OldGobbler

OG Gear Store
Sum Toy
Dave Smith
Wood Haven
North Mountain Gear
North Mountain Gear
turkeys for tomorrow

News:

registration is free , easy and welcomed !!!

Main Menu

Controlled burn affect on turkeys

Started by Big Guy, May 04, 2020, 12:55:08 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

Big Guy

So my uncle did a controlled burn about 2 weeks ago on 60 acres (about 170 acre property).  It's almost all wildflowers and grassland.  The turkeys will roost on neighbors property and fly down onto his to strut and feed in morning and afternoon.

So I'm just curious how this might affect they turkeys behavior.  (I know it's impossible to predict turkey behavior)  it'll be about a month between the burn and when I'll be there

Muzzy61

I've always had good luck after a burn.
Print by Madison Cline, on Flickr

Spitten and drummen

Turkeys absolutley love burns. I love scouting National Forest and finding them. I have killed gobblers in them with places still smoldering. They love all those burnt crispy critters thats in there.
" RANGERS LEAD THE WAY"
"QUEEN OF BATTLE FOLLOW ME " ~ INFANTRY
"DEATH FROM ABOVE " ~ AIRBORNE

redjones

Like it was mentioned,I have seen Turkeys on burns that were still smoldering.
It uncovers lots of forage like acorns,grubs,worms and other insects.
Only issue with trying to hunt them is there's usually not much cover left and the soot will cover everything it touches.

         Greg
Semper Fi

bbcoach

#4
Controlled burns are Great for all wildlife.  When the forest floor is burned, it removes dead litter and burns small trees and brush thus opening up the floor for NEW growth.  In my area, controlled burns are common in early spring.  When the burns are done, the forest service will burn areas ahead of spring rains to have mother nature utilize these rains to help control any hotspots.  Within a week, these areas will have new YOUNG growth and the wildlife will flock to these areas for this growth.  You may see a few days of uncertain movement but as soon as the area starts to green up the wildlife will FLOCK to the area.  Hunt it and hunt it hard!

wchadw

As long as you don't burn while hens are nesting it's good. New growth will attract turkey deer etc to browse. Turkeys don't like a lot of undergrowth that can hide predators(except hens nesting to hide) But deer will move out if there were bedding areas because they prefer dense under growth deer will come in to browse on new growth


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

1iagobblergetter

Quote from: wchadw on May 04, 2020, 05:54:06 PM
As long as you don't burn while hens are nesting it's good. New growth will attract turkey deer etc to browse. Turkeys don't like a lot of undergrowth that can hide predators(except hens nesting to hide) But deer will move out if there were bedding areas because they prefer dense under growth deer will come in to browse on new growth


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I always think of all the nests that get destroyed from this practice unless they burn early enough in the spring.

cliff.s.timmons

I hunted a burn hard in a NF last week and was absolutely shocked to see zero turkey. Saw more deer than I've ever seen though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ManfromGreenSwamp

You're in luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"First one to the carcass gets the most"
-T.Farley

"I'm livin ta rest, I was born tired"
-B.Button

RutnNStrutn

Turkeys love burned areas. They find all kinds of stuff to eat, especially once the plants start to bud and regrow. Definitely hunt there.

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.


Gooserbat

Turkeys love burn like fat kids love icecream.  Your uncle did you a favor.
NWTF Booth 1623
One of my personal current interests is nest predators and how a majority of hunters, where legal bait to the extent of chumming coons.  However once they get the predators concentrated they don't control them.