PA_RIDGE_RUNNER Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 For a whole bunch of years several of us have enjoyed a spot that could be referred to as a turkey honey hole. For the past 2 years the turkeys seem to have moved on. There has not been any change woods wise, no new roads or heavy influx of new hunters. The habitat has remained relatively unchanged except for the turkeys. We did have a bit of gypsy moth problem this year but did have a decent acorn crop there this fall. I have been muzzleloader hunting and there is a little snow on the ground but I have seen only a couple of tracks. I did bump one out of it's roost but due to it's size I'd bet it was a tom. It doesen't seem like there are any hens anymore. There are coyotes in the area but they have been there a while too. Any one have any ideas why there are no turkeys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 Is this a wooded area, near or around some farm areas or a combo of both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_Spike_King Posted January 5, 2008 Report Share Posted January 5, 2008 Buckbuster11 it is a combo of both. This is very disturbing to PA and I as we don't have a clue what the heck is going on. It just went from lots of turkeys (hens and young ones) to can't find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest csod08 Posted January 5, 2008 Report Share Posted January 5, 2008 I have turkeys all over the place up by me. There seems to be no shortage here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_RIDGE_RUNNER Posted January 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 Sat morning PA Spike King and I deer hunted a spot about a mile away from the former Turkey Honey Hole but in previous years held several flocks. We jumped 1 turkey but found absolutely no turkey tracks. This area has been select cut a few years ago which took many of the mature oaks and I would be tempted to believe that is why there are very few turkeys. I just have no idea why the turkeys have left the honey hole area as nothing has changed that I can tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 If there are crop fields around the turkeys may have moved to these areas to be closer to those food sources. Did you have a bad acorn crop last year? If you did, maybe they moved to a different area for food and they havent returned yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhine16 Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 We have had an incident just like this on my farm the past few years. Four years ago, we took 6 gobblers, but there were still at least 5 on our 600 acres on the last weekend. Since then, we have hardly found birds on our place during the spring. Not sure what the deal is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 maybe you have had some bad hatches in years past and just now seeing the impact.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullfan Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Pa turkeys Well I can tell you this from Western PA. I work in Mercer County and I am paid to drive the back roads. I have seen turkeys in the same places from year to year. Then nothing for 2 years. I have no idea why?? The food and the cover is the same but the birds just seem to vanish.They will come back in time. All is good, we had a wonderful hatch this year, and next year there will be two year old strutters everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_Spike_King Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Fullfan I pray that you are right cuz I would love to see lots of birds again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PA_RIDGE_RUNNER Posted January 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2008 Today I went out behind my house where there are corn fields I figured maybe the turkeys came down from the top and are low by the fields. Wrong. I only found one spot that might have been scratched by a turkey and only one old track that may have been a turkey. So the plot thickens they aren't up high and they aren't down low either. The past several years I have had many encounters near those cornfields and have seen them in years past from my kitchen window. As late as last spring I called in one flock of 3 jakes and 4 or 5 hens and another of 2 hens and a longbeard right in those corn fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codman Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Here in Ct i havent seen any turkeys for awhile with the cold and snow. But today i went to check my feeder since i changed to a mix of horse feed and corn and WOW Tons of Turkey tracks and they were digging in the ground for feed. Im looking forward to spring turkey season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1 Posted January 27, 2008 Report Share Posted January 27, 2008 Could be bad hatch years from too much rain or predators raiding nests or who knows what else. The property i hunt has a major river as one of its borders and during the fall/winter i noticed they spend a lot of time down in the river bottom. One day there will be 40 in a field then i wont see a bird for 2 weeks. Hope they come back for ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turkaholic Posted February 3, 2008 Report Share Posted February 3, 2008 In my home state of C.T. I have seen areas dry up also. I was told the State traded turkeys for Fishercats and itroduced them. Everytime I have a slow day I want blame them. I really don't think that is the problem,but who knows. I think a few bad hatch years can realy change things. This past spring in C.T. was a very good hatch year and reports from the state indicate high success rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest turkeynutz64 Posted February 4, 2008 Report Share Posted February 4, 2008 Ou birds here move from place to place each year! sometimes you see em in season and sometimes they are a mile or two away for that season! It has alot to do with pressure and poachers around here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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