I'm fortunate to have my hunting ground

[Tail Feathers]

Seeing people talk about the struggles of no gobbling, no birds, hunting pressure on public land...all that makes me grateful for the hunting lease I'm on here.  It's year round hunting, deer, pigs turkey and small game if you want.
I see folks in NY talk about a season hearing only one gobble?  Wow!  I usually have a dozen of so located for the opener.  I started turkey hunting in 2002 or so, when the lease opened it up for turkey hunting after stocking in the 90's.
I've been fortunate to take a bird there (one bird state limit on Easterns) every year except for one.
I don't think I've ever been without hearing one or more toms in the spring.
Even with a very late start to our season, (April 22 each year) I have been in good gobbling every April.  By the second week of May it's pretty much over, but I don't think I've ever hunted past May 05. I travel every year, but I love getting to my local opening day.
Just counting my blessings out loud here I guess.

[Bowguy]

Imo the spot we have anymore is more of a determining factor in our success. Least higher success as in more birds consistently. I've got no great spots anymore. I've gotta fight for the few birds. Usually it's a who gets there first for couple days than it's tough.
That being said idk anywhere where I'd hear one bird a season in NY and that's the state I hunt mostly.
I'd think most of that is guys stuck on staying on one piece and not looking for birds preseason. There's also the case lots of public grounds (southern NY) are crowded, most private farms can be smallish. 150-200 acres. You can hear birds but if they're not on your piece you're prob  out of luck.
Glad you've got a good spot. Enjoy it

[tad1]

I hear you about counting your blessings.  I'm lucky to be able to hunt a good buddies place and he's not particularly interested in turkey hunting, smallish parcel with adjacent national forest.  I was super lucky to hear birds more mornings than not.  Last year I don't know if I heard a goggle on the same property.  Hunted a lot more public and struggled..  last year. I did have a good hunt or two with some gobbling birds, but couldn't seal the deal.  As far as the surrounding areas, some areas have had a complete disappearance of turkey that I have seen plenty of birds there in the past.  No definitive, convincing explanations....  But yeah, I feel like it's the grace of God good luck or whatever for me to have the opportunities that I did this year.  Next year all bets could be off.  No guarantees.

[BullTom]

Imo the spot we have anymore is more of a determining factor in our success. Least higher success as in more birds consistently. I've got no great spots anymore. I've gotta fight for the few birds. Usually it's a who gets there first for couple days than it's tough.
That being said idk anywhere where I'd hear one bird a season in NY and that's the state I hunt mostly.
I'd think most of that is guys stuck on staying on one piece and not looking for birds preseason. There's also the case lots of public grounds (southern NY) are crowded, most private farms can be smallish. 150-200 acres. You can hear birds but if they're not on your piece you're prob  out of luck.
Glad you've got a good spot. Enjoy it

You definitely have to work harder to find birds these days. That said, my turkey season was very different than many of the reviews I am seeing from other northeast hunters. I hunted both public and private property from Va to Nh (and everything im between) and was in good, gobbling turkeys more often than not. Infact, I would argue that I experienced above average gobbling and an above average number of turkeys willing to respond and come to the call. Things got really good in NY and New England after May 20.

All that said, I do need to work harder and cover more ground than I did 10+ years ago. I am fortunate to have a career (and wife) that allows me to spend a ton of time in the woods scouting and hunting each spring. I do prioritize turkey hunting over pretty much everything else (for better or for worse). The average weekend warrior/9-5er, with limited time and/or access is definitely not going to enjoy turkey hunting like the glory days of old. I empathize with their frustrations.

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[GobbleNut]

I agree...count your blessings...

I personally kind-of have an opposite mindset in these matters. Although I have a situation where I could hunt around my property...with somewhat controlled access to turkeys...I rarely hunt there anymore. I just like the idea of exploring new places and challenging myself to find (and hopefully harvest) gobblers in those places.

In addition, out here in the west where there are more public lands than a person could hunt in several lifetimes, the leasing problem just doesn't exist to any significant degree. I have often asked myself if I would be willing to pay what I perceive to be the going rate (my perception...thousands of dollars per year) to be on a decent (local) property...or even a distant property in another state, perhaps.

My answer to myself tends to be that I would look into traveling further from home each year to hunt (and save money) places with lots of public land rather than paying for a lease on a single parcel. Unfortunately, I also believe part of the crowded-public-lands problem is a direct function of lots of folks having that same attitude. In addition, way too many hunters, I think, do not have the personal contacts...or the financial where-with-all...to have a great, local place to hunt.  ...And there are, no doubt, places where there is just no option, even if a guy wanted to, to find a place like that.

Where you are in east Texas, Tail Feathers, I think you are indeed lucky to be in your situation. 

[Dtrkyman]

I used to guide and manage a bunch of properties in central Illinois, killing a turkey was about as easy to accomplish there as anywhere I have ever hunted, was fun but also kind of too easy.

Now that I have been primarily hunting public properties mostly I sure miss it, mostly due to never having to consider where others might be!  Hunter interference has become really common in the last 5 years, more so than the previous 20 combined!

[BullTom]

I used to guide and manage a bunch of properties in central Illinois, killing a turkey was about as easy to accomplish there as anywhere I have ever hunted, was fun but also kind of too easy.

Now that I have been primarily hunting public properties mostly I sure miss it, mostly due to never having to consider where others might be!  Hunter interference has become really common in the last 5 years, more so than the previous 20 combined!

Yes! I can count one hand the number of times I had a hunt ruined by another hunter between 1995 and 2020.  Since then, I have 3-5 hunts a season ruined by other hunters (both public and private).

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[Greg Massey]

I agree it's great to have access to land that has a good population of deer and turkeys. What's the old saying the land of milk and honey. Count your Blessing ..

It's good to manage these places also, don't overkill ...

Look for ways to make habitat improvements if you can.

I will add it's also nice to have large areas of public land access. Some states have very little public ground. I think it's a blessing to have these areas of public ground.

[Tail Feathers]

Where you are in east Texas, Tail Feathers, I think you are indeed lucky to be in your situation. 

More than you may know.  Most counties in E. Texas have closed their turkey season due to low or non existent numbers.  My home county closed season years ago after super stocking the National Forest.  Birds aren't taking on that sadly.  Somehow, our's took.  Now the state is trapping and studying them.  That probably will kill some or run em off.  I'm for leaving them alone.

[Timmer]

I feel the pain of those that struggle for opportunities.  I think I started hunting in 1998.  I had a good 10+ year run where I had a big beautiful farm to myself.  I got a bird most years.  Then one other hunter came along, then a group of 3, and then another 2.  For the last 10 years I failed to get a bird many times. 

I'm now counting my blessings. I purchased a nice chunk of land in October and my spring hunt was a success.  I played guide for 2 of my kids and they both got birds.