https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sp...ns/3078773001/
Thanks NWTF and YouTube rock stars.
Interesting article.
Link appears broken, this worked for me:
https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/outdoors/sportsmans-paradise/2020/05/04/covid-19-could-negatively-affect-eastern-wild-turkey-populations/3078773001/ (https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/outdoors/sportsmans-paradise/2020/05/04/covid-19-could-negatively-affect-eastern-wild-turkey-populations/3078773001/)
Bad timing for the virus from a turkeys perspective without question.
I've been working 5 days a week, so don't blame me.
I did see probably twice as many people in the woods in La this spring, but as usual I heard no shots while I was hunting. I think there's more turkey spooking than turkey killing going on in La. Not sure I'd believe the 15% increase La has a very poor system of keeping track of kill numbers. I was checked by Wardens more often this spring also and 3 told me they had not checked a dead turkey or seen a hunter with a used tag while checking? I'd bet most of the "extra" kills were by part time deer hunters hunting over food plots or corn feeders on private deer leases.
According to telecheck results, both Georgia and Alabama saw a big increase in harvest numbers, and Georgia is still open another 9 days.
I know I heard a lot more Hootie Hoo's and road yelpers this year. Plus a lot more people hunting during the week. I agree, with the NWTF and social media, turkeys face an uphill battle.
"More hunters means an increased likelihood of disturbing a hen on the nest." We've been told we shouldn't be hunting them too early. Remember, it disrupts breeding... And now we're learning we shouldn't be hunting them later once they are nesting, at least not where there might be lots of hunters (think most public lands). :z-dizzy:
I'm sure a lot more people have hunted this year than pass years. Public and Private
Definitely a lot more people spooking turkeys on NF here in Va. Hunters and hikers, some from out of state.
It was pretty bad for the first two weeks. Pretty much back to normal now.
I would guestimate 10 fold hunting pressure...
I know of several duck hunters that decided to give it a try... Couple of my neighbors were asking about equipment and gear...
One ranch I hunt, I generally hear a couple shots per season on neighboring properties.... Sounded more like dove season on the opener this year.
Heard lots of double and triple shots (three shots generally means the bird got away to me).... Birds on public and private were not as eager to finish to a call.
I doubt it effected the turkey populations much though... Too many areas the birds are safe or inaccessible... I give more credit (or blame) to the weather for turkey breeding conditions to the rise or fall of turkey populations in my neck of the woods
Weekend warriors are out every day of the week now. Heard of more shooting "accidents" this year. One boy lost his life. La is correct about turkey spooking. Gun hunters are always running around chasing gobbling about 30 seconds after fly down. Waiting to compare turkey harvest to last year when seasons finish.
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Certainly saw more people this year than in past times. One spot I went to during mid week, where I have never seen another hunter, had two vehicles and a tent, the alternative spot I had picked also had a vehicle. The other public spot I visited also had mid week hunters but it seems about the normal number I usually see, although they were in a different area than usual see then parked.
I'd guess around 25 to 30% higher number of hunters seen this season.
I'm pretty sure Georgia ran out of gobblers yesterday since it seems like the whole state killed their limit this spring.
Definitely saw more people during the week here in LA, but of the whole season I didn't see 1 person outside their vehicle in the woods. Just riding roads and calling frok their truck.
Quote from: fallhnt on May 07, 2020, 09:17:09 AM
Weekend warriors are out every day of the week now. Heard of more shooting "accidents" this year. One boy lost his life. La is correct about turkey spooking. Gun hunters are always running around chasing gobbling about 30 seconds after fly down. Waiting to compare turkey harvest to last year when seasons finish.
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I was taught "There are no hunting accidents, only hunting incidents"
Quote from: Tomfoolery on May 07, 2020, 03:07:48 PM
Definitely saw more people during the week here in LA, but of the whole season I didn't see 1 person outside their vehicle in the woods. Just riding roads and calling frok their truck.
Yep that's La for you. I got over on the drive-arounders this year I parked on a culvert you couldn't get around so the road became walk-in only lol. It was 300 yards to the end of the road and a no vehicles beyond this point sign and I bet 50 people tried to drive by me. Someone even called the game warden and they left a warning note on my truck. I guess they were so mad they couldn't drive to the end of the road and squawk on a box call. Anybody with legs could have walked the 300 yards but not in La.
Quote from: LaLongbeard on May 07, 2020, 07:56:41 PM
Quote from: Tomfoolery on May 07, 2020, 03:07:48 PM
Definitely saw more people during the week here in LA, but of the whole season I didn't see 1 person outside their vehicle in the woods. Just riding roads and calling frok their truck.
Yep that's La for you. I got over on the drive-arounders this year I parked on a culvert you couldn't get around so the road became walk-in only lol. It was 300 yards to the end of the road and a no vehicles beyond this point sign and I bet 50 people tried to drive by me. Someone even called the game warden and they left a warning note on my truck. I guess they were so mad they couldn't drive to the end of the road and squawk on a box call. Anybody with legs could have walked the 300 yards but not in La.
LOL! We must have encountered the same road rager. Did the same, parked on a trail that was only a few hundred yards long, but didn't walk down said trail. Walked down the main road a couple hundred yards before going off in the woods to a bird I had found the day before. Got back to the truck with a nasty note on the windshield "DON'T BLOCK THE ROAD, NEXT TIME I'LL MOVE IT MYSELF!!" My cousin was also hunting another spot on a different wma, dead end logging road. He had 4 different birds gobbling from 2 different directions, someone drove past his truck and was driving up to him in the logging road, he jumps out waves his hat and jumped back into the woods. The truck stops, kills his engine, then cranks up and turns around making all kinds of racket. As soon as his tail lights disappeared 3 toms step out on the trail, he killed 1. It was a miricle lol.