New York 2018

[sierra6]

Let share what we hearing in Upstate NY.  It's April 6th and snowing like mad here in the heart of the Catskill Mountains.  I have heard reports of birds gobbling and strutting for more than a week now in these parts.  I've witnessed a couple of large flocks in local corn fields with multiple strutters myself.   Chime in and report what your seeing and hearing!

[turkaholic]

Wow! This is not a good sign.

[Sir-diealot]

Wow! This is not a good sign.

I like it myself, means they will be breeding more in May instead of in April like they normally do in my area. Not saying they are not breeding/talking any other May, just have seen much more action in April over the years than in May.

[jordanz7935]

Saw 6 or 7 strutters @ 1 of my spots today. Havent really done any serious "listening" yet but have heard some roost gobbling in the past few weeks. Birds have still been "flocked up" for the most part here, woke up to a couple more inches of snow this morning. The gobblers in my area have definitely have "turned up" somewhat in the past week, theyre at least starting to act like spring gobblers somewhat. Saw a lot of "beat red heads" today which i havent really been seeing the last couple of weeks. Just another crazy NY winter, come turkey season itll be a distant memory. Turkeys will be turkeys just like they are every spring ive hunted em. Ive been guilty of overthinking the weather before season, anymore i just roll with it.

Wow! This is not a good sign.

I like it myself, means they will be breeding more in May instead of in April like they normally do in my area. Not saying they are not breeding/talking any other May, just have seen much more action in April over the years than in May.

Majority of the breeding has always been late april/early may in my neck of the woods. Get some more time in the spring woods and youll learn that some of the very best hunting is to be had after the peak of breeding when most hens are nesting and the gobblers are looking for those last few receptive hens.

[Sir-diealot]

Saw 6 or 7 strutters @ 1 of my spots today. Havent really done any serious "listening" yet but have heard some roost gobbling in the past few weeks. Birds have still been "flocked up" for the most part here, woke up to a couple more inches of snow this morning. The gobblers in my area have definitely have "turned up" somewhat in the past week, theyre at least starting to act like spring gobblers somewhat. Saw a lot of "beat red heads" today which i havent really been seeing the last couple of weeks. Just another crazy NY winter, come turkey season itll be a distant memory. Turkeys will be turkeys just like they are every spring ive hunted em. Ive been guilty of overthinking the weather before season, anymore i just roll with it.

Wow! This is not a good sign.

I like it myself, means they will be breeding more in May instead of in April like they normally do in my area. Not saying they are not breeding/talking any other May, just have seen much more action in April over the years than in May.

Majority of the breeding has always been late april/early may in my neck of the woods. Get some more time in the spring woods and youll learn that some of the very best hunting is to be had after the peak of breeding when most hens are nesting and the gobblers are looking for those last few receptive hens.

But if they start late that means better hunting and for longer into the month of May.

[nyhunter]

hearing a little gobbling here in Steuben/Allegany county, there isn't very many birds in my area anyway so not hearing much doesn't mean a whole lot. 

[Sir-diealot]

Thinking this may be correct this year.

[johnski]

I hunt NY, CT and RI and I always have better luck the last half of May.  Thats not to say I havnt shot birds early but there is less comption from the real thing and fewer hunters in the woods. Plus with some leaves on the trees I can get closure without spooking birds. Personally I would be ok if they moved the whole season back a week especially in RI, they open on April 26th this year and it closes May 20th. 

[turkaholic]

Looking back on my log from last year, the last week in April was red hot in CT. I left for NY season the first 10 days there was decent gobbling but birds seemed henned up. Some gobbling at first light then quiet for the rest of the day. The last two weeks were for me very frustrating as there was hardly any gobbling at first light and zero the rest of the day. I managed one long beard only in NY. Two in CT.

[Twowithone]

Yep woke up to another dusting here in Pgh. Pa. this morning.

[sierra6]

Talked to two reliable Buddies yesterday that reported birds gobbling hard on the roost here in the Northern Catskills

[turkaholic]

My son was in the Cobleskill area yesterday and sent me a few pics of gobblers strutting. He said the mountains are still covered up with snow on top but lots of open ares. Most South facing fields are clear. 16 days to go. I think snow is forecasted for tonight and tomorrow. Just won't give up!

[jordanz7935]

I got up early and did some scouting this morning. I got to my first spot and they gobbled really well on the roost and kept it up once they hit the ground.3 longbeards running together with no hens to be heard or seen. They seemed more worried about chasing each other around rather than putting on a show for the ladies. I hit the pavement and glassed some other spots and saw quite a few birds out in fields, strutters hangin right with the hens,looks like things are really starting to shape up for the season!

[tomstopper]

Anybody hearing any in or around Steuben county?

[Sir-diealot]

Anybody hearing any in or around Steuben county?

I am one county away in Yates but only about 40 minutes from Watkins Glenn but I have not been hearing much and not seeing anybody post about hearing any locally.