Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey nests

[FTG-05]

I was bushhogging my lower field yesterday. Grass is only 12-16" or so high. Didn't see any sign of nesting turkeys but I did see some turkeys both before, during and after I stopped bushhogging. I did about half the field.

Should I hold off bushhogging the rest?

Pics of the field and the turkeys I saw yesterday. Sorry for the ipotato pics.

Pic of the hen on the side of my hill watching me while I was bushhogging my lower field:

Pic of three toms in my lower field while I was bushhogging it. You can see the handle of my mounted chainsaw in the lower left.

And a pic of the two hens that ere with them. This pic was taken to the left of the previous pic; you can see my tractor grapple at the bottom. You can also see the difference in height between the cut vs. uncut grass in my lower field:

And the hen in the first pic down now at the bottom of my hill and in the lower field. The white object is a 5 gallon bucket with a salt block in it.

 

[nwsg76]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Mowing is not turkey nest friendly. Mowing is like brusing your hair....gonna have to do it again tomorrow if you want it to look nice. Most things wildlife friendly don't look nice....
But it's your property. So you get to decide what you like better. Is that mowing your fields or creating habitat?
The choice is your. That is what makes America great!

 

[Boll Weevil]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

I don't mow until after Memorial Day and every year I discover hatched out nests. If I'd have mowed earlier, would have almost certainly destroyed them.

 

[Spurhunter]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

No way I would bush hog a field right now. Especially a field with turkeys hanging around.

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

No way I would bush hog a field right now. Especially a field with turkeys hanging around.

Ok that's the kind of thing I wanted to hear. thanks,

So I take it that grass is high enough for turkeys to nest in?


BTW: There are 6 turkeys right next to my driveway about 100 yards away as we speak.

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Taken from my office window a couple minutes ago:

Can someone post a credible educational site for wild turkey nesting habit and habitat? I need to learn more about them.

thanks,

 

[Spurhunter]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

No way I would bush hog a field right now. Especially a field with turkeys hanging around.

Ok that's the kind of thing I wanted to hear. thanks,

So I take it that grass is high enough for turkeys to nest in?


BTW: There are 6 turkeys right next to my driveway about 100 yards away as we speak.

I don't claim to be an expert on turkey nesting. I just wouldn't take a chance unless the bushhogging was absolutely unavoidable. You seem to have a good population though!

 

[nwsg76]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Here is a good resource. Especially the ones on old field management.
https://www.tn.gov/twra/article/management-of-habitats

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

No way I would bush hog a field right now. Especially a field with turkeys hanging around.

Ok that's the kind of thing I wanted to hear. thanks,

So I take it that grass is high enough for turkeys to nest in?


BTW: There are 6 turkeys right next to my driveway about 100 yards away as we speak.

I don't claim to be an expert on turkey nesting. I just wouldn't take a chance unless the bushhogging was absolutely unavoidable. You seem to have a good population though!

It's not at all, so I won't. I've got things I need to do anyway (Taj Mahal upgrade being one of them).

Thanks,

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Here is a good resource. Especially the ones on old field management.
https://www.tn.gov/twra/article/management-of-habitats

Going through it now, thanks!

 

[MR Yote]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Wait to mow towards the end of May if you can. Looks like you got the info you needed.

 

[FTG-05]

Re: Should I finish bushhogging my lower field - or turkey n

Wait to mow towards the end of May if you can. Looks like you got the info you needed.

I will.

BTW, that same female appears to be at the bottom of my hill as we speak. As well as the 7 toms up on my driveway.

Why aren't the toms "butterballing" up? I think I've only seen one or two do it. This time last year, that's about you would see around here.