This was taken on January 12.
Checked the camera yesterday, and not one turkey has shown up in 2 weeks....we are on a small 150 acre camp and the same thing has happened for about 4-5 years now...we are going to have to start managing our birds more.
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Turkeys have different patterns for different seasons. The are in winter flocks when that pic was taken and their primary motivation is food. Once they break up and it gets close to spring , the hens move to areas that are close to preferred nesting areas as breeding season gets close. Of course the boys will follow the girls. You still should have a few birds around though. Another possibility is that your neighbors are baiting now and they shift there because of the area and availability of food. These are just a few of my thoughts.
have you listened and scouted for them, they might not be using the feeder now that green up is occurring and they can find food
Baiting is illegal where I hunt... So we don't run in to this, but are you trying to improve your habitat for the bird. Planting not only food plots but trees & shrubs, openings making cuts for nesting and such. Don't know where you located but on the farm we have birds all winter in numbers, soon as the snow breaks and spring makes it's way / daylight length increase these bird leave. Best count I had this year over winter was 83 birds, that is now down to a group of 7 hens & 3 toms and seeing 2 other lone toms with a few hens and a jake group of 15... but they are not coming up to the feed lot any longer, fresh green growth is showing up in the valleys and trees are budding.
MK M GOBL
one of the best things I have done to my property is hinge cutting. It also helped when your neighbor clear cuts almost all of his property.
It's hard to hold birds in any area. They don't have property lines. They go where there needs are met.
They travel were they have the the best food cover and water for breeding..they always have a winter / spring breeding area. You don't have a big enough place to contain the birds in 150 ac. You still will see a hen every so often...
Quote from: TauntoHawk on March 31, 2016, 10:51:38 AM
have you listened and scouted for them, they might not be using the feeder now that green up is occurring and they can find food
Been out there on numerous occasions. Last time I heard/saw any sign was roughly 2 weeks ago. The group had dwindled down to 2 different birds. Feeder has been off now for several days.
Like I said, I am going to invest as much time and money as possible next year into food plots, hinge cutting, and winter food sources (feeders/food plots) to hold as many birds as possible. The property around us is timber company land. The biggest amount is not good for turkey...going to use that to my advantage
It is my understanding that birds will move for nesting habitat and food sources...
Poults need protein, so areas with high insect production are sought after, and good nesting habitat is important. No insect production, no adequate nesting cover, no spring turkeys.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7282.html
Im sure that's real frustrating
That's certainly tough, my uncle's place in PA the last 10years was terrible sprung habitat and we had some really bad years like not a gobble heard bad. Had is select cut just a few years ago and it's finally getting some growth in the woods again. Last I found several groups of jakes in the area but no long beards. Hoping that one more year will help. Fortunately I have other real good places and spend my time there but always make at least one trip to hunt with family
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