I guess NWTF reads TNdeer

[woodsman87]

An article this months addition of "turkey country" about fluctuating populations. Have not read it yet. Will post about it when I read.

Ok, not saying I know everything, or that they know everything, but pretty much sums up my way of thinking. Its all about nesting success and poult survival. They specifically say, and I agree, that predators are not the main issue, although I think armidillos and wild hogs in this area are a new nuisance that turkeys have yet to overcome. They also state that coyotes do prey in turkeys, but are not efficient at catching turkeys.

Basically it says populations go up and down and that people need to make habitat improvements.




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[BHC]

Our bobcats have learned to lie on the edge of our food plots waiting for a turkey to feed to close... There also grabbing rabbits n quail as well, but we've found several piles of feathers on the edge of fields..

 

[TheLBLman]

Our bobcats have learned to lie on the edge of our food plots waiting for a turkey to feed to close... ..

Over the past many years, either we've had a huge increase in the bobcat population, or else the bobcats have become much more active during daytime. I am often seeing bobcats during mid-day, and they are specifically hunting turkeys, and sometimes catching turkeys. And it's not that unusual to have a bobcat stalk you while you're turkey calling.

Same for coyotes. When I see them during mid-day, they're nearly always specifically hunting turkeys.

 

[SKFOOTER]

My brother still has the lasting memories of a bobcat mistaking him for a turkey as he was set up working a bird at LBL several years ago. The cat lunged around the tree he was sitting against and pawed his shoulder before turning inside out to make a hasty retreat. Needless to say my brother followed suit and has never been back to LBL. :lol:

 

[Andy S.]

That is too funny Keith, story of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I've seen a population explosion also; got several pics of mama bobcats with 2 and 3 kittens in the past year. I don't know what their home range is but there's a bunch of them around. Got one pic of a huge male that I'm sure could take down a fawn/yearling if he wanted to.

 

[REN]

skunks, coons and opossums (as well as other egg eaters) are FAR greater in issue to turkey then any coyote, bobcat or fox.

 

[TLRanger]

Other egg eaters..................Snakes!

 

[Hunt 365]

I've taken out 6 oppossums and 2 racoons off my little property the last month and a half. I have leg catch traps, but now that their season is over, I'm going to run 2 live catch traps through turkey season. I have yet to catch a bobcat, fox or coyote in a leg catch. Theyre way too smart. If one nest is unduiscovered, that's 5-8 additional turkeys in the future. And I'm trying with the habitat

 

[7mminatree]

skunks, coons and opossums (as well as other egg eaters) are FAR greater in issue to turkey then any coyote, bobcat or fox.

^^this, and if those varmits don't get them, the poults have to contend with not getting pneumonia from spring floods.