Seasons are starting to wind down. Did anyone notice a decline in hunting pressure this year?
Especially in the states that have reduced the bag limit and or reduced tag availability or increased license fees?
I'm from Illinois and I felt that the pressure increased on public ground. I also felt we had a decrease in population density for the turkeys.
Covered up with hunters in South Carolina this year,They were everywhere you went all turkey season.
Way more hunters in Missouri and Arkansas in the places I always hunt.
There seems to be more hunters everywhere you go. Florida public land was absolutely covered up with out of staters this spring. I believe the reduced limits are forcing guys that really like to hunt to travel to be able to get in more quality hunts. And unless states put a restriction on OOS hunters like Mississippi did, it's probably going to get worse as a good majority of the states have or are looking at reducing the limit.
There's more turkey hunting pressure every year. All these organizations pushing, "R3! R3! R3!" and most of them pushing turkey hunting as the entry point. I think we're nearing a fracture point, particularly with a game species that is experiencing the type of decline that turkeys are across the southeast, a decline that the scientists don't fully understand and can't fully address through management.
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I agree with above, pressure will only get worse each year. Every swinging $ick decided a few years ago they wanted to become a U.S. Super Slammer. There are a host of other issues as well... like more limited & expensive private each year, pushing even more people to public, etc.
All those public land YouTube hunters were talking about how bad the pressure has been... it seems to be the common theme this year. Watch that THP video from Indiana, it's like a dove shoot. Used to be mainly a Florida, or southern state issue.. Now the Midwest and Northeast is just as worse. Not sure how you public land guys are going to be able to hunt in 5 more years. I guess at some point they will all go to limited draw.. otherwise too many guys will be shooting each other, and not all by accident.
This may sound odd, but traveling has never much interested me. I'm very content in the land I come from and coming to know that land intimately. If I never hunt anything but whitetails and turkeys in the NC and SC mountains I think I'd be just fine with that.
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Looking at the private side of hunting, I didn't see near as many people parked and hunting private land as I did during the Covid spring season. Most of the private area I drove through had very few people after opening weekend. In my area of the state we have very little public land to hunt..
Hunted twelve different states, most places i've hunted before. Pressure as bad as I've ever seen. (Common theme since social media/YouTube era) I've just come to accept its the new normal. Just returned from a 2 week trip. I had three different opening mornings ruined (in 3 states) by someone parking on me and boogering the bird. In one instance, the guy started HOLLERING right before gobble time to screw me up. I assume he was mad he didn't get up early enough to be the first to the gate. In another instance, it was late morning and an older gentleman came sliding into a parking lot, grabbed his gun (i assume loaded) off his passenger seat and tried to race me to a turkey that had just crossed a road. I was in disbelief. Third instance was Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. Had roosted a turkey evening before and saw a black SUV drive by 2x after dark going slow. Well they parked right on me Saturday morning and screwed the hunt all up. I didn't take it kindly and told him exactly what a POS he was.
As a fellow on here likes to say, we just have to adapt and accept that this is the new era of turkey hunting! Isn't it lovely!
I had first season Illinois tag for my local public I only saw 1 vehicle once. That was a refreshing change! 3rd season tag southwest Illinois private heard no shots fired and saw no vehicles driving from hotel. 5th day of 7 day 4th season tag north central Illinois private I've seen 1 vehicle and heard 3-4 shots over the weekend. Must be lucky this season where I drew. I've also heard more gobbling this year since before the plandemic.
Saw more Arkansas trucks than Mo in southern Mo and I saw plenty of Mo trucks lol.
Sounds about right to me.
Had an issue with an entitled punk first of WV. Spoke with him because I wouldn't allow it to happen. Had an issue second weekend with a guy parking behind me, WV again. All private lease property.
No where else have I had an issue. Very disappointed in that my issues are coming from my home areas that I have hunted since I was a kid.
First day....Punk asked me where I was from, I told him. He mumbled something, I told him I played LL baseball on his home field 20 years before he was born.
I wish everyone wasn't packing a gun sometimes.
I love hearing crow calls in the dark!
Quote from: Will on May 06, 2024, 08:03:12 PMI love hearing crow calls in the dark!
I thought that only happened in Southern Illinois
Didn't seem like a ton more people but I definitely saw people all season long where I usually only see people the first week or two.
I had a mix of busy and not busy, had one douche park on top of me, he saw me walking in and came in anyway, well I got around the other side and killed a bird anyway!
Just the norm now, meanwhile I was at my 5th option for where to go in due to being on the late side!
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Trends:
More casual hunters at the start of the season and on weekends.
More non-resident serious hunters during the week and later in the season.
Gobbler numbers decreasing steadily each year due to the impacts of both of the above.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on May 06, 2024, 12:38:03 PMHunted twelve different states, most places i've hunted before. Pressure as bad as I've ever seen. (Common theme since social media/YouTube era) I've just come to accept its the new normal. Just returned from a 2 week trip. I had three different opening mornings ruined (in 3 states) by someone parking on me and boogering the bird. In one instance, the guy started HOLLERING right before gobble time to screw me up. I assume he was mad he didn't get up early enough to be the first to the gate. In another instance, it was late morning and an older gentleman came sliding into a parking lot, grabbed his gun (i assume loaded) off his passenger seat and tried to race me to a turkey that had just crossed a road. I was in disbelief. Third instance was Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. Had roosted a turkey evening before and saw a black SUV drive by 2x after dark going slow. Well they parked right on me Saturday morning and screwed the hunt all up. I didn't take it kindly and told him exactly what a POS he was.
As a fellow on here likes to say, we just have to adapt and accept that this is the new era of turkey hunting! Isn't it lovely!
[/quote. You hunted 12 states? There is no way.
Well in my neck of the wood I actually saw less people than last year.
Thank you Young Gobbler for bringing this back TTT.
At my conclusion of season I realize that pressure was low overall every where I went.
The issues I had earlier in season were at a place I have hunted for years, at least 15 on the one ridge.
I guess....over time, some young bucks have found the spot too.
Kind of fitting, but I ain't ready to give it up either.
Way more hunters this year and noticeably less turkeys. I'm trying, but it looks like we are doomed to follow the unsuccessful path of mismanagement and crash of turkey populations experienced by many southern and mid-western states. Ya think we would learn, but it doesn't look that way. Z
and that's why I mostly hunt privately. At my age, I might get 10 more years, so peaceful...
Quote from: zelmo1 on June 05, 2024, 04:58:43 AMWay more hunters this year and noticeably less turkeys. I'm trying, but it looks like we are doomed to follow the unsuccessful path of mismanagement and crash of turkey populations experienced by many southern and mid-western states. Ya think we would learn, but it doesn't look that way. Z
I have to agree with this sentiment. Honestly, I couldn't tell you if the pressure on the areas I USED to hunt increased this year or not. Those areas reached the saturation point in terms of hunting pressure several years ago and I pretty much stopped hunting them...at least early in the season. I have personally overcome that problem by focusing now on hunting later in the season and in more out-of-the-way locations, when and where the pressure is much more tolerable.
However, one thing for certain is that the with the increased pressure we have experienced here, starting about ten years ago and increasing over time, there are fewer gobblers in the turkey population due to more of them getting killed each spring. That is offset a bit in that we are still having somewhat reliable reproductive success in our turkey populations over time, but the current trend does not bode well for the future without the adoption of more conservative hunting strategies by our wildlife managers. Currently, there is little awareness that we are headed towards the cliff...
Pressure has been on the rise in the areas I hunt in a few states. Doesn't seem to be slowing down anytime soon...
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Depends on where I was. Oklahoma public was nuts,
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 10, 2024, 11:07:10 AMTrends:
More casual hunters at the start of the season and on weekends.
More non-resident serious hunters during the week and later in the season.
Gobbler numbers decreasing steadily each year due to the impacts of both of the above.
Very well said
Quote from: High plains drifter on June 04, 2024, 06:48:34 PMQuote from: deerhunt1988 on May 06, 2024, 12:38:03 PMHunted twelve different states, most places i've hunted before. Pressure as bad as I've ever seen. (Common theme since social media/YouTube era) I've just come to accept its the new normal. Just returned from a 2 week trip. I had three different opening mornings ruined (in 3 states) by someone parking on me and boogering the bird. In one instance, the guy started HOLLERING right before gobble time to screw me up. I assume he was mad he didn't get up early enough to be the first to the gate. In another instance, it was late morning and an older gentleman came sliding into a parking lot, grabbed his gun (i assume loaded) off his passenger seat and tried to race me to a turkey that had just crossed a road. I was in disbelief. Third instance was Saturday morning in Pennsylvania. Had roosted a turkey evening before and saw a black SUV drive by 2x after dark going slow. Well they parked right on me Saturday morning and screwed the hunt all up. I didn't take it kindly and told him exactly what a POS he was.
As a fellow on here likes to say, we just have to adapt and accept that this is the new era of turkey hunting! Isn't it lovely!
[/quote. You hunted 12 states? There is no way.
There is a way. Quite a few folks hunt 10-15 states each spring successfully. My brother killed in 19 one year.
Next time instead of doubting someone consider checking your ignorance before you show it on the internet. Deerhunt also happened to finish his US Slam this season so I'd consider paying attention to what he has to say on this forum instead of questioning it.
Pressure was intense in most of the places I went.
Louisiana and Arkansas were next level. Trucks parked every 200-400 yards on the roads that had turkeys and dipshits with no sense of etiquette or common courtesy were far more abundant than turkeys.
On the public land I hunted and scouted extensively, killing two turkeys, I saw zero hunters and quite a few turkeys.
Turkey hunting really isn't a thing in these parts. I can see 20 to 50 a day easily and the fish and game routinely trap them, kill them and donate the meat to good causes.
They have removed over 20 turkeys from around my house this year and over 100 last year from what I have been told. I asked what they did with them and they told me they kill them and give the meat to charity and homeless shelters. In some counties, in the spring, you are allowed 3 male or visible beard tags and 9 beardless hen tags and 2 either sex in the fall. THat's 14 tags overall.
Went to local celebrity's birthday party last night and met up with a lot of friends/turkey hunters. The story was the same for all. NH, Mass, VT, Maine turkey sightings and encounters were down. Not saying there wasn't any birds or successes. Just overall less birds worked and seen. Most of the crowd I was in have some private land and that is the only saving grace. Public/ common land has been flooded with hunters recently. The hunter numbers have gone up sharply and steadily the last 10 years. Covid years the hunter numbers skyrocketed. The youtube hunters really advertised for turkey hunting and it has been " successful" in getting more people into it. Deerhunt hit it on the nose. It's a game of adaptability and stubbornness now. :z-twocents: Z
When all accept the times have changed and realize that YouTube isn't going anywhere these would be better discussions. The continually whining is getting old. I long ago accepted that quota hunts on public land was going to happen. For a quality public land hunt in Florida it's a no brainer.
I can understand how you guys are feeling when you talk about less turkeys and more hunters, only it is with deer in my area. Deer hunting in my area went from seeing 50 to 100 deer a day to maybe 15 in a hunting season and from 20 or so hunters a season to 50 to 100 hunters a day. Adaptability and a willingness to up your game is paramount in achieving a successful hunt.
The fine old turkey hunter who got me started over fifty years ago said "There aren't enough turkeys for every one, keep your mouth shut". And for the most part, I have. And the fact that most haven't is the root of the problem.
Quote from: silvestris on June 06, 2024, 09:34:20 PMThe fine old turkey hunter who got me started over fifty years ago said "There aren't enough turkeys for every one, keep your mouth shut". And for the most part, I have. And the fact that most haven't is the root of the problem.
That's the way it used to be.
Now a few burn everything to the ground for likes from strange men and we are suppose to not only tolerate it but celebrate it.
No sir. Not happening
Utter ridiculousness. Hunt for you...period
Quote from: silvestris on June 06, 2024, 09:34:20 PMThe fine old turkey hunter who got me started over fifty years ago said "There aren't enough turkeys for every one, keep your mouth shut". And for the most part, I have. And the fact that most haven't is the root of the problem.
Amen. And I very much appreciate your generation that taught the select few of mine whom were willing to listen!
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 06, 2024, 10:49:11 PMQuote from: silvestris on June 06, 2024, 09:34:20 PMThe fine old turkey hunter who got me started over fifty years ago said "There aren't enough turkeys for every one, keep your mouth shut". And for the most part, I have. And the fact that most haven't is the root of the problem.
Amen. And I very much appreciate your generation that taught the select few of mine whom were willing to listen!
Coming from the guy who hunted 12 states in one season chasing the super slam. Apparently it's OK for you but not for anyone else. Seems to me super slammers are a big part of the problem. Nearly all the young hunters I've talked to recently are in the process of obtaining this goal!
Quote from: Paulmyr on June 09, 2024, 12:43:09 PMQuote from: deerhunt1988 on June 06, 2024, 10:49:11 PMQuote from: silvestris on June 06, 2024, 09:34:20 PMThe fine old turkey hunter who got me started over fifty years ago said "There aren't enough turkeys for every one, keep your mouth shut". And for the most part, I have. And the fact that most haven't is the root of the problem.
Amen. And I very much appreciate your generation that taught the select few of mine whom were willing to listen!
Coming from the guy who hunted 12 states in one season chasing the super slam. Apparently it's OK for you but not for anyone else. Seems to me super slammers are a big part of the problem. Nearly all the young hunters I've talked to recently are in the process of obtaining this goal!
I only needed 2 states to complete my super slam. :icon_thumright: Everything in between and after that is bonus. I take at least 2 weeks off each spring to turkey hunt across the US to extend my season. I'm 35 and have been traveling out of state since 2006. I'm not your typical newly traveling "super slammer". Anyone that knows me will vouch folks like me ARE NOT part of the problem. Silvestris taught me to keep my mouth shut when I was still a teenager. Folks NOT keeping their mouths shut is why we are losing turkey hunting opportunities at an alarming rate all across the country. If folks want to travel, that is fine and dandy. They have the right just like me. However this new era of social media has a lot of folks traveling and turkey hunting for the wrong reasons. And many will resort to pathetic levels of desperation to "check" that state off. So yes, I agree. Some of the new super slammers are part of the problem. On the bright side, its more glory seeking YouTubers and traveling hunters for you to have on your podcast!
Everybody you talk to is a super slammer now and they are all trying to trade pins/spots.
Big networks swapping and burning spots.
Loose lips sink ships. I'm just hunting turkeys and trying to be left alone.
Sorry the podcast is no longer because it seemed that's where it was heading and I wasn't OK with it.
Quote from: Paulmyr on June 09, 2024, 02:34:14 PMSorry the podcast is no longer because it seemed that's where it was heading and I wasn't OK with it.
Ill add this, at least those guys are willing to put thier names behind what they say and not hide in anonymity.
I'm still waiting for Shane Simpsons rebuttal that was recorded last year to your Turkey Hunter Podcast episode but it don't look like its coming
Quote from: Paulmyr on June 09, 2024, 10:32:34 PMQuote from: Paulmyr on June 09, 2024, 02:34:14 PMSorry the podcast is no longer because it seemed that's where it was heading and I wasn't OK with it.
Ill add this, at least those guys are willing to put thier names behind what they say and not hide in anonymity.
I'm still waiting for Shane Simpsons rebuttal that was recorded last year to your Turkey Hunter Podcast episode but it don't look like its coming
Hide in anonymity? LOTS of people on this forum know a lot about me. I've used the same handle on forums for the past 20 years. Yeah, I've went on a podcast "anonymous" due to not wanting to cause any tension in my professional career but PLENTY of folks know exactly who I am. A career that is dedicated to ensuring quality public land hunting and bountiful turkey for future generations. Wish all of your podcast guests had the same mind set.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on May 06, 2024, 12:38:03 PMAs a fellow on here likes to say, we just have to adapt and accept that this is the new era of turkey hunting! Isn't it lovely!
That's where I am at with it. It is what it is. I'm not going to stop doing what I love, so the only option is too accept it and adapt.
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Hang on there Mr. Silvestris.......didn't that turkey hunting buddy of yours write a turkey hunting book that sold quite a few copies and likely inspired many young hunters to try to add turkeys to their specialty?? That hardly seems like he was keeping it quiet?? I love the old ways of not telling anyone anything, but those days are over. It will get worse and many of the Johnny Come Lately's will drop off when their bride drops their first child, and they will take up crappie fishing. Y'all just hang tight and don't get the scowers over it. I can't wait for DH88 to have 3 kids;)
Just remember.... When you consume. Like. And subscribe to those pimping the wild turkey you are also a part of the problem. Hunt for yourself. Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
Been hunting SE Mo for the past 32 years, more guys this year than all the others. Arkansas, Miss, Fla, and Ill were some of the vehicle plates I saw. Camps in places there have never been camps, one had 5 vehicles parked.
Quote from: Shiloh on June 10, 2024, 09:09:09 AMHang on there Mr. Silvestris.......didn't that turkey hunting buddy of yours write a turkey hunting book that sold quite a few copies and likely inspired many young hunters to try to add turkeys to their specialty?? That hardly seems like he was keeping it quiet??
Kenny would be sick had he had foreseen what the "sport" would morph into.
I started working on killing one in all 49 states many years ago. I have a business and a family that doesn't allow me to take more than a week or two a year. I could care less at this point whether I finish the "slam". I just wanna take my boys and teach them the right way.
I would imagine many of the younger turkey hunters you see today were introduced to it by fathers who's tarted turkey hunting in the 90's and early 2000's and now they've reached an age where they can go off on their own and just like DH88 started chasing the slam. Seems DH88 might have more in common with them than he thinks. Is it possible he see's what it has become and is trying to distance himself from it by blaming YouTube and social media?
Quote from: Paulmyr on June 10, 2024, 01:33:51 PMI would imagine many of the younger turkey hunters you see today were introduced to it by fathers who's tarted turkey hunting in the 90's and early 2000's and now they've reached an age where they can go off on their own and just like DH88 started chasing the slam. Seems DH88 might have more in common with them than he thinks. Is it possible he see's what it has become and is trying to distance himself from it by blaming YouTube and social media?
I dont believe this to be correct for one minute. The majority of young turkey hunters were taught by friends and the internet.
Not all turkey hunters are after fame and attention. And you will see more anonymity in the future. As hunters lose opportunity to quotas, season changes, non resident restrictions it will be come necessity. While the chest beaters pound away the silent majority will be doing what they can to stay in the spring woods.
We've already seen people wising up over the last couple years and more are coming around to the idea of hunting silently. It's making a circle.
I know two guys who finished their US slam, one just this year. I know they had a lot of fun along the way but one of them mentioned it will be nice to just hunt and enjoy the places. He has a bunch that he would like to re-visit and hunt slower and learn more about. The best part they all mentioned, was the people they met along the way. Every one of them had some great encounters and met some really good people in their journeys.
I won't drink your Kool aid.
Maybe, try TV evangelist, they get to pound their chest, have people circle them and make piles of money spewing their crap.
Nobody really sees it, until the photos of the prostitutes. Then half will still ignore the prostitutes.
Quote from: WV Flopper on June 10, 2024, 06:56:13 PMI won't drink your Kool aid.
Maybe, try TV evangelist, they get to pound their chest, have people circle them and make piles of money spewing their crap.
Nobody really sees it, until the photos of the prostitutes. Then half will still ignore the prostitutes.
Exactly.....and the tv evangelist are the social media / YouTubers pimping out wild turkeys. Perfect analogy!
Exactly the problem, your 180 degrees off.
Its people trying to stop hunter involvement and recruitment. It's people with their sky is fallen and You Tube put the whole in the atmosphere. It's "State" tourism departments poning up money to show case their state. Is State DNR yearly showing their kills.
With all the sky is falling, alot of states are seeing above 5 years average harvests and some record harvest numbers for this year.
Many states are crying and complaining about license sales declining and having been in decline. How do these DNR's operate.... You don't think their promotions aren't seen?
Keep pounding your chest, less are hearing it.
States themselves are to blame more than any. Some states are figuring that out and back peddling.
Naw....you nailed the social media types.
Glad I never worked for state DNR or turkey hunted for 30 + years....still trying to get a handle
Kinda surprised to see some of you guys bashing DH88 for what he has accomplished. I have known him since he was a kid starting out only through forum,PM's and text. Him and his dad started traveling and hunting and doing really well! I have never heard him post or talk much about his quest. He now works for our game and fish to help with our turkeys and I think he has grown into a really fine youg man! I feel blessed to have received a text and pics from his last two birds! Congrats to you as I always called you on our old site, Turkeyhunt1988!
I seen alot of people out enjoying the early spring we had this year. I would say overall i seen more pressure on public and private this year than in the past (except 2020). I don't know the fix for the crowding except it will eventually work itself out. If it turns to big money and leases the public will be so crowded that it would have to go to a lottery draw for safety reasons and harvest management.
Quote from: arkrem870 on June 10, 2024, 08:09:31 PMNaw....you nailed the social media types.
Glad I never worked for state DNR or turkey hunted for 30 + years....still trying to get a handle
After 30 years of being an electrician I learn things daily. I evolve in my job, I adapt in my job. I am not always right. But! I learn from my short comings.
You Sir, are stuck on your agenda and too blind to see it! Possibly don't want to admit to the sinking ships and 30 years in the department?