yesterday

LOL.
 
Had a good morning today before work. Was set up in the blind and filming. Had three toms at 75 yards on the roost. The eventually worked their way to 25 yards but were screened by the brush. I could see white heads and fans but nothing to shoot at with the bow.
 
Had to sneak out in stealth mode at 7:15 to head to work. They were still gobbling as I walked out. ;-((

Gobbling is down about 60% according to my records in the areas I hunt compared to last year. 

Lets reintroduce some more predators, maybe that well help.

ORIGINAL: dpms

Gobbling is down about 60% according to my records in the areas I hunt compared to last year. 

I blame bigfoot!

ORIGINAL: S-10

None of those were introduced species though, so where are you coming up with the perception of introduced predators being a problem for turkeys?

Besides the gobblers were out there two weeks ago and since I have not seen where there have been any predator, besides man, kills this spring I have to suspect the birds are still out there, just not being vocal right now.

R.S. Bodenhorn

The Fisher, which is considered the most efficient predator of small game and ground nesting birds was introduced by the PGC. It is recommended by many states biologists to be introducd when you want to control small game populations. How many nests, nesting hens and poults do you suppose they take care of in a years time.

As for all those turkeys out there, you really should keep up on what your experts are saying about their numbers. They are predicting a 15-25% DECREASE in the harvest. This on top of a 30%+ decrease in the last ten years. There does seems to be more turkies the further south in the state you go.

There was a reason our ancesters hammered the raptors and predators in the early days. They didn't need any multi year studies to know they couldn't compete with predators who hunt 24/7/365 with no limit.

Fisher in this state seem to be eating mostly red squirrels, cavity nesting birds and mammals including young raccoons. Since raccoons are one of the leading predators on ground nests such as turkey and grouse it could be argued that the fisher does more to save turkey nest than harm them, but that isn’t even a real issue.
 
The fact is predation is NEVER a concern where you have suitable habitat for the prey species.
 
Besides as far as predation of turkey nests that is actually a benefit to the species. What harms turkey populations is extended periods of cold, wet weather. That is especially true when you get a couple cold, wet springs in a row.
 
Without nest predation pretty much all of the eggs would be hatching at the same time. Then if you got a couple weeks of harsh weather you could lose an entire year of turkey and grouse production. But, since we do have nest predation and the fact that turkeys and too a lesser extent grouse will keep building new nests for months if need be, it breaks up the nesting cycle over several months. That is nature’s way of assuring that when you have a period of bad weather you only lose a small percentage of the year’s reproduction cycle. Therefore, predation is actually a benefit to the prey species.
 
Our ancestors killed the predators because they didn’t know any better. There have been many studies that prove that it is the prey species that control the number of predators instead of it being the other way around.
 
Man is supposed to be both smarter and more in touch with the REALITIES of how nature REALLY works now than they were in those days of killing any and all the predators they saw.
 
R.S. Bodenhorn

ORIGINAL: World Famous

Another strike by the grey wolves!!!!They love turkey...WF

 
They say it tastes like chicken.

Grey Wolves taste like chicken you didnt know that WF?

Possom does sorta kinda