Here is a question that I have wondered about lately and get different answers from different people. On my home farm of 70 acres we have a pretty decent flock of 40 or so birds that tend to use our place a very good deal through the spring, or at least they usually do. Last year there were hardly any birds here at all. 3 hens and one gobbler was all we saw all through our entire season. I have hunted for the past 7 seasons and there have always been birds down here, with the exception of last year. I've been seeing a good flock this spring with 3 nice gobblers around 10 jakes and 30 or so hens. I saw them all a week and a half ago. Since then I've seen one hen and have no trail camera pictures of them.. Now I know birds will travel but I guess the thought of not seeing the flock I've been watching all winter this spring has just got me a little worried about it. What kind of travel variations do you guys observe and have you all ever had a year where there just weren't any birds like I had last year. What are you guys opinions?
Whats your coyote population like?
In my opinion around this farm it's not that bad compared to other areas I hunt
I have watched for close to 15 years the turkey population on my farm increase from 6-8 birds to close to 100 or more in flocks. I have them all over my farm during deer season and all summer. My farm is near a large agricultural farming operation and as those guys begin to get fields ready to be planted first of April the turkeys almost follow the plows so to speak. In 15 years I have never seen or captured any trail cam pics of a single turkey on my farm during turkey season. They make it back to raise their poults in mid to late summer. So frustrating. I have tried everything to keep them there to no avail.
Sure that isn't the response you were hoping for but is what I have lived through over the years... :angry9:
All responses are appreciated! I feel as if I'm in a different situation though! I've harvested a bird or two off this farm in the past 7 years the only year I didn't kill any as stated was last year because they simply were not here. I'm not anywhere near any agricultural fields at all! We feed our cattle a mix of grain and the turkeys love what the cows give back! I'm not far from a major lake. The birds will use the lake land but after a little pressure is put on it they tend to steer clear.
Your problem is likely caused by some change in either your's or your neighbor's habitat or bait.
Had thought the same thing about discovering a neighbor had some logging done. After not seeing any last year. But after seeing them all winter again this year and all up to a week and a half ago it made me think that might not have been it after all. Last year it was like they had literally all but they very few I mentioned, vanished into thin air.
Just a theory:
In the winter they group up into the large winter flocks, they will stay close to a reliable food source........your cattle and the feed that you provide them.
Hens need nesting cover in the spring and will likely migrate to it, the tom's will follow. Yes, they still need the food, but it is much more readily available from multiple sources in the spring.
With that said, I've got a place that I hunt in IL that typically has several toms hanging around. On a few odd years the birds haven't been there, but usually it's just a portion of the season.
The hens look for good nesting habit for spring and the rest of the turkey year is more about food. Birds will move around to find what they like.
So is my best option trying to figure out what has changed and try to readjust my habitat to what it was in the years prior when birds seemed to stick around a lot more?
Quote from: C.Kimzey95 on March 30, 2016, 07:27:51 AM
So is my best option trying to figure out what has changed and try to readjust my habitat to what it was in the years prior when birds seemed to stick around a lot more?
Exactly. You can't easily change neighboring property, but you can manage your property to make it more attractive. I would concentrate on insect producing plantings as opposed to killing fields. More poults = more opportunities.
Do you know where they went?? Maybe if you find them on a near by property you can compare what they have that you dont.. I'm thinking spring cover (nesting) or better spring food sources. I know turkeys in the winter generally hang near cattle farms but prefer ag, creek bottoms, oak ridges near swamps.
Whats your farm like, pine, oak, brush, pasture, brush fields, mowed fields. They tend to like cover in the fall winter and more open places in the spring.
The thing that's stumping me is we haven't really done anything to change it. We have the same
Food plots we plant for deer(clover, winter wheat, and a little alfalfa). We haven't had any land logged or anything. I checked trail cameras this morning and had one picture of one hen and she happens to be out in our front pasture right now. She is just causally feeding along. The way this farm lays out it is one great big hollow with 4 or 5 other smaller hollows feeding into it. About 40 percent pasture/green fields. 60 percent hardwoods and big ridges with a creek that cuts the main hollow in half.. Very hilly country. Not many pines with a good mix of open timber and thicker cover. As for where they went. I can't seem to figure it out.
My bet is on a neighbor planting a new food plot, AKA corn pile. Big changes in nearby habitat can cause a profound change in a flock, but I'm still betting on a neighbor baiting in a big way. Don't know about your relationship with the local warden, but I'd be calling him.
It definitely would not surprise me if one of he guys who hunts one of the bordering farms was doing it. Had some trouble out of him in the past in deer season. Never knew of him turkey hunting but that could've always changed. But again with our cattle eating a mixture of grains and then releasing a lot of them back out there is no shortage of food here.
I've seen birds abandon a previously popular area after just one bad (flooded) nesting season.
Quote from: C.Kimzey95 on March 30, 2016, 10:50:17 AM
It definitely would not surprise me if one of he guys who hunts one of the bordering farms was doing it. Had some trouble out of him in the past in deer season. Never knew of him turkey hunting but that could've always changed. But again with our cattle eating a mixture of grains and then releasing a lot of them back out there is no shortage of food here.
It might well be something else, but a big bait pile beats a good food supply almost every time. It would make all kinds of sense for a guy who isn't into turkey hunting but sees them during deer season to put out a pile of bait to kill a couple of birds. Baiting seems almost accepted by many deer hunters even in states where it is illegal. That said, the bait will become less important to the birds as the spring wears on. Eventually the birds will disperse again, and the gobblers will travel trying to find hens.
What do y'all make of the lone hen I have seen while not seeing the rest? Is she nesting or what? Though I've been turkey hunt a while I still am not great with the biological aspect of it and the breeding cycle and whatnot.
Quote from: C.Kimzey95 on March 30, 2016, 10:27:48 AM
The thing that's stumping me is we haven't really done anything to change it. We have the same
Food plots we plant for deer(clover, winter wheat, and a little alfalfa). We haven't had any land logged or anything. I checked trail cameras this morning and had one picture of one hen and she happens to be out in our front pasture right now. She is just causally feeding along. The way this farm lays out it is one great big hollow with 4 or 5 other smaller hollows feeding into it. About 40 percent pasture/green fields. 60 percent hardwoods and big ridges with a creek that cuts the main hollow in half.. Very hilly country. Not many pines with a good mix of open timber and thicker cover. As for where they went. I can't seem to figure it out.
That is ODD since I would draw your place up if someone asked for turkey habitat. When does your season start? maybe they will be back through and are just moving around a little right now
Starts Saturday! And I am hoping you are correct. The farm has produced some dandy birds. 6 of the last 8 killed off of it have been multiple bearded birds. 1 being a triple beard with nearly 28" of beard.
That lone hen could be a lot of things. The later in the season, the more common lone hens are since they don't want company around a nest. This time of year it could be anything from a random hen split from her group by a predator to a hen running off to lay.
I wouldn't worry too much, but I would mention it to the warden in case someone nearby is cheating. If it's a bait situation, you might have a slow time early, but it should pick up later in the season. If it's a true shift due to habitat, you'll know it soon enough.
I agree the turkeys are moving to find food and a better nesting place. This all happens as the winter flocks start busting up.
My one has turned to two this afternoon! Thanka to all for your responses.
My first thought is that 70 acres ain't much land. That flock could easily be moving around the area in their general movement patterns and be on or off that 70 acres at any given time. Have you been out listening at first light in the mornings, not only on your property, but also listening for birds gobbling on adjacent properties? Unless that bunch of birds is traveling really long distances, you should be able to find out where they are just by listening for them in the early morning hours.
If you cannot hear them from your property, and assuming there are some public roads that run through the area, you should drive some of those roads at first light and stop and listen for gobbling and use a locator call. Doing that, you will find those birds eventually, and then you can take a look at the area they are roosting/staying in and try to figure out what is different about that place as compared to your own property.
If you determine that the flock is staying within calling distance of your property, there are no rules against trying to call those birds onto your place. Sometimes gobblers will come a long ways to a turkey call if they are in the mood.
I agree gobblenut not as big as a few other places I hunt however I love walking out the front door in the morning and hearing them sound off! And yes I have 2 different mornings this week with nothing to show for it. And I need to do that (the driving a few roads part). But with season starting in two days I need to focus a little more solely on other properties I believe. I hope and kinda of think you are right about it just being general turkey movement. However we usually don't go this long without seeing them and that's what I don't like about it.
I have a 100 acer piece of property that is excellent turkey habitat 20acer field with milo planted in it and a five acer clover field and some of the best hardwood/pine mix and in the middle of that is about a 10 acer regrowth that is about ten years old and thick(great for nesting) have pics of a flock of 3gobblers and 15 hens,maybe 2 or 3 days out of the week they disappear. my trail cam pics of one gobbler shows he has white tips on his fan. I got the same turkeys on camera about 2 miles away from my property on my uncles property. so I know they move around and quite often
Coyotes can bump and entire drove of Turkeys to another block but being that you say your population is low I will add this story:
I do some consulting work and one of my clients was experiencing an exact similar situation. I walked the property and found very little Turkey sign but perfect habitat. Like you he had always had a good flock until 2 years ago.
I was researching the surrounding properties to see if anything had changed , nothing had.
He calls me yesterday and says he found the problem. He had donned his ghillie suit and gone sneaking around the other acreages, which I don't advise.
About 1/4 mile from his land he began finding massive amounts of Turkey sign and then found the reason.
Two different small food plots were completely covered in scattered corn. He estimated at least 800 lbs per 1 acre plot.. He called the local Warden and showed him the bait. Upon walking back the Warden said he wanted to take another look at the furthest bait.
Shortly after the Warden text him at around 5pm saying he was easing up to the plot and noticed a hen turkey standing right in the corn. The hen didn't move. He pulled out his binos and glassed the hen which turned out to be a decoy. Shortly after he noticed movement in the woods and noticed a man against a tree.
He yelled for the man to come out.. Turns out it was a fellow who had served on the Board of Directors for our DNR for over 20 years!! Problem solved and a true story.
Sorry for long read.
I can definitely see that being a problem! And a possibility. And here is a question that may not make any sense but if turkeys will move to find better nesting areas in the spring, Why are a couple hens returning to my property to what I assume is go to nest? Why do the rest not view it as these two do? Could that be potential baiting pulling them away or what? I don't think they've been bumped or are just lost because they are hanging around. One for the last 4 days the other for the past 3.