muddy
Well-Known Member
Attacking nest raiders is the key. I don't think it would take long for turkeys to pop back if the coon/possum were culled back to "normal" levels
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Neighbor does a lot of trapping on his place. Have more turkeys than I've ever seen on our farm this year.
Great sight to see. I don't even mind if they eat up my food plots either..
Great sight to see. I don't even mind if they eat up my food plots either..
I’ve had a good year on baby birds… turkeys, pheasants & quail. Clearly some years are “bad nesting years”…. Maybe this year was one of them in certain areas?? We seemed to have good season. We also were in drought when others were not too.
I’m convinced the difference between the current /NEW amount of birds - which is staggering …. Is due to killing nest raiders. I’m gonna guess this started in a big area around us about 5 years ago now. We did regular trapping & then depredation & now the law allows anyone to do it…. In 5 years I’ll bet we killed 2,000+ nest raiders in a big area. I’d guess 85% coon, remainder possum with a few skunk. It’s insanity how many birds are around now. For example, In “deer country” that had “very few pheasants” (maybe saw one in a week for example) …. I could probably limit out on roosters in couple hours.
Sucky springs for hatch sure take their toll but the more guys that spend just a bit of time on these nest raiders…. Incredible to see results.
I’m convinced the difference between the current /NEW amount of birds - which is staggering …. Is due to killing nest raiders. I’m gonna guess this started in a big area around us about 5 years ago now. We did regular trapping & then depredation & now the law allows anyone to do it…. In 5 years I’ll bet we killed 2,000+ nest raiders in a big area. I’d guess 85% coon, remainder possum with a few skunk. It’s insanity how many birds are around now. For example, In “deer country” that had “very few pheasants” (maybe saw one in a week for example) …. I could probably limit out on roosters in couple hours.
Sucky springs for hatch sure take their toll but the more guys that spend just a bit of time on these nest raiders…. Incredible to see results.
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Starting to think its more weather related than predator related..
We've seen a LOT lower rate of fawns with does this year. Yet more turkey poults than I've ever seen on our farm..
Hot dry spring = Hard on fawns but helps young birds (turkeys, quail, etc?). Inverse could be true for wet springs ??
We've seen a LOT lower rate of fawns with does this year. Yet more turkey poults than I've ever seen on our farm..
Hot dry spring = Hard on fawns but helps young birds (turkeys, quail, etc?). Inverse could be true for wet springs ??
Daver
PMA Member
I think you are on to something here. I forget the details exactly...but all ground based birds are VERY vulnerable to even heavy dew, let alone rain, etc, in the spring when they are first hatched. When they are still downy and not yet feathered, it doesn't take much moisture and they are then very vulnerable to death from exposure.
The upside of the widespread dry weather during this critical phase is much better brood success for turks, quail, pheasants, etc. I was hearing at least 4 separate quail whistling last week at my place and I am confident that I wasn't hearing all of them.
Predators are also a big factor, particularly when a critter can wipe out a whole nest in one swipe. Drop your predator numbers AND get a dry spring...BOOM...birds everywhere.
hillrunner
PMA Member
I have 18 chick's and 4 hens walking across my yard daily.
My dog is sorta scared of turkeys but I get a little nervous that she might try one of the small ones.
My dog is sorta scared of turkeys but I get a little nervous that she might try one of the small ones.
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
I don’t know if anyone else follows pheasants forever Facebook page but they do “Pheasant Fact Fridays” and they are a very interesting read I posted some below. Just goes to show how much there really is to nesting success in birds even without predators. Big thing I notice is the chicks diet of insects. Add insecticides on crops and boom big impact.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
letemgrow
PMA Member
I don’t know if anyone else follows pheasants forever Facebook page but they do “Pheasant Fact Fridays” and they are a very interesting read I posted some below. Just goes to show how much there really is to nesting success in birds even without predators. Big thing I notice is the chicks diet of insects. Add insecticides on crops and boom big impact.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I always liked those areas where winter rye or winter wheat is left standing.
Those areas seem to harbor a lot of hens with poults when the annual weeds start to come up in it.
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
+1. Clover + wheat or rye makes a great nesting combination come spring. Many quail flushed from these locations.