I live in AR and I know the population is down, but dang. I've been out only 3 mornings have heard zero gobbles. I don't have premium places to hunt, but 4 years ago I'd at least hear some birds. I don't consider myself to be a great hunter, but I'd at least like to hear the birds on the roost. I know some real killers that are even having slow years. The population has really dropped off the last 3 years and I fear I won't have any birds to hunt when my daughter gets of age.
Anyhow, you fellow Arkansans having any luck? Or non-residents for that matter?
I hunt some Deltic Timber land just South of Petit Jean Mtn if you know where that is. I have had a couple good mornings. One where a brother and I hunted a gobbling bird from daylight until 10:30 when he drifted off of our property with hens. Later that same day, my brother and I called up a longbeard and he was able to kill it. The next morning I got on a turkey at first light and killed him at 6:30! Very fortunate hunt. I haven't heard a gobble since. The gobblers are few and they are really henned up here. Keep trying, the hens have to nest soon.
My good hunting buddy filled his two tags the first weekend, and has taken 2 of our other friends and called in a bird for each.
I'm glad to see some people are breaking some necks. We've lost a lot of birds in central AR. I'm not so sure they're henned up around here b/c even those birds gobble on roost a few times.
Btw Slayer, how do I get on that "buddy" list? :)
My daughter killed a bird on the youth hunt. Last Monday I was hunting with the U of A baseball coach and had a bird coming in for him, but dogs messed that hunt up. I haven't been out here since. I am going to be guiding in MO this coming weekend. I hope to get out again before season's over!