Got off the phone with a friend who lives near my turkey camp in Cobelskill NY. He claims he still has 18 inches or so of snow on his south facing deck. He says not to expect much in NY this year. A month ago they got 39", and two or 3 other storms dumping18 to 20 inches each. How can they survive not coming down out of the trees for a month. Maybe I'm wrong but birds live in worst wintering areas than NY. My brother lives in Rangley Maine and it is filthy with birds up there. Only a short hop to Canada. Just wondering what other Newyorkers are seeing and thinking.
It's region dependent.... I'm in Tioga county and there's hardly any snow cover at my camp.. The birds are pretty Hardy... they're thriving up in Maine where they get lots more snow...they find a way
My job puts me in Cooperstown 4 days a week and I wander as far as Sharon Springs . I've seen a ton of turkey's this spring in those areas so I wouldn't worry. Yes there's snow in the woods but thankfully the hills are opening up and the birds are there.
Little bit of snow still here in West Winfield, birds are strutting some, not gobbling much yet. Still flocked up for the most part, but im starting to see some smaller groups of birds. One things for sure, no early spring this year. Numbers look decent in my area for this year, id say about the same as last year IMO. There were a lot of jakes last year so hopefully there should be some love sick 2yr olds running around this spring.
Low 50s here in NW, PA...Finally!! Still small patches of snow in the shaded spots, but I saw turkey vultures for the first time this year, saw spring is apparently in the air!
I heard reports that there are birds all over strutting & gobbling up that way. Mike
They will find something on the south facing hills, thats the first place to melt off. Where deer or live stock have moved some of the snow around. Other wise they may move into town under people bird feeders. Turkey are big birds but resourceful.
No snow really left on the ground here in my area of the Finger Lakes, though it is spitting a bit this morning but I don't believe for a second it will accumulate. It is supposed to get to 59 here on Wednesday then cool down a bit.
This is encouraging, thanks for the info. Now I'll be able to sleep better.
Spitting snow in Missouri right now,crazy .
I don't know how they do it but they always seem to pull through the tough winter's. Sometimes a bit lighter
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I am kinda glad it is colder this year, they normally seem to breed more in late April around here than in May, or at least I have seen them strut more in April than in May. (For those that may not know May 1-31 is the season here) When I hunted 2 years ago there is no doubt in my mind they bred more in Late April than May, it was a pretty dead season that year.
Quote from: LI Outdoorsman on April 01, 2018, 08:30:41 AM
It's region dependent.... I'm in Tioga county and there's hardly any snow cover at my camp.. The birds are pretty Hardy... they're thriving up in Maine where they get lots more snow...they find a way
True. I'm in north eastern VT, and there are def some areas that lots of snow. They do what they need to do to survive. What gets me a more are those days, sometimes a week or more of stupid cold. Highs of -2. Not sure how any animal, let alone a turkey handles that.
A co-worker was driving in South Canada known as the town of Richford. Showed me a pic of a hen being bred that was in his way, and this was the week before last. >:(. Our season is also May 1-31.
I'm maybe a minute from Orange Co NY. There is still snow on the mountains and the birds seem scarce still. As I type this they're forecasting another storm and I t's snowing again. They're saying 6-8".
Bowguy is right! I live in Monroe- Orange County NY and right now as I type, there is a good 3 inches of snow down. Maybe 3 more inches to go before it stops around 2pm or so. I was out yesterday for my 1st pre-Dawn Scouting trip in Orange County. Plenty of Gobbling on the State Land where I was!!! Heard so many hens as well. Huge flock when they were down and the Jake's were vocal as well with kee-kee-runs. Looks like the Turkeys faired well after these 4 Nor-Easters in March. Scouted Waywayanda State Park in New Jersey last week. Just over the Orange County line. Still deep snow there. One writer here said Maine turkeys are doing well. Google -- NEW BRUNSWICK-- CANADA. Wild Turkeys have crossed over from Maine and are thriving. I think NWTF there is trying to get a Spring season up as there are plenty of wild turkeys in New Brunswick.
Yesterday the ground was bare in CT. Woke to heavy snow. 4 to 6"
Spitting here in Kittery Maine. No snow on the ground except snow banks. Southeastern NH at home has a few patches in the thick woods. Birds were out a bit this weekend. Saw 2 big strutters and one jake following a hen. They are getting anxious I think. Al Baker