I have a trip planned for New York/Penn during the second week of May. However this crazy spring weather has me thinking I should maybe push it back a week. I've hunted 5 states in the southeast/midwest this spring and birds have been 'behind schedule' in all of them. Really late green up, behind almost as much as 2 weeks in some areas. This can lead to some difficult hunting with bare woods and henned up birds. I know the northeast has not had a normal spring either, so what are you guys currently observing? Do you think the 3rd week of your season (May 12-20) will be better than the second week? I'll be hunting public land. One advantage I'd have is that i'd be able to hunt afternoons in Penn if I push my trip back. Thoughts? Any input would be appreciated.
I am in central southeastern NH and we are 10 days to 2 weeks behind for sure. They are still flocked up in a few areas. I just started seeing lone strutters this past weekend. Al Baker
I am in Connecticut and we are probally 10 days to 2 weeks behind in terms of green up as well. The woods are bare still. The maples are starting to bud but no green yet just the red tinge. I hunt CT, RI, and NY and always have better luck latter in the year anyway. On a normal year the birds are usually henned up the first week or 2.
I live 5 miles from Killington and watched a tom breed a hen two weeks ago on snow. Flocks are broken up now too. I don't think the late spring will factor into whether or not I fill my VT and NY tags. Foliage is behind for sure. Late season hunting is ALWAYS the best though. I get more excited for the last week than I do the first.
I don't think they're behind schedule anymore. Least not much.
Never really worried about it. All that has ever mattered to me is what the particular turkey I am dealing with is doing. I just find a bird and try to figure out what his mood is and use that to my advantage. Sometimes I think we worry over analyze stuff instead of dealing with the obvious. Not every tom is on the same schedule or in the same mood.
I think the green up is further behind then the birds but come whenever works best for you
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We went out for youth day in zone 6b in Pennsylvania and it was really different this year, although we heard plenty of gobbles we couldn't call any in or even get one of these toms to answer us. Although there's multiple factors to attribute this to, I blame it on the very late spring we are having around here. But that means in two weeks or so it should be getting pretty good.
Couple hours north of 35Mag in VT, saw a hen being bred almost 4 weeks ago. Yes, green up is behind as we only just lost our snow this weekend, but doesn't seem to affect them. Only flocks I've seen recently are at the local turkey farm.
Push it back and knock out 2 states while you're up there that far.
Central pa is looking good. Buddy took his son last Saturday and had luck. Been seeing and hearing birds regular. Green up is like it used to be. Just starting.
Birds in CT and MA are definitely behind by a few weeks. The winter flocks are just breaking up. Tom's are quiet as soon as they hit the ground. The woods are wide open. That said I would not change your plans. I'm sure things will be in full swing in NY by the second week of May. Day length is the primary driver of breeding season. The birds are ready to go... they just need some high pressure and and a few days of nice weather and they will go OFF! Good luck!
We're definitely behind this year....and more behind than I can ever remember. I think the hunting will be fine though.
Just started seeing lone toms cruising yesterday. Hens still are acting cold around here.
It's always interesting to me to read stuff like this with all you guys talking about being behind with spring greenup and snow on the ground and I sit here in north GA and see most trees have their leaves and I noticed this morning that my dogwoods have lost their white and now have leaves and my grass is getting greener and fuller by the day.
Some of yall have snow and I've already cut my grass 3 or 4 times. Some seasons are just now starting and ours only has a little over 2 weeks left.
I'm in Maine, and I would certainly say our birds are running late. Part of that, for my particular property, is that the rain combined with winter melt floods a serious portion of the low areas. Until that flooding has come and gone, they don't seem to get into the full swing of things. I'm not a biologist but I'd be guessing the nesting areas just need to dry out more before these birds get down to business.
The flock/s that tend to move up the creek and through my field (and adjacent fields) haven't even shown up this year. That's not necessarily the best barometer for Turkey hunting, but my area is very heavily populated with birds--and the last week or so of April into the first week of May is often a busy time for them. They are noticeably absent right now. If you're coming North (although I hardly think of PA as "North" :goofball: ) I would push that trip back at least one weekend.
Cheers,
Jimmy
I'm up here in Maine as well. Just got back in scouting a couple properties that I hunt this morning. Rainy morning that tapered off into light drizzle. Birds didn't fly down until 6:30 or so and were silent. Still flocked up on 2 properties. Checked one last property at 8:00 am and found a lone gobbler cruising a powerline. I got him fired up with some yelps off a box. Going to take my friend in Monday morning on the opener and try to kill him. The last week driving along I-95 I've seen flocks and single gobblers cruising, seems to be a mix everywhere. Forecast is rain showers right through next Monday, then clear weather for the rest of the week. They should go off after that.
Quote from: GuideGun on April 26, 2018, 10:25:38 AM
...Forecast is rain showers right through next Monday, then clear weather for the rest of the week. They should go off after that.
Agreed. I have friends coming up to hunt the weekend of the 19th-20th, but I'm hoping to have tagged out by then. Once this rain (and subsequent flooding) moves out, I think it'll be go time...
Good luck out there
I am seeing the same here. Saw 6-8 longbeards together last night and 2 lone gobblers the day before. I am hoping youth weekend will be good for my princess.
Days are getting longer breeding is going to happen. I just think your food sources have changed considering its taking longer for things like the fields and woods to start greening. I haven't seen the birds buggin' on the fire roads like normal. This warm spell next week will change the woods.
I'm with Will on this one. One week of nice warm temps (especially after this rain) we're having...that'll be the answer.