the most amazing sight!

[Turkeygirl]

I was really blessed yesterday to have seen what I did. about noon I went out ofr a hike,gorgeous weather, and mainly looking for sheds. I start across a field behind out house that I have to cross to get to the land I hunt. I see a turkey way on the other side and through my binocs, can tell it's a gobbler by the red waddles and black sheen. I run off behind a clump of pines, down through the gravel pit and into the woods, below a ridge near where the gobbler I think may go. I sit there for a little bit then GOOBBLLEEE! He gobbles off the top some where. I sneak up to the top of the ridge on an old dirt logging trail and sit behind a tree. I hear nothing for a little bit then here wooosshh through the leaves. I think hmmm sounds like wings dragging through the leaves....on the other side of a tree top from logging that's in front of me. I watch this small hill to my left, with a little ravine seperating the hill i'm on from it. Next thing I know here comes a longbeard, not the one I saw with the thin one, down the hill! then here comes the thin bearded one I saw the other day, then a bird I think was a hen!! all this time I'm trying to get my camera ready, thinking they may pop up on the hill I'm on...in my face! Well I suddenly realize there is still the sound of something walking in leaves down the hill across from me. I look and here comes a big old tom STRUTTING down the hill! OMG, it almost brought a tear to my eye!! He would take a few steps then stop, in a full strut! It was beautiful! the turkey continues there way down this small ravine on an old trail and down into the cooler woods below the gravel pit. I was blown away. I stand up and at the bottom of the hill/ridge the turkeys are going into the hemlocks...and at the end...the big old tom strutting and then he to goes into the woods. I ran up on top of the gravel pit, thinking they may pop out in the field below, but they did not. Considering it was about 75 degrees, I'm guessing they headed for shade. I thought there was only one gobbler and here I find 3!!!!!!!! I'm pumped! Now i just got to figure out where they are roosting at night anf flying down and going in the morning. Been 4 years since I last saw a longbeard, and last time I saw one strutting in person was my first spring turkey season...about 7-8 years ago.

[FullStrutter]

WOW... either you:

A) don't hunt much/put your time in during the turkey season

B) historically haven't had much of a turkey population around where you live/hunt

C) don't scout nearly enough

or

D) are a lousy hunter!

(A) seems to be the only viable possibility since I hunt in upstate New York a lot and the turkey population is incredible all over the place. This is agreed upon by most people that hunt anywhere in NY. This post indicates that you scout, so C is out. I have read other posts from you, and IIRC you are a pretty decent hunter.

So.......... I am absolutly confused on how in the world you have not seen a longbeard in 4 years, or a strutter in 7+!!!!!!!!?????????????

I think the variable is time spent in the woods. I would venture to say you are a weekend hunter, and only hunt turkeys maybe 4 days in the Spring. The reason I can make this conjecture is because I spend an average of 18 mornings in the woods during the month of May between CT and NY, and I see dozens of strutters/longbeards every Spring. I'd also venture to guess that you don't have anyone to hunt with like Dad, Gramps, a friend, etc. You just don't spend that many years hunting turkeys with someone that knows what they are doing and not shoot a mature longbeard in 7+ years.

My father taught me from a very young age that success in the field is directly related to amount of time spent in the field. This is so very true.

Good luck not only seeing, but shooting your first gobbler in many years this spring!

[Turkeygirl]

After my last gobbler, for 2 consecutive years the land I hunt and surrounding land was logged. Roosting spots were destroyed and they moved out minus a few. Fox population went p, I started findind fox dens with turkey remains by them and random carcasses in the woods. One year found a hen and her nest destroyed when an alfalfa field was cut. I'm no a weekend hunter..I try to get out as much as possible...though I was in college the last 4 years which took away alot of time. I will admit I've been scouting more this year than ever before. Maybe that helps but I also believe turkeys may be rebounding here. I have not had to compete with many hunters...maybe one at the most like last year when he spooked the gobbler I was hunting. all I know is a few years back...birds gobbled all over the place. Last few years it's been hit and miss on hearing gobbles. Of the spring birds I have gotten, none came in strutting, they all came in running. I'd love to call one in and have him strutting.

[NiteRunner]

Sounds exciting!! I hope you nail one this year!!

[jbeck]

Glad to hear you had a good Day.

[Rhino]

Great show put on there for you Ruth. Hope one of those birds comes your way once your season starts. You're sure due for a close encounter like that when your seaon is open. Good luck

[western NY bowhunter]

Glad to hear that you're finally finding some birds.

Its still kinda hard to imagine that you haven't seen a strutter in 7 years. I can honestly say that I've seen literally HUNDREDS of strutting toms in the past seven years...had six of them come in during the youth seson on Saturday. I live/hunt one county to the east of you and our turkey pop. is doing incredibly well. In fact, seems like everytime I "talk turkey" with someone this spring they comment about all the turkeys that they've been seeing. Contrary to what the DEC reports claim...we musta had a great hatch last spring cause I've never seen as many jakes around as I have this year. There should be a ton of mouthy two-year olds to hunt next spring.

Anyways, good luck next weekend on getting a bird to strut his stuff into gun range.