MN Spring turkey

[x1957x]

Tell your father I said good luck Don!! And good luck to you to!!(57)

[Musky Buck]

Yo Rooster 7 right now the habitat they prefer is directly under our bird feeders lol. JK, they're roosting in a pine grove inside a oak/birch/poplar woods, they get down at 7:10AM currently and fly over 1/4 mile landing in the soft snow in the front yard then it's a track meet and fight for every seed they can peck lol. Good sign, yesterday was the 1st official Tom/ long beard in the yard, and 1 jake is fluffing himself up now daily when he's with the gang, the # varies, but 42 birds are in this batch now. I'm figuring the combined cornfield edges is my set up plan for season C at present time.

[brittman]

Two jakes live on the road and driveways of our neighborhood in the NE metro. They were in our driveway yesterday. Living off bird feeders down the street (we don't have a feeder).

Nearest turkey woods is about 1 mile away. Even those woods are smaller and in the middle of a suburb. The snow over there must be so deep that the birds are spreading out looking for other means to survival.

Cars are their greatest danger now.

[Musky Buck]

That is the deal Brittman, about January 1st they quit trying to feed in the combined corn across the road, just too much work for what little they were finding so seeing maybe 9" of snow today, wet stuff that will freeze down like a crust and a half, think I better keep the bird feeders full for awhile, cold thru beginning of march isn't exactly likely what any of us were hoping for birds or people.

[MNHunter65]

I took a walk yesterday through the woods I hunt. In a normal year, there are tracks everywhere and I usually run into a big group or two of birds. Yesterday there wasn't a track to be found. Hopefully the birds are sitting at a bird feeder, because they sure aren't in the place I want them to be.

[Musky Buck]

It happens MNHunter, 2 years ago had a 28 pack of toms at the bird feeder daily 0 hens or jakes really. Last winter 0 rarely saw a bird except it seemed they found a guys feeder a mile and a 1/2 away so you wonder if those were some of the ones who knows. Now this winter there's a 42 pack in the yard again, it just varies, they maneuver along, I knew they were coming this year as winter began, they were in combined corn across the road daily until about New Years day, then that next snow and drifting buried where they were feeding, so sure enough had 2 at the bird feeder then 34 then finally the works and 42 is the #, only 1 tom, a few very yearling jakes, the clincher is looking out the window right now at heavy wet snow up to 9" that will be freezing solid soon enough, that isn't good on those birds or the pheasants and cold well into March I hear, but these birds are tough for sure, doesn't hurt that they've eaten about 200 pounds out of my bird feeder lol, free fertilizer !

[laker1]

This snow is really going to shrink the area they are in this weather. I still believe in the northern range of these birds,you are going to lose birds unless the bird feeders do the job.

[minky]

I am hoping the turkeys make it out of the winter in good shape, they are one hardy bird.

[herefish101]

So what are the dates for the different seasons for Turkey? I can't find it anywhere in the regs book, it just gives a spring turkey start date. I obviously missed the lottery, so what season is over the counter, and is the over the counter season still bow only? Thanks in advance for any info.

[brittman]

MN DNR HSOforum should clear up any questions you have on Spring Turkey licenses that are OTC or with bow.

[DonBo]

So what are the dates for the different seasons for Turkey? I can't find it anywhere in the regs book, it just gives a spring turkey start date. I obviously missed the lottery, so what season is over the counter, and is the over the counter season still bow only? Thanks in advance for any info.

A = April 16-20, B = April 21-25, C = April 26-30

D = May 1-5, E = May 6-10, F - May 11-15, G = May 16-22, H = May 23-29

It is not necessary to enter into the lottery for permits in the

time periods D - H they are available over the counter at ELS

Over the counter archery permits are good for the entire D - H time periods.

[Musky Buck]

I'm feeding a flock that is growing, 48 birds in the batch and neighbor guy has about 60-80 in his batch, it's hard to say but doesn't seem like any have croaked, there were 42 forever, now 6 toms are in the mix, they fly where they want to go except they walk the gravel unless cars flush em. They are definitely tough and now with a 7:00AM sunrise they're to the feeders and silage socks by 7:10AM, must be a long night in the roost. And yes it takes a lot of birdseed I do the cracked corn/millet/blackoil seed and they mop it up like crazy and yes I think I've gone through 300 pounds already this winter, key is buy at it's lowest price whenever that is and I have 175 pounds left, geez lol that's getting to almost be too much, need a mild one next winter. Will be curious April 26th season C to see what the landscape looks like then.

[minky]

Sounds like your turkeys are doing OK!

I went with the C season too.

I was not a fan of the deep snow of lasted years A season.

[rkhinrichs]

i hope for a slow melt. so the rivers dont flood my turkey areas. but the flooding pushes them off the river bottoms and makes it easier i feel like some time.

[laker1]

Seen a study from Pennslyvania(sp) that a study showed a turkey can survive up to two weeks without food. Yes it also showed turkeys are tough old birds,but losses do occur from harsh winters. How much?

[Archerysniper]

I was not a fan of the deep snow of lasted years A season.

It wasn't bad as long as you tagged out by noon the first day.

That was my hardest A seaon tag to fill it took 3 hours.

[leech~~]

It wasn't bad as long as you tagged out by noon the first day.

That was my hardest A seaon tag to fill it took 3 hours.

I was done in two the first day in A but only had driving freezing rain. I would have taken the snow!

[DonBo]

Well, "B" season was no walk in the park last year either. Heavy snow the first night, took me till the last minute of the last day to fill my tag. THEN we got i6" of snow the first week of May to totally screw my WS season. We can only hope for a better spring this year.

[brittman]

Even though I am a mid-season MN turkey hunter, I am usually not too happy when I shoot a bird opening morning. I learn too much being out there. I guide my kids when the opportunity arises and try to hunt another state ever so often.

I would say almost 90% of the Minnesota birds I kill are on day 3 of my 5 day season. Exhaustion seems to take over on days 4 and 5. My decision making process gets foggy and my willingness to bail early becomes high.

One of my favorite day #3 birds. This guy was 3-4 year old Tom with a softball head. Followed him off the roost, down the ravine, across two swamps to the river. He came to me when his little hen had enough of him that morning.

[minky]

Nice bird, good story!