Turkey numbers in your area-growing-steady-or dropping

[laker1]

It seems like some zones like 508 turkey numbers have peaked and maybe dropped a little. Whats your area been doing?

[DonBo]

The hard winter a couple years ago was tough on the metro area flock, though I think numbers are better this year than last.

[engfish]

I've spent quite a bit of time driving through the northwest corner of Zone 461 and I have seen more turkeys than I've ever seen in the past five years. The one flock I've seen on a regular basis the past three years has doubled in size and is approaching 100 birds.

The past two weeks I have driven past the intersection of Highways 60 and 13 (462)and that flock has probably tripled in size from what we saw in that same area three years ago and is probably close to 50 birds.

I realize that those are just two small pockets of the zones, but it's encouraging to see the number of birds. I'm optimistic that bird numbers around the Faribault area should be much better than what they were last spring.

[Hoyt4]

Our zone the numbers have dropped over the last 5 years. A lot less sightings when deer hunting and turkey hunting. Even the trail cameras I'm getting less pictures. A couple guys that hunt a mile down the road from me have changed zones this year because of less birds. Houses being build up also is affecting some of it.

This fall did seem like they started to come back a little more then in the last 5 years.

[laker1]

They are really bunched up now,I wonder how far they disperse from where they are wintering. Any studies etc.

[Musky Buck]

Much lower in my area, they kinda hit a peak and have slowly fallen ever since, then again red fox numbers are higher than I've seen them in many years as well as bobcats on my t-cams now, not sure how hard predators are on them though, but I've noticed quite a few adult birds, but the hens seem to have no YOY left by fall ? Definite pockets of birds around here and there.

[Gordie]

I would have to say that they are growing very well in this area. The numbers are more than twice of what I noticed last year at this time.