herb mcclure
Senior Member
First, let me tell, where I am coming from when making my insights know. I began hunting turkeys 64 years ago, when the population was very scarce. I have witnessed the turkeys being stocked even before live trapping was commenced. Then, I witness the live trapping era spreading turkeys into virgin habitat, where the population just exploded. Also, I witnessed the turkeys increasing their numbers during this same time-span where no stocking was ever done,(like on the Blue Ridge WMA, which has always had turkeys there). Now, I am witnessing the steady decline of turkeys for the past 20 years or more and learning that this is happening in most places, which leads to a $64,000 dollar question, why come?
No one seems to have a complete answer for all the troubles that turkeys have or have experienced. But a lot of theories and opinions are coming forth.
I will only imply my own comments, to what I have learned from observation or experiences.
My most hunted turkey habitat has been mature hardwood forest in high mountains of North Georgia. The habitat there has been changing. White pines are invading the hardwoods big time. Cannot say how this is helping any wildlife there.
Predators are more visible being there today than 60 years ago. The only noticeable turkey predator back then was the wildcat. There were a few wild hogs, but rare. Owls were heard often when listing for a gobbling turkey; and in late afternoons. Hawks were hardly ever encountered. No coyote were present.
Now today, all that has changed. Wild hogs are everywhere, especially where there is food for them, (mostly mast in winter). Wildcats or foxes don't seem to have increase, (base on their signs left in the forest and game cameras). Now, to a predator that has increased all over the country, which is the hawks! Yes, by my personally observing them, I have witness the highly increase of all types of hawks. I have actually witness hawks taking adult turkeys, young turkeys, and baby turkeys. How could I have witness this happening so much? This was mainly observed at my home-place over a 25 year's time there, having turkeys imprinted on the home-place and my wife and I. I witness a hawk dive on a hen once when hunting.
Yesterday, I was sent an email from DNR's "Georgia's Wild" and their article showed an Golden Eagle captured on a game camera in an open field, which was taking down a turkey in Burke County.
Today, posted on page 8 of "No turkeys in Georgia", on this forum, there is a graph posted by KS Bow Hunter that shows how much raptors have increased, 90%it looks like, and it also shows how much areal insectivores, (rats, shrew, moles, and hedgehog) have decreased 70%. This graph was from 1970 thru 2010. If hawks have increased even more since 2010, which they have, then it's no wounder turkeys are having a hard time, just like the field rats on that graph, and the Bob White Quail forty years ago. Some areas have more of a different predator than raptors, but in my experience hawks are trouble for turkeys, just like they were for grandma's yard chickens.
No one seems to have a complete answer for all the troubles that turkeys have or have experienced. But a lot of theories and opinions are coming forth.
I will only imply my own comments, to what I have learned from observation or experiences.
My most hunted turkey habitat has been mature hardwood forest in high mountains of North Georgia. The habitat there has been changing. White pines are invading the hardwoods big time. Cannot say how this is helping any wildlife there.
Predators are more visible being there today than 60 years ago. The only noticeable turkey predator back then was the wildcat. There were a few wild hogs, but rare. Owls were heard often when listing for a gobbling turkey; and in late afternoons. Hawks were hardly ever encountered. No coyote were present.
Now today, all that has changed. Wild hogs are everywhere, especially where there is food for them, (mostly mast in winter). Wildcats or foxes don't seem to have increase, (base on their signs left in the forest and game cameras). Now, to a predator that has increased all over the country, which is the hawks! Yes, by my personally observing them, I have witness the highly increase of all types of hawks. I have actually witness hawks taking adult turkeys, young turkeys, and baby turkeys. How could I have witness this happening so much? This was mainly observed at my home-place over a 25 year's time there, having turkeys imprinted on the home-place and my wife and I. I witness a hawk dive on a hen once when hunting.
Yesterday, I was sent an email from DNR's "Georgia's Wild" and their article showed an Golden Eagle captured on a game camera in an open field, which was taking down a turkey in Burke County.
Today, posted on page 8 of "No turkeys in Georgia", on this forum, there is a graph posted by KS Bow Hunter that shows how much raptors have increased, 90%it looks like, and it also shows how much areal insectivores, (rats, shrew, moles, and hedgehog) have decreased 70%. This graph was from 1970 thru 2010. If hawks have increased even more since 2010, which they have, then it's no wounder turkeys are having a hard time, just like the field rats on that graph, and the Bob White Quail forty years ago. Some areas have more of a different predator than raptors, but in my experience hawks are trouble for turkeys, just like they were for grandma's yard chickens.
