Has turkey hunnting become less popular

[Dr Juice]

It doesn't seem like kids around here want to hunt anymore and I know several guys who are aging out of the sport.

I concur.

[ccleroy]

There's a shortage of turkey hunters in the Southeast, but no shortage of people trying to play the part.

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[mtns2hunt]

There's a shortage of turkey hunters in the Southeast, but no shortage of people trying to play the part.

.

From what I see we are all playing the part. A few decades down the road there will be little if any turkey hunting for multiple reasons. Like it or not Turkey hunting is a dying sport. The instant gratification crowd is part of the reason. Turkey hunting is not easy.

[Punisher]

There's a shortage of turkey hunters in the Southeast, but no shortage of people trying to play the part.

Definitely...

[Cut N Run]

There wasn't much competition for turkeys when I started back in the 80's.  Public gamelands were open to anyone with a permit.  These days, they run draw hunts for turkeys on the public land near this area, because if they didn't limit hunting pressure, the resource would suffer..  The human population has grown exponentially more recently around here too.  Where I used to be able to get permission to hunt some properties, now, that land is either being developed or has been leased.

I also hear more shots around the farms I hunt than I used to.  I believe pop up blinds and decoys have made it easier to be successful without having to learn how to hunt old school, like everyone did.

Jim

[alan73]

 seems like less hunters atleast for spring season may be a few more for fall archery though.

[El Pavo Grande]

I feel like overall there has been an increase in turkey hunting popularity over the last 10-15 years.  I do think with struggling turkey populations in some areas I hunt, most don't hunt as many days per season..... very little scouting and with a few days of tough hunting, they quit for the year.  Hunters travel to destination states, such as Kansas in the Midwest, much more now than previously.  It amazes me how many don't / won't turkey hunt their home state here, but will travel out of state to hunt.  I think a lot of that is driven by the need for success over the experience of the hunt. 

[Fullfan]

Not where I hunt In Missouri and Pa.  More and more hunters every year. Last year I was up at 3 am to make the 5 min ride to a ridge where I wanted to hunt. When I arrived there was a rig from Arkansas parked there in the center of the road.

[Bowguy]

Idk guys, around here I believe there's more guys. In most areas there's more guys but it's still easy enough to climb higher, walk further or otherwise distance yourself.
Low hanging fruit and fields get lots of attn.

[muskyjunky]

Here's my take ... Started Turkey hunting in 93 in NY because I had an incredible mentor to learn and go with ( I live in Ohio ). This corresponds with when Ashtabula county caught fire and Turkey hunting really took off in my area. In those days through at least early 2000's it was very common to run into other hunters nearly every area i hunted ... But as time has gone on the Turkeys expanded their range and the hunting pressure seems to have leveled off in the last 10 years or so. I believe this is due to many hunters can now simply hunt closer to home. I myself do this now for the most part.

[varmint101]

Not here in south central Indiana at least. Our public land (and private) are overrun at least where I hunt. The loud birds are killed pretty quick! You can scout and not see a soul, but come opening day there are campers and trucks all over.

[Rick]

 Late 70's and early 80's , i could float down the river and listen for birds on both sides and hardly ever see anyone . Now everthing is posted and people everywhere.  All the public lands in Mississippi are bombarded with arkansas tags now ... In now travel to kentucky and hunt on a friends private land ....

[Southerngobbler]

I don't think many young people are taking up the sport. They typically avoid difficult things. There is a shortage of people entering the construction industry also-more hard work. Some country's like Kuwait farm out all their labor type jobs; are we headed in that direction? Anyways there are more and more hunters in my neck of the woods each year but I think it's established hunters that are not satisfied with their two bird limit and are traveling to hunt additional turkeys. I'm the same way, with a good economy I have money to travel and extend my season. So more hunters in my area but the additional ones are all from out of state. Probably if we see the economy recess somewhat it will relive some of the pressure on states that are getting hammered by out of state'rs.

[savduck]

Not sure where they have gotten their information from. Ive seen a steady increase since the late 90s with no slow down.

[stinkpickle]

Missouri's permit sales report page only covers 2010-2014, and it looks like there are lots of year-by-year variations.