Kinda Worried about the Turkeys

[turkeydude]

Here in MN there is 2-3 feet of snow everywhere with a hard ice layer on top. Im concerned about the turkeys making it. They are tough, but man its harsh. I have been putting corn out trying to help. Anyone else have this problem anywhere else?

[Squirrelhunter91]

They'll be just fine. The corn is helping I'm sure. If a few of them happen to die off through the winter, its just natural selection and they'll be promptly replaced come the end of Spring.

[Turkeygirl]

I worry to with our NY winters but they do make it through...I'm sure some won't just because you get sick birds or weak birds or around here the stupid fox and coyote...

Like Joe said though, come end of spring, there will be more:)

[BrandonBowling21]

i agree with squirrelhunter and turkeygirl the older weak birds may die off but thats an every year ordeal they will be fine and will be replaced!!!!

[backwoods07]

We saw a half dozen or so turkeys diggin through about 6-8 inches of snow in cut corn, but nothing as bad as you have it. I'm sure turkeys as a species have gone through a lot worse. They're still around, so I wouldn't be too worried!

[hunter109]

we dont have very bad winters most years thats why we have alot of big big toms out here in ohio well see you all later

[QueenOfTheMarsh]

Here in MN there is 2-3 feet of snow everywhere with a hard ice layer on top. Im concerned about the turkeys making it. They are tough, but man its harsh. I have been putting corn out trying to help. Anyone else have this problem anywhere else?

Pretty bad over here in Wisconsin too. Last winter was just as bad. Really not good having two super harsh winters in a row. I distinctly remember a day of coyote hunting where I wasn't breaking through the ice crust or sinking in to the snow. Not good!! How is an animal to find food?! It's not just the old that die off - starvation comes quickly and wipes out what once were strong resiliant birds. We found many winter kill carcasses last year. Birds that huddled under pine trees trying to seek shelter to die a slow, painful death. I wonder how many we will find this winter. The area I hunt is 99% pines/thick forest, not too many farm fields around for them to forage in...they really have to work to find food. Looks like the wolves will be getting fatter this year.......

[strutstopper]

Same here we had a HUGE blizzard in VA

[slughunter]

I used to worry about how the turkeys were doing through the winter. One thing you gotta remember is that their stomach is the size of a soda can and they have around 10-11 hours of daylight every day to fill it. They will be just fine.

-shane

[Diamond Archer 01]

Ya, I think they will be alright.

[twowetdogz]

I'm sure there are probably some places will have some pretty harsh winter kills, but think overall the population will be fine.

I know around here, we've got areas with 10' drifts or better, which are now covered in a crust because of the freezing rain since the last snow storm. But...we've also got spots just a mile down the road that the cut corn stalks are still sticking out of the snow. So, they may have to adjust their locations....but I think they'll be just fine.

[Outdoorzman]

Maine has had some tough snow conditions for the turkeys but they're still growing overall. And it's my personal opinion that even if you do lose a large amount of birds, all will balance out in the egg production this spring; The ratios of male to female young seems to always favor replenishing that which was lost. Plus, many birds that experience a bad winter or wet spring tend to lay accordingly, whether by more eggs, more clutches if some are destroyed, or whatever. Again, just my opinion but I wouldn't fear.