Toms

[Native Hunter]

Zoom in and check out the size of the two Toms in the background on the left side and in the middle of the pic. The one in the middle isn't puffed up, but looks like he has a paintbrush beard that is dragging the ground.

 

[Mennoniteman]

That's a healthy sized flock. And about the time of day they are looking for a roosting tree. Actually it's going to take a dozen roosting trees. Did you always have numbers like that, or is your population on an upswing? Remind me again, are you a predator control freak, or you just let nature take it's natural course, or somewhere in between?

 

[Native Hunter]

That's a healthy sized flock. And about the time of day they are looking for a roosting tree. Actually it's going to take a dozen roosting trees. Did you always have numbers like that, or is your population on an upswing? Remind me again, are you a predator control freak, or you just let nature take it's natural course, or somewhere in between?

This is at the new place that I built the multilevel hunting blind last year. I've turkey hunted here for years but have only been a landowner for a short time now. You may also recall that I deer hunted here for the first time last fall and took my first deer on this place.

This farm has always been a turkey mecca, and the population has held steady for a number of years. The fields are in soybeans every year, and when you take a spring turkey, they will always be full of beans from the previous year. I do take every coyote that we get a chance at. Last year on the first setup for turkeys here, I had to bust a yote that came in after my decoy. That same day, both my cousin and I ended up taking nice Toms at other locations on the farm.

PS: When I drove up to check camera, there was 11 Jakes in the yard of the house where my uncle lives. Good seed for a couple of years down the road!

Below was my first turkey hunt on opening day last year:

 

[deer patch]

Dang it Native...now your just showing off. LOL.

I’m glad you have a steady population. I on the other hand have hit probably the bottom of the curve and hope the up swing is about to start. Last year I had three hens that used my place during the spring and summer and only three poults made it to this year with at least two hens. One hen was always by herself and so far I haven’t gotten a picture of her. Just a few years ago I was covered up like you.

 

[Native Hunter]

Dang it Native...now your just showing off. LOL.

I’m glad you have a steady population. I on the other hand have hit probably the bottom of the curve and hope the up swing is about to start. Last year I had three hens that used my place during the spring and summer and only three poults made it to this year with at least two hens. One hen was always by herself and so far I haven’t gotten a picture of her. Just a few years ago I was covered up like you.

As a general rule, many places in my area have seen a decline in turkeys, and I've heard that is true in lots of states. The farm where my dad lives has seen a sharp decline. I know that part of that is because he doesn't have cattle anymore, but there must be other factors too. I think the best thing we can do is try to increase poult survival in any way that we can - including habitat improvement and predator removal. Good luck, and I hope you see an increase in future years.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Now that you mention soybeans, have you ever heard of local farmers complaining that turkeys were hard on their newly planted soybeans? I've had huge patches of my fields cleaned bare of new beans right after they emerged?

 

[Elkaddict]

The turkeys and geese are hell on my corn and bean sprouts, pulling them up to get to the seed. It forces me to plant heavier.

 

[Native Hunter]

Now that you mention soybeans, have you ever heard of local farmers complaining that turkeys were hard on their newly planted soybeans? I've had huge patches of my fields cleaned bare of new beans right after they emerged?

Yes I’ve heard of that. It would be likely at this place due to the high population. But a neighbor on the other side of the creek has what looks like 200 acres of crop fields so that spreads them out a little.

 

[Mennoniteman]

The turkeys and geese are hell on my corn and bean sprouts, pulling them up to get to the seed. It forces me to plant heavier.

My experience with planting heavier is that the turkeys clean an entire area rather than random thinning like a deer would do, so planting heavier doesn't fix the big bare patches in the field. Maybe I'll experiment with hand seeding something like brassica into the bare spots.

 

[Borderjumper]

Zoom in and check out the size of the two Toms in the background on the left side and in the middle of the pic. The one in the middle isn't puffed up, but looks like he has a paintbrush beard that is dragging the ground.

 

[Borderjumper]

Thanks for the picture.Nice flock.I am not the best deer hunter in our group but when it comes to turkey hunting I am the go to guy.Just something about it that gets me crazy.A couple of our guys have asked me to mentor them in the ways of turkey hunting.Their excitement is like a couple of youth hunters with many questions.We have planned the first full week in camp to hunt both Pa.and Ohio.Hope I am up to the task.Turkey hunt till noon,lunch,steelhead fishing afternoon if conditions permit.This could be as good as first week of deer season.Watch out for the old guys along the Pa.and Ohio border.