N.Y. Fall season reduced

[turkaholic]

I went to order my NY license and discovered that the season went from nearly 2 months to only 2 weeks. I am glad the state has realized how bad the turkey population has gotten. I am not sure this will help though. There are not that many fall hunters out there, let alone there are not that many successful hunters. I don't ever see anyone fall hunting where I hunt outside of Cobelskill. Something is better than nothing, kudo's to them. I am not sure what I will do with the camp that I rent for the season, maybe take up coyote hunting, plenty of those dogs around. I can't help but wonder how this spring will be after the worst season I have seen in over 30 years of dedicated hunting.

[callmakerman]

Not sure that I agree or not with the season length. I do not believe hunter pressure is the problem for the birds. We hunt parts of three or four counties and never see another turkey hunter.  I work in Otsego Co. and have seen plenty of nice flocks in the last few weeks so it looks like a good hatch at least in that area. I also see the DEC messing with the spring season before they are done.

[BABS9]

The problem is the deer hunters who see turkeys while in the stand and just shoot whatever they see most of the time being hens. I'm glad they shortened the season and only one bird is good. Im sure it will help a little but they should only allow bearded turkeys to be shot like in the spring. They are messing with just about everything. These deer regs suck too. Im in 9a. Don't know if its true but i heard if what they implemented this year doesn't pan out how they want they're going to go to earn a buck.

[turkaholic]

There is a lot of info on their web site. They are radio tracking hens to get more data. I wish I could put my finger on the problem. I know it's not over hunting. I know there are more predators eating them now ,than before. I know that the past few springs have been kind to them as far as the weather. I also know the have just been through the worst winter in a long time. I also have seen on many occasions coyotes coming to turkey calls, mostly in spring. I have not seen any evidence of kills anywhere. Turkey feathers last for quite some time in the woods. I also know NY is just one state that's loosing turkeys. My home in CT has also seen a great reduction in numbers. Bums me out to the max!

[callmakerman]

Well I do not deer hunt any more so cutting the fall season is a real bummer for me and I hope they leave the spring alone. My area in Oneida Co. has had more than it's share of rain the last 5 years in the spring so I know that is a big factor around here. My state land piece flooded 3x one spring which really wiped out any nesting and yes the nest robbers have had their share as well. Lets hope the birds I'm seeing is the start of a turn around.

[chcltlabz]

You can't control the weather, and you can't do much to effect the predators on a wide scale.

What you can control is hunter pressure, so be happy they are doing something before the birds are gone.

[fallhnt]

Sorry to hear about your fall season. I've always wanted to hunt in the fall with a dog. Sounds like you may be traveling to get your fall fix. Hope the state is basing the change on real biology and not bar room biology. My state ,IL, has always had a 9 day gun season but a 3 plus month archery season. The public land I hunt in the fall has good habitat so getting birds with both weapons is the norm. I also travel to MO. and do well there. Good luck.

[turkaholic]

I don't believe that hunting pressure is the cause of the decline in the turkey population in the area I hunt. I hardly see anyone in spring and very few archery deer hunters in fall. I have never seen any fall turkey hunters in my area's. I think the state is reacting to the obvious, lack of survival in young turkeys. First it's fall next will be spring. What ever works, it's about the future of the stock. I hope they get it right.

[chcltlabz]

Unfortunately, until they teach turkeys to use umbrellas, this is the only thing they can effectively do to help the situation.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

I know a lot of NY guys who hammer the birds in the fall.

The bottom line is that NY has become a mere relic of what it was even 5 years ago.  The state cannot control the weather, and they cannot do anything to incentivize more people to trap.  What they can and needed to do 2 years ago was reduce the hen harvest in the fall and simultaneously shorten the season.
Dead hens don't lay eggs and NY needs to be as aggressive as possible to stop this catastrophic decline.  Id be thrilled if they totally suspended the fall season indefinitely.

[Dearhunter3450]

 :newmasco

I know a lot of NY guys who hammer the birds in the fall.

The bottom line is that NY has become a mere relic of what it was even 5 years ago.  The state cannot control the weather, and they cannot do anything to incentivize more people to trap.  What they can and needed to do 2 years ago was reduce the hen harvest in the fall and simultaneously shorten the season.
Dead hens don't lay eggs and NY needs to be as aggressive as possible to stop this catastrophic decline.  Id be thrilled if they totally suspended the fall season indefinitely.

X2

[mikejd]

I believe the only problem is predation. The 2 week fall is good because it may keep deer hunters from just taking a bird because they come by. I rarely see anyone fall turkey hunting. We had wet springs before the boom in population of the late 90's so everyone always saying wet springs is the culprit cant be that. What I will say is that when I first started turkey hunting I never saw a coyote and I used to see rabbits as well. Now I see a coyote almost every day afield and I haven't seen a rabbit in years. Doubt the rain washed the rabbits away.