Mild winter?

[AR turkey]

Will mild winters like the one we are having this year have much of an impact on when the wintering flocks will break up? Ive been at work all day thinking about this.

 

[REN]

Not really if anything it will help with survival rates some. Mating is brought on my amour of daylight per day not temps although I'm sure temps play a small part.

It's a lot like rut in that regardless of the weather mating will take place at the same basic time each year with just a few more factors then rut

 

[Hunt 365]

Don't think so....because in the early fall they're bunched up too. I think the first 60 plus degree stretch of 4-5 days will help trigger the gobbling, but my theory is the length of the days mainly determine when the flocks break up.

 

[Setterman]

Nope, it has everything to do with the angle of the sun, and the length of days. As the sun angle changes, and the days become longer, testosterone levels increase and start the breeding cycle.

It has to be triggered this way because if it were simply warm weather, then we would have birds breeding at all sorts of weird times, and ultimately population collapse during a warm January followed by a bitterly cold Feb and March.

 

[AR turkey]

Thanks for the information guys!

 

[Roost 1]

I prefer the mild winters for turkey hunting...I feel like the sooner it starts "greening up" the better the hunting is when season starts. This is not based on any type of data, just my opinion.....