianna and arkansas

I`m  always open to schooling a new hunter under certain conditions. They must be serious, safe and willing to listen. I sometimes ask do you have a spot you can hunt and I would be glad to school you. I`m to old to give my spots away. One young man I took when he was young now takes me at times. Because of the outdoors we have a very close relationship even to the point he has a set of keys to our home. Their are a couple I will never take again, various reasons mainly not being able to be instructed. I`ll always be grateful to those who took me as a youngster. Mainly uncle`s who have all passed but I keep those precious memories. Good day.   

Quote from: quavers59 on May 09, 2021, 02:05:31 AM
    Up front, I  have nothing against New Turkey Hunters. But these days, I  am seeing so many more Spring Turkey Hunters afield here in New York State. Maybe the Southern  States have the same problem.
   No complaint  here- just an observation.  I know, I  will always get my 2 to 4 Spring Toms- but many others will compete with so many New Hunters afield.

Maybe it's time that the old timers step aside and let us new hunters have a chance, since the old timers are killing so many each spring. :TooFunny: :TooFunny:

I was "recruited" to this sport around 28 yrs ago by an uncle who treated me like his own son. He passed away at the age of 57 a little over 13 yrs ago. There hasn't been a turkey I've killed during that span of time that I haven't thought of him. I will be forever grateful to him for introducing me to the sport. With that said, the only person I've introduced to the sport is my son and he seems to love it as well. I am not as extreme as Silvestris but I do agree that the number of hunters seems to outnumber the resource. It's certainly true in my part of MS. I don't want to sound greedy but my advice is to choose wisely when introducing a new hunter to turkey hunting.

Quote from: Sasha and Abby on May 09, 2021, 04:05:32 PM
If decoys and fanning were outlawed, there would be much fewer "turkey hunters" in the woods...

Oh boy, here we go again.

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

GobbleNut and dzsmith pretty much hit it above. If I'm turkey hunting...let's say a quality turkey hunt...and there's another turkey hunter that can hear the same gobbler as I...that's one too many. Not like, say, bow hunting for deer. Where there could be another hunter just as little as a couple hundred yards from you and you'd not be affected by him.

Quote from: Sasha and Abby on May 09, 2021, 04:05:32 PM
If decoys and fanning were outlawed, there would be much fewer "turkey hunters" in the woods...

Throw spring seasons in there too.

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Quote from: RutnNStrutn on May 09, 2021, 05:25:58 PM

Quote from: Sasha and Abby on May 09, 2021, 04:05:32 PM
If decoys and fanning were outlawed, there would be much fewer "turkey hunters" in the woods...

Oh boy, here we go again.

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Let's add TSS to the mix... oh boy here we go again... :fud:

Quote from: Greg Massey on May 09, 2021, 12:55:10 PM
I guess we all have to realize we were new hunters also at one time.

This sums it up. Everyone started out as a "newbie". It's what kind of turkey hunter you develop into that has the most influence on our fraternity. You can't teach ethics, it's in your personality. Be safe...

When it comes to turkey hunting , Im greedy and not ashamed to say so. I learned to turkey hunt 40 years ago with no one to help me. This hunter recruitment is a joke. No we dont need more turkey hunters. We have plenty already. Like previously stated , turn them onto deer hunting. The deer population is exploding. You can even kill them in a neighborhood backyard.

I understand the frustration, all season I've had multiple gobblers interupped before I could get the bird close enough. Two days ago I went over to the hunters that have drove me nuts this year and introduced myself. After meeting them they explained this was their first year and all they knew to do was to chase in the direction of the gobble and saw on their box call. I offered to call for in the morning and help them get setup. We'll see how that turns out. I'm pushing them to joining TFT, and gave them,the number for the local NWTF chapter. If we don't have new blood coming in than in a few years it will be nothing more than a memory.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation had the slogan Past it On for a long time. They may still do. Wholeheartedly, I agree, I don't want folks busting up my setup. But also, I don't want to see our wonderful gift of wild turkey hunting fade off into history like the old west

We don't need recruitment we need a purge LOL.  Hunters almost outnumber turkeys these days it seems.  Every year it gets worse. 

The only person I intend to pass the sport on to is my sons ..... and at this point , there may be nothing to pass on. And it's not because of lack on interest , it's because of too much interest. If the sport dies from lack of recruitment , which it won't...... then so be it. I'd rather the sport die from lack of recruitment, than from extinction of the species

If I'm being candid, the sentiments on this thread are a bit disturbing. 

By saying we need to stop recruiting, you're telling a lot of people on this board they shouldn't introduce their sons or daughters into turkey hunting. 

Do we have that many more turkey hunters nationwide or are more people traveling and being concentrated to limited public lands? We've been dealing with a number of factors in recent years. The last two springs people have been able to work from home more. Cheap gas prices were allowing people to travel more. That one will change with the idiot we have in office. My SD turkey trip cost $125 more in gas this year than last year and I'm sure it will be more in the future. Just wait until they have us driving electric and you've gotta stop for 8hrs to charge up halfway through the trip. The other is lack of access. Less and less people are knocking on doors because everything is leased up or was sold specifically for hunting purposes. Each year in my area of KS we lose 1-2 turkey WIHAs. At that rate 10 years from now there won't be any left. More and more real estate companies are catering specifically to hunters as well as these leasing companies. The only thing that may help is when some of the baby boomers start aging out as they make up 30% of our hunters. But with that we also lose a funding source. We're not losing hunters right now. Hunter numbers have remained steady or increasing for a number of years. It's the percentage of the population that's dropping which is expected because we have too many damn people on this planet. But it's hard to get new people out when the amount of access keeps going down and a lot of guys have enough trouble just finding one good spot for themselves.

Yeah we need way more turkey hunters. Just ask the YouTubers.

  I understand that the Amish are Master deer + Turkey hunters in parts of Pennsylvania. They pass the tradition  on  still.
  Wondering if anyone here are seeing a big decline in Turkey numbers in various PA Counties.

Once I get these hardened, bronzed, and mounted on my walking sticks I'll have these boys running in circles. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210511/de70a36483224033c7fe1822b3e78525.jpg)


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Maybe I am just an idiot, but could some of y'all explain to me why if we do not recruit more hunters into the sport, then that sport will die?

I wish more people would quit deer and turkey hunting. The way I see it is just like supply and demand.  The less competition for land and game will decrease the demand on land and in return lower prices on leases and increase the number of animals. It would go back to where the local farmers would say "Hell YES, kill every deer you see" instead of him now saying, I have it lease out for $20 an acre, but if you want to pay $25, then we can talk. I don't blame the farmer, but if the demand was not there, then the roles would be reversed and what has happened is the huge influx of hunters.

Everyone has been brainwashed by all these organizations to "bring in new hunters or the sport will die" but their real intention is to bring in new hunters to continue to fill their coffers and pay their salaries. Hunters are naive.

Just my .02 and remember, I clearly stated that I am an idiot.

My kind of idiot.

With habitat shrinking from never ending human expansion we don't need more ppl going after smaller resources.



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Quote from: Sixes on May 11, 2021, 05:52:05 PM
Maybe I am just an idiot, but could some of y'all explain to me why if we do not recruit more hunters into the sport, then that sport will die?

I wish more people would quit deer and turkey hunting. The way I see it is just like supply and demand.  The less competition for land and game will decrease the demand on land and in return lower prices on leases and increase the number of animals. It would go back to where the local farmers would say "Hell YES, kill every deer you see" instead of him now saying, I have it lease out for $20 an acre, but if you want to pay $25, then we can talk. I don't blame the farmer, but if the demand was not there, then the roles would be reversed and what has happened is the huge influx of hunters.

Everyone has been brainwashed by all these organizations to "bring in new hunters or the sport will die" but their real intention is to bring in new hunters to continue to fill their coffers and pay their salaries. Hunters are naive.

Just my .02 and remember, I clearly stated that I am an idiot.

100% my thoughts. I'd go back to the 80s and 90s in a heart beat

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Quote from: sasquatch1 on May 11, 2021, 06:27:33 PM
With habitat shrinking from never ending human expansion we don't need more ppl going after smaller resources.



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truth.

i'm a pessimist. it's a catch 22 situation. we need numbers to fight for our rights, but human nature is greedy. certain politicians will continue to be elected to a larger majority. hunting won't be allowed in a few generations. enjoy today. it's all we have

Quote from: quavers59 on May 09, 2021, 02:05:31 AM
    Up front, I  have nothing against New Turkey Hunters. But these days, I  am seeing so many more Spring Turkey Hunters afield here in New York State. Maybe the Southern  States have the same problem.
   No complaint  here- just an observation.  I know, I  will always get my 2 to 4 Spring Toms- but many others will compete with so many New Hunters afield.
   On Public, I  witness " Field Edge Sprinting" to close distance with a Vocal Gobbler. And these days, I  witness Guys walking full Blown in the middle of a Big Field at 45 minutes or even earlier  Before Sunrise.
   I know these are the newer Spring Hunters because a veteran will know that a Roosted Gobbler will " make Him" and drop down later possibly  without Gobbling and move back into the Wetlands.
   Again- just my observation on Public Lands.I can go to plan B- but plenty of other guys will have their hunt blown and probably  just remain at that Field edge and hope for the best later on.
    These Spring Days, I  am hoping to have a Gobbler that Gobbles just once or Twice.

Yes we need all the hunters we can introduce, old, young , veteran and novice. What if your mentor told you to go pound salt rather than call in that first longbeard for you? If you don't like crowds, don't hunt public. If you have good people skills, knock on doors and get permission. I have turkey hunted NY for almost 3 decades and a lot of it was on private land from the get-go. We have amassed many permissions over the years, some is practically public land, tons of gobblers but a lot of pressure. So....we move and find other properties that may have as many birds but, we always seem to tag out relatively quickly. If we don't, those properties with a lot of pressure become lessened as the season progresses and not on the weekends.

Lets not turn into those guys that say, " nobody saved me any buffalo, so as long as I get mine, forget everyone else."

Quote from: bonasa on May 12, 2021, 12:20:03 AM

Quote from: quavers59 on May 09, 2021, 02:05:31 AM
    Up front, I  have nothing against New Turkey Hunters. But these days, I  am seeing so many more Spring Turkey Hunters afield here in New York State. Maybe the Southern  States have the same problem.
   No complaint  here- just an observation.  I know, I  will always get my 2 to 4 Spring Toms- but many others will compete with so many New Hunters afield.
   On Public, I  witness " Field Edge Sprinting" to close distance with a Vocal Gobbler. And these days, I  witness Guys walking full Blown in the middle of a Big Field at 45 minutes or even earlier  Before Sunrise.
   I know these are the newer Spring Hunters because a veteran will know that a Roosted Gobbler will " make Him" and drop down later possibly  without Gobbling and move back into the Wetlands.
   Again- just my observation on Public Lands.I can go to plan B- but plenty of other guys will have their hunt blown and probably  just remain at that Field edge and hope for the best later on.
    These Spring Days, I  am hoping to have a Gobbler that Gobbles just once or Twice.

Yes we need all the hunters we can introduce, old, young , veteran and novice. What if your mentor told you to go pound salt rather than call in that first longbeard for you? If you don't like crowds, don't hunt public. If you have good people skills, knock on doors and get permission. I have turkey hunted NY for almost 3 decades and a lot of it was on private land from the get-go. We have amassed many permissions over the years, some is practically public land, tons of gobblers but a lot of pressure. So....we move and find other properties that may have as many birds but, we always seem to tag out relatively quickly. If we don't, those properties with a lot of pressure become lessened as the season progresses and not on the weekends.

Lets not turn into those guys that say, " nobody saved me any buffalo, so as long as I get mine, forget everyone else."

:agreed:

Quote from: bonasa on May 12, 2021, 12:20:03 AM

Quote from: quavers59 on May 09, 2021, 02:05:31 AM

Yes we need all the hunters we can introduce, old, young , veteran and novice. What if your mentor told you to go pound salt rather than call in that first longbeard for you? If you don't like crowds, don't hunt public. If you have good people skills, knock on doors and get permission. I have turkey hunted NY for almost 3 decades and a lot of it was on private land from the get-go. We have amassed many permissions over the years, some is practically public land, tons of gobblers but a lot of pressure. So....we move and find other properties that may have as many birds but, we always seem to tag out relatively quickly. If we don't, those properties with a lot of pressure become lessened as the season progresses and not on the weekends.

Lets not turn into those guys that say, " nobody saved me any buffalo, so as long as I get mine, forget everyone else."

I see you mention that you hunt in NY and things must be totally different up there. Come to GA and knock on doors and see how much permission you obtain. It will be either zero or the land will overhunted as bad as some public areas.

Please explain to me why I need to be introducing competition into the sport? Also, I had no mentors, my Dad let me go from about 5 years old with a BB gun on my own around the yard to progressing through pellet guns, to .22s and shotguns on up to deer rifles. I lived in the woods and learned how to kill all kinds of animals on my own.

The easiest way to learn is to make mistakes.

Quote from: bigriverbum on May 11, 2021, 11:38:40 PM

Quote from: sasquatch1 on May 11, 2021, 06:27:33 PM
With habitat shrinking from never ending human expansion we don't need more ppl going after smaller resources.



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truth.

i'm a pessimist. it's a catch 22 situation. we need numbers to fight for our rights, but human nature is greedy. certain politicians will continue to be elected to a larger majority. hunting won't be allowed in a few generations. enjoy today. it's all we have

How exactly are we going to lose hunting in a few generations? I know my home state of Georgia enacted the Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment about 15 years ago that guarantees our rights as sportsmen.

Also, unless we fall under a true socialism in the next couple of decades, no one, let me say that again, NO ONE will stop me from hunting my own land.

Quote from: quavers59 on May 11, 2021, 05:40:44 PM
  I understand that the Amish are Master deer + Turkey hunters in parts of Pennsylvania. They pass the tradition  on  still.
  Wondering if anyone here are seeing a big decline in Turkey numbers in various PA Counties.

Master poachers maybe

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Quote from: Sixes on May 12, 2021, 04:31:59 AM

Quote from: bigriverbum on May 11, 2021, 11:38:40 PM

Quote from: sasquatch1 on May 11, 2021, 06:27:33 PM
With habitat shrinking from never ending human expansion we don't need more ppl going after smaller resources.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

truth.

i'm a pessimist. it's a catch 22 situation. we need numbers to fight for our rights, but human nature is greedy. certain politicians will continue to be elected to a larger majority. hunting won't be allowed in a few generations. enjoy today. it's all we have

How exactly are we going to lose hunting in a few generations? I know my home state of Georgia enacted the Right to Hunt and Fish Amendment about 15 years ago that guarantees our rights as sportsmen.

Also, unless we fall under a true socialism in the next couple of decades, no one, let me say that again, NO ONE will stop me from hunting my own land.

Idk but id assume if we do the detriment won't be from regulation. It'd be from there being nothing to hunt or limited tags due to a smaller resource. Basically a backdoor approach.

Shrinking habitat, more demand, more predators, less game animals etc etc can just long term lead to the supply and demand factor out pricing people or just make ppl lose interest. Also limits tags etc as the population can only support so much Hunting.

Won't be in my time but I can see it going there. Already started long ago

Think timber land, once was free to hunt now leases go up yearly


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