NY Turkeys
 

The NY DNR says turkeys are down across the state. But this year on the property in Pawling, I have seen more turkeys than any other spring season. I called in a total of seven birds so far and took two 10" beard birds. With so many birds, I can afford to be selective.

The picture below is the latest bird. I used a true trap DHE with 32" barrels just for the hell of it. The gun is a closet gun with about 98% original case colors. The only wear is on the trigger guard. The gun has all extra's including a ventilated rib. I probably won't use it again on turkeys. It's a bit heavy to carry and I don't want to put any wear on the colors. My usual gun is a DHE 12 bore at just under seven pounds.

Beautiful Parker Tom!





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Nice !

Nice!!

Very nice Tom! I have been seeing a fair share of hens, but not one gobble in 2-3 weeks. They were very loud in mid April. I'm expecting things to pick up again here shortly if the past is any indication. I went out with my VH yesterday, but all that happened is that it and I got wet. Still was better than working for sure.

mighty nice gun and a good turkey for sure...your a lucky man to have so many turkeys to choose from...charlie

I am very fortunate Charlie. I have been hunting the property since I was a kid and my grandfather hunted it before me. It's still in the same family. Back in the day, there were a lot of grouse and no turkeys. Now its just the opposit. I miss the grouse but the turkey's are a nice consolation prize. I enjoy hunting them more than the deer. I can afford to be selective on the deer also. I only shoot 3 1/2 year old or better bucks with antlers spreads beyond the ears.

I have been blessed.

In my area of New Yorks Southern Tier its been going from poor to non-existent as far as turkeys. Last 2 years not even a gobble has been heard and absolutely no shots anywhere near my house or the surrounding areas. At least grouse seem to be doing well.

I am in the southern tier also, but I'll bet further south than your area. For some reason I have seen and called in more birds than in prior years. This is the best season I have ever experienced, And yet I have talked to NY turkey hunters from other sections that have called the season a bust. I'm not sure why there is such a disparity. I've never had a bad season in my area, which isn't to say it couldn't happen. But my area of open fields surrounded by thick cover and woods seems to product turkeys consistently. Plus I plant sorghum which helps the deer, pheasants and turkeys.

Tom I'm just north of the PA border can't much more south. I thought Pawling was in Dutchess County? Five years ago turkeys were all over this area they would roost in the trees at my front and rear doors, feed in the yard and were a nuisance during deer season. Deer numbers are also down. No active farms, but one is left in my town and the land is reverting to forest. I am surrounded by large tracts of State Forests, which are infested by coyotes so I don't think its going to get better any time soon. There are lots of farms in the county north of me, and turkeys and deer, but gaining access is near impossible. It was a great run while it lasted.

I wonder if turkeys in NY and PA are affected by WNV as the grouse in those states are?





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George, I am south of you by the New Jersey border, we had lots of turkeys until 5 or so years ago.It got worse every year,this year I have not heard or seen a bird. Same thing that happened to the grouse about 20 years ago .We do have coyotes, hawks, owls, and fishers.

Dean, I think environment might be more of a factor. Open fields, flanked by thick cover and then woodlands seem to produce a lot of birds. If any of that is diminished or developed, the turkeys would find it hard to reproduce. Sherman, Ct. and the neighboring town of Pawling and other border towns seem to produce a lot of birds. I see them all the time while driving. Last week I came around a bend in the road and a hen was standing in the middle of my lane. I had to swerve to miss her. It was close.

In an earlier post I mentioned 29 Toms in a field at one time. I never saw anything like that and probably never will again. I believe that we have a lot of birds because of the favorable habitat.

By the way, on a different subject, I found a dead whole deer that was half buried with grass and dirt. The next day the carcass was reduced to a skeleton. Coyotes came to mind, but I don't believe they bury their kill to return later. I'm thinking that it might have been a big bobcat that made the kill.

Or a black bear. There are a lot of them in PA and NY.





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You get over in the NE corner of PA and they have some BIG bear . Back when we used to keep up with it they averaged I think a dozen or so in that area alone over 600 pounds and most years they’d drag a couple out that were getting close to or slightly exceeding 800 pounds . Killed one one year about two miles from my preferred deer stand that weighed 813 if my memory serves .

Well here it is next to the last day of NY"s turkey season and after not seeing or hearing anything even resembling a turkey, lo and behold at 6 PM there are 2 large jakes right outside my living room window . They hung out for about an hour or so and then took to the tree's about 50 yards away. should have gone out in the morning but instead said what the heck and went back to sleep. You're right Dean lots in this area. every year see at least or 6 different bears, some with cubs.

Had a bear in last night that destroyed my hummingbird feeders and took down a bluebird house on an eight foot pole.