Turkey Forecast

[shaman]

I got a call from my Mom saying she just read an article about Turkey Hunting in Kentucky and the surrounding states. She said the article says that the turkey numbers in Kentucky are way down statewide due to a poor hatch last Spring.

Has anyone heard anything like this? I know I am not seeing the numbers I saw last year, but I thought my problem was local.

[skeetshooter105]

I have no idea who compiles these figures. I do know for a fact there are more turkeys in my area than ever before. So many that many farmers and land owners are becoming alarmed at the numbers. Crop damage and turkey mites are the biggest problem associated with this increase in numbers. Living in a farming community and talking with other land owners confirms the large increase in these overgrown buzzards.

[hitch]

I would really like to know where several states got their inaccurate data. For the areas I hunt in AL, GA, TN, and KY, the numbers of birds appear to be way up. The hatch last year was off the charts everywhere I have been just from the sharp increase in jakes I have seen along with the huge flocks of hens I saw all fall.

Also, last years spring hatch will not have much impact on this springs hunting unless you are speciffically targeting jakes.

[thunderchicken09]

Same here ive been seeing more turkeys this year than last year. One day in deer season the farm I hunt on i counted 60 turkeys while we were there. there were about 20 in their front yard too. Bad thing is i didnt see any long beards all jakes and hens.

[longbeardmadness]

thats weird i have seen more birds this year than i have in a long time.

[ksp771]

I was out driving around last cupleof weeks here is what found.
Boone county: Flock of 63 Birds 5 Gobblers
Kenton: 4 flocks around 3 Gobblers in each flock
Pendleton: So full of Turkeys can't count them all.
If you hunt in one of these good luck.

[MikeKy]

Was out and about in Ohio Co. yesterday. Saw one really nice tom with 10 hens and later on saw a group of three jakes. Might look a little more today. The rain should put them out in the fields.

[INKYHUNTER]

She may have read an article in "Kentucky Living" which is a Warren Rural Electric Magazine. Steven Dobey who is the KDFWR biologist stated that because of the early warm weather that started early nesting and then the freeze, poult production was down for the year. He stated we should see fewer jakes and one year old birds. He said Hunters will notice th impact.

[bigpuddin43]

this morning went out saw two Boss toms strutting with about 30 hens then saw 3 other toms strutting by themselve and another tom strutting with 3 hens.

[turk2di]

Unless the weather fouls things up, look for a record, or near record kill;)

[WildmanWilson]

I could hear about 7 different gobbles sounding off from one spot yesterday at my stomping ground. Sounds like a good year to me. The guy across the road from me saw 15 longbeards in one bunch last week. I cant wait.....;)

[wademup]

Gotta say,our place in Crittenden was covered in turkeys all fall,never seen so many anywhere in my life,so if numbers are way down it aint on my place.

[Feedman]

Seeing less birds this yr. on our farms. No jakes yet.

[blade]

Im not seeing as many as usaul. I mentioned it to my uncle this morning and he told me he had heard the same thing about the hatch.

[shaman]

I haven't been out all that much; they may be just lying low. However, I have not seen the sort of flocks I usually do, either on my own place or in the rest of the county. I'm in Bracken, but I'm in sight of the Pendleton line.

It's really good to hear from you guys that there is good news floating around out there too. One thing is for sure: you never know until you get out there. I've had bad scouting seasons that turned into fantastic hunting seasons and vice-versa.