Early life is the most hazardous time for young turkeys. An important sign of turkey population success is whether the young live through the summer. If conditions are right one year, the number of birds making it to the next spring will be greater. By watching brood conditions in your area it is possible to plan for next year.
Continued flooding hurts the turkey nesting along flood plains.
Any decreased gobbling makes finding those birds more difficult. Spring turkey hunting is gobbler hunting. The male birds gobble to attract hens for mating purposes.
As the weeks continue into the latter part of spring, there are fewer female birds to be attracted to the gobblers. Gradually, the season winds down. It is this decline in mating activity that is believed to be the cause of fewer birds being taken later in the season.
Wind and rain can also affect turkey harvest in the spring. Besides being a detriment to hunters taking to the field, wind and rain can sometimes cause the birds to react differently to a call. Turkeys do continue to practice their mating rituals regardless of weather.
Nesting success is dependent upon weather in late May and early June. Below‑average temperatures and very wet weather causes poor nesting success. Good conditions lead to at least two years of excellent hunting. However, it will be two years before those birds are gobbling. Jakes (yearling males) do not gobble the first spring after their birth. They will come to calls but do not gobble. They often surprise a hunter who is unaware just how close they are to him. Continue reading……….
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