Bird Report

[cbhunter]

Seen 10 jakes in field behind the house this morning. I'm moving out of that house next week though [emoji36] I could still hunt it if I want. This is Carroll county


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[Bone Collector]

When I bought my place in Rutherford County in 2012 there was a healthy population of Turkeys. I have seen a flock of about 40 every year. I would have 9-10 toms per year regularly on me from Dec-the end of March, then they'd disperse. Well last season, the farmer technically one parcel over from me sold his land and when he did he of course took the cattle off it. Last year was ok, and the birds were there, on time like always, but they were not as prevalent and gobbling was nonexistent > They have since started building a brewery and events venue and I have not seen a turkey since. I think i bumped one off roost one night checking traps last month, but I haven't seen one on camera in a while. I do admit I haven't pulled cards since Feb 5th, but I plan on doing it next weekend. The weirdest part is you can literally drive down the main highway and see fields and do a loop around the back side of my property on the side roads, but I have not located the flock Don't know what happened to them. There are plenty of cow pastures, but no turkeys. I imagine they are out there somewhere and hopefully they will show back up.

I know we talk about predation a lot, but I think now after seeing this, that land changing hands and changing uses can push a flock off and if they find a safe area that suits their needs, then poof just like that your farm no longer has any turkeys, except maybe the occasional passer through.

 

[Bgoodman30]

I have birds strutting and gobbling on camera on Thursday and Friday but not since.

I thought it was cool last year when I found an eagles nest on the river but now I think about it the turkey hunting was terrible there last year...

 

[Bgoodman30]

When I bought my place in Rutherford County in 2012 there was a healthy population of Turkeys. I have seen a flock of about 40 every year. I would have 9-10 toms per year regularly on me from Dec-the end of March, then they'd disperse. Well last season, the farmer technically one parcel over from me sold his land and when he did he of course took the cattle off it. Last year was ok, and the birds were there, on time like always, but they were not as prevalent and gobbling was nonexistent > They have since started building a brewery and events venue and I have not seen a turkey since. I think i bumped one off roost one night checking traps last month, but I haven't seen one on camera in a while. I do admit I haven't pulled cards since Feb 5th, but I plan on doing it next weekend. The weirdest part is you can literally drive down the main highway and see fields and do a loop around the back side of my property on the side roads, but I have not located the flock Don't know what happened to them. There are plenty of cow pastures, but no turkeys. I imagine they are out there somewhere and hopefully they will show back up.

I know we talk about predation a lot, but I think now after seeing this, that land changing hands and changing uses can push a flock off and if they find a safe area that suits their needs, then poof just like that your farm no longer has any turkeys, except maybe the occasional passer through.

I find the less you mess with turkeys the better..

 

[tree_ghost]

This week in Rutherford my trail cam shows at least 35 birds on a 130 acre parcel

Wonder how many birds exist a mile in every direction around that 130 acre parcel?

I'm finding VAST bird-less areas, then small areas with huge flocks.


Just not seeing as many older Toms as I'd like to see now,


My current thoughts are these birds will still be mostly flocked up when the TN statewide season opens.

That's probably the winter flock for the square mile of ground that this 130 acres is part of...hopefully not, however since I only have seen 3 Toms out of all those birds and have yet to see a single jake this year on camera or from glassing...?

Over all bird numbers seem a little lower than usual, however this is only based on visual recon done by glassing fields. If as suggested in a previous post, that birds are taking to the woods more than in the recent years, then this would make sense that bird numbers SEEM down when in reality they are simply less visible. I hope this is the case but I fear it is not unless it is a trend happening across the entirety of middle TN. I do a ton of driving for work and it seems that there are few and far between when it comes to birds out in the fields this year.


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[TheLBLman]

. . . . I only have seen 3 Toms out of all those birds and have yet to see a single jake this year on camera or from glassing...

This time of year, jakes can be easily mistaken for adult hens.
Not many jakes are yet going to have a "visible" nub of a beard.
But many will go from nothing to an inch between now and the season's end.

Regarding turkeys appearing to spend relatively less time in fields compared to times past,
just a theory of mine, based totally on anecdotal observations.

Another observation has been turkeys appear now to be spending relatively more time in heavier cover than I once thought. NOT talking about the typical pretty "turkey" woods. Am talking about heavier cover areas (such as 3 to 10-yr-old clear-cuts) which would traditionally have been considered mainly as good nesting areas. Just seems more adult birds are choosing to spend more their time in these type areas that better protect from raptor predation.

Think about this:

A flock of turkeys in the middle of a field is approached by coyotes.
They fly up, land in tree at field edge, often finding this an easy escape.
But what if the predator is instead an eagle?

 

[TreyB]

The fields I usually see them in, is dead!!!

 

[TNTreeman]

I'm a little worried about my place in Perry cty. I keep a feeder going year round till turkey season and pulled my camera and ZERO!!! I've had as many as 3 toms and 15 hens in one shot and now it's dried up. Hope somethings not wrong.

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Being I'm in west tn and hunt all public land, the recent floods ha e 100% of my go to spots under as much as 15' of water. It's not looking good. State ground doesn't open until April 14 so I'll end up traveling the 2 hours to Natchez Trace which is the closest state ground that will be open. Anyone know how the birds are up there?

 

[Andy S.]

I'm a little worried about my place in Perry cty.

Understood. The areas I used to hunt, and still drive through, in Perry county, seem to be way down compared to a decade ago.

 

[Andy S.]

Being I'm in west tn and hunt all public land, the recent floods ha e 100% of my go to spots under as much as 15' of water. It's not looking good. State ground doesn't open until April 14 so I'll end up traveling the 2 hours to Natchez Trace which is the closest state ground that will be open. Anyone know how the birds are up there?

I know this feeling all too well. If there is one thing TWRA and others need to consider when purchasing land in the future in SW TN, it is to purchase some "high ground" that is not impacted by spring flood waters.

 

[Wrangler95]

This week in Rutherford my trail cam shows at least 35 birds on a 130 acre parcel

Wonder how many birds exist a mile in every direction around that 130 acre parcel?

I'm finding VAST bird-less areas, then small areas with huge flocks.


Just not seeing as many older Toms as I'd like to see now,


My current thoughts are these birds will still be mostly flocked up when the TN statewide season opens.

That's probably the winter flock for the square mile of ground that this 130 acres is part of...hopefully not, however since I only have seen 3 Toms out of all those birds and have yet to see a single jake this year on camera or from glassing...?

Over all bird numbers seem a little lower than usual, however this is only based on visual recon done by glassing fields. If as suggested in a previous post, that birds are taking to the woods more than in the recent years, then this would make sense that bird numbers SEEM down when in reality they are simply less visible. I hope this is the case but I fear it is not unless it is a trend happening across the entirety of middle TN. I do a ton of driving for work and it seems that there are few and far between when it comes to birds out in the fields this year.


Same here in Clay Co,not but a few turkeys being seen but Ive never seen them stay in the woods alltime.


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[poorhunter]

Heard one gobbling on the roost and th n on the ground for probably half an hour first time this year. Same place they gobble each and every spring since I've been here.

 

[Strict]

I didn't see a bird this weekend driving through Marshall and Rutherford counties. Normally, this time of year I see several groups of gobblers in the fields near the road.

 

[Andy S.]

Heard one gobbling on the roost and th n on the ground for probably half an hour ......

Today?

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Had one gobble probably 200 times Saturday morning

 

[Oak]

Heard several bird gobbling both Friday and Saturday morning. Northern and Southern Lawrence county.

 

[poorhunter]

Heard one gobbling on the roost and th n on the ground for probably half an hour ......

Today?

Sorry...I'm kinda like former President Obama. My mind works at such a warp speed my mouth and fingers can't keep up! oke:

The gobbling was yesterday morning.

 

[ImThere]

There are no Turkeys in Maury county. They disappeared.


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[TN Whitetail Freak]

I went shed hunting this morning and decided to go early and double dip into turkey scouting. Come across a flock of hens yelping and multiple gobbles in the swamp bottom. They gobbled up until 10am.....weakley co.