Been looking at the Black Hills for several years. Always ended up going somewhere else. Well this year I finally made the trip. Been walking and driving for two days and have seen 1 turkey! Has the population declined that bad or am I missing something?
Im assuming that you are, but I hope you are walking and calling. Cover ground, yelp your butt off, and locate birds. If you aren't locating birds, move. I can't help you with previous numbers. I hunted it for the first time last year. I struck out on day 1 but found a few on the second day and killed one of them by mid to late morning.
90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area
Quote from: turkeyfool on May 11, 2021, 04:09:52 PM
90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area
Good tip. Thanks. I'll try and remember that. I'm now waffling between WY and PA for the week of the 23rd. No real pressure either way. If not for the rental car situation would go for WY. PA is a drive up and hunt with a relative. WY a fly in, rent a car, then stumble around. Leaning towards PA but with nothing locked in but a fully refundable airfare to Denver. I change my mind at least three times per day - LOL. Still have turkey fever :turkey2:
Walking and calling, covering as much ground as possible. I definitely won't be passing Nebraska for the Hills again.
I have heard from a few sources that Nebraska is doing fairly well sight their population. Them and Kansas. Whatever they are doing it seems to be working
Quote from: turkeyfool on May 11, 2021, 04:09:52 PM
90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area
As a former inhabitant of the Black Hills, this pretty bunch breaks it down Barney style. Once you find them you're good. In case you didn't know that already hahaha
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Quote from: joey46 on May 11, 2021, 04:37:39 PM
Quote from: turkeyfool on May 11, 2021, 04:09:52 PM
90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area
Good tip. Thanks. I'll try and remember that. I'm now waffling between WY and PA for the week of the 23rd. No real pressure either way. If not for the rental car situation would go for WY. PA is a drive up and hunt with a relative. WY a fly in, rent a car, then stumble around. Leaning towards PA but with nothing locked in but a fully refundable airfare to Denver. I change my mind at least three times per day - LOL. Still have turkey fever :turkey2:
Today's thought is write off WY Black Hills this year and join the cousin's kid in PA. Of course that involves driving up through all the states that now have no gasoline. This late season hunt may be jinxed but things may loosen up in 10 days. Wonder what the next crisis will be?
Joey the WY black hills and PA are about 2 days apart from each my guy haha go to whichever one is more convenient/more favorable weather
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 11, 2021, 07:50:52 PM
I have heard from a few sources that Nebraska is doing fairly well sight their population. Them and Kansas. Whatever they are doing it seems to be working
Your sources were wrong on Kansas. It's hurting out here. Don't get me wrong turkeys aren't totally disappearing but they dang sure are declining pretty hard.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 12, 2021, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 11, 2021, 07:50:52 PM
I have heard from a few sources that Nebraska is doing fairly well sight their population. Them and Kansas. Whatever they are doing it seems to be working
Your sources were wrong on Kansas. It's hurting out here. Don't get me wrong turkeys aren't totally disappearing but they dang sure are declining pretty hard.
What he said. State tried to get rid of the fall season and the "compromise" was a shortened fall season. Only two units now allow two birds and everyone skipped the one bird units and headed there this year. Nebraska has maintained a good harvest success but they are on the downhill side of total harvest and from what I've seen bird numbers have been going down the last 4 years.
Quote from: AndyN on May 12, 2021, 11:52:09 AM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 12, 2021, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 11, 2021, 07:50:52 PM
I have heard from a few sources that Nebraska is doing fairly well sight their population. Them and Kansas. Whatever they are doing it seems to be working
Your sources were wrong on Kansas. It's hurting out here. Don't get me wrong turkeys aren't totally disappearing but they dang sure are declining pretty hard.
What he said. State tried to get rid of the fall season and the "compromise" was a shortened fall season. Only two units now allow two birds and everyone skipped the one bird units and headed there this year. Nebraska has maintained a good harvest success but they are on the downhill side of total harvest and from what I've seen bird numbers have been going down the last 4 years.
Leaving those two units open for two birds did more harm than good for that portion of the state unfortunately. Not only did that area experience a bad hatch the last two springs, it being the 2nd season of two tag zones is decimating the population out there. This is based off reports from people out that way that I know that were looking to travel east to fill a tag this year even. Imagine that, locals heading out of a two tag zone, to a one tag zone just to fill a tag, doesn't make any lick of sense.
Quote from: AndyN on May 12, 2021, 11:52:09 AM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 12, 2021, 11:35:45 AM
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 11, 2021, 07:50:52 PM
I have heard from a few sources that Nebraska is doing fairly well sight their population. Them and Kansas. Whatever they are doing it seems to be working
Your sources were wrong on Kansas. It's hurting out here. Don't get me wrong turkeys aren't totally disappearing but they dang sure are declining pretty hard.
What he said. State tried to get rid of the fall season and the "compromise" was a shortened fall season. Only two units now allow two birds and everyone skipped the one bird units and headed there this year. Nebraska has maintained a good harvest success but they are on the downhill side of total harvest and from what I've seen bird numbers have been going down the last 4 years.
My goodness.. It sounds like birds have been disappearing for a number of years in most of the states.. What is happening to our turkeys guys
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 12, 2021, 02:11:15 PM
What is happening to our turkeys guys
That's the million dollar question that has a good handful of factors.
I think the number one issue across the country is the fur market crashing has essentially stopped the wide spread trapping of nest predators. I truly believe a bounty on nest predators would not only put their populations back in check, it would drastically help turkeys everywhere. Partner that with research for better habitat practices for the turkey and general turkey research I think numbers could be greatly increased without sacrificing any hunter opportunity, and unfortunately in some states opportunity is what's being taken rather than making immediate ecological changes for the turkeys other than taking hunters out of the woods.
When I first hunted turkeys in the late 1970s/80s the season limit was one and anyone filling it was thrilled. Turkey populations seemed to peak in the late 90s and held steady. Two or three bird limits were initiated in many places along with fall seasons. The advent of improved techniques and the internet dramatically increased the success ratio and pressure in many states. This is of course all IMO but a return to a one bird limit might help many areas. I'll admit I'm guilty of the hunt until limited out down here in Florida but would get over it. I can still remember being thrilled to have one bird down in Ohio and looking forward to the next season. Yes raccoons are a big problem everywhere and the even hint at a leg hold trap is looked on as medival torture. Quite the dilemma especially with so much politics involved in these wildlife decisions. Leg hold traps illegal in Florida and the chances of that ever being reversed are nil. Just the way it is now.
Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 12, 2021, 02:23:43 PM
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 12, 2021, 02:11:15 PM
What is happening to our turkeys guys
That's the million dollar question that has a good handful of factors.
I think the number one issue across the country is the fur market crashing has essentially stopped the wide spread trapping of nest predators. I truly believe a bounty on nest predators would not only put their populations back in check, it would drastically help turkeys everywhere. Partner that with research for better habitat practices for the turkey and general turkey research I think numbers could be greatly increased without sacrificing any hunter opportunity, and unfortunately in some states opportunity is what's being taken rather than making immediate ecological changes for the turkeys other than taking hunters out of the woods.
Agree ????. Nesting predators overpopulated are a huge issue. If they could be put back in check, I know it would help our birds greatly. I imagine our quail population would make a comeback as well
That icon was supposed to be 100%
Just gotta put on miles and cover ground. They aint typically just going to be in your lap. I've hunted out there and killed- 10 mile plus days on your boots is the norm. The drive around/get out and call technique can work in some areas but in general the BH aint one of them- get out of the truck and walk around. Not saying this is you but it floors me how lazy turkey hunters can be...must be the same dudes hunting antelope that will only go 100 yds from the truck
Also in talking with biologists the turkey numbers have remained pretty consistent the past several years in the BH.
Quote from: SD_smith on May 11, 2021, 08:40:07 PM
Quote from: turkeyfool on May 11, 2021, 04:09:52 PM
90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area
As a former inhabitant of the Black Hills, this pretty bunch breaks it down Barney style. Once you find them you're good. In case you didn't know that already hahaha
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
True that! Big shout out to Dylan for his advice before my trip too!
I hunted there Apr 25-29. The weather simply sucked with extreme cold and winds, no sugar coating it. The birds were still flocked up and not gobbling much on the roost, and almost none after, even at fly up. Closest I got was 100+ yds to a tom by trying to agitate the lead hen, but he only gobbled 2x during the whole calling duel. A little secret for you all... all the birds we found were in or near the snow. I don't feel too bad for my first time there as we met a guide at the Alpine Inn at dinner that his clients had only taken 2 birds since it opened on Apr 9, his worst season ever to that point. It warmed up after I left and the birds were more playful then, but shut down again when it cooled back down. Miles of running and gunning don't do anything except wear out your legs and boots when they are like that, just saying - hunt smarter, not harder. Had much more action in the prarie, but again, the weather played a huge role and others with lots of experience were struggling there too until it warmed up. The birds are up there, just need to be there at the right time! The lack of deer was terrible too, only saw 533 the second day there! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/54dded7d019e48b000b9d103760d3485.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/ee5fe143a2628261909b21b35f550159.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/3150130b7291340bc407e13fddee1f1e.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/b13f4b7660b451798b08a417f73b3c2e.jpg)
Those are some awesome pictures friend
533 the second day? Heck I seen that in the first hour...If we had deer that amount back east you couldn't kill a bird here due to the deer snorting and running !!!
Don't forget every time your in the dark alone...you can't hear a Mountian lion in pine needles
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 12, 2021, 02:37:20 PM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on May 12, 2021, 02:23:43 PM
Quote from: Sanders153 on May 12, 2021, 02:11:15 PM
What is happening to our turkeys guys
That's the million dollar question that has a good handful of factors.
I think the number one issue across the country is the fur market crashing has essentially stopped the wide spread trapping of nest predators. I truly believe a bounty on nest predators would not only put their populations back in check, it would drastically help turkeys everywhere. Partner that with research for better habitat practices for the turkey and general turkey research I think numbers could be greatly increased without sacrificing any hunter opportunity, and unfortunately in some states opportunity is what's being taken rather than making immediate ecological changes for the turkeys other than taking hunters out of the woods.
Agree ????. Nesting predators overpopulated are a huge issue. If they could be put back in check, I know it would help our birds greatly. I imagine our quail population would make a comeback as well
Amen. Predators are big issue and habitat loss.
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Quote from: WV Ridge Reaper on May 12, 2021, 10:02:24 PM
533 the second day? Heck I seen that in the first hour...If we had deer that amount back east you couldn't kill a bird here due to the deer snorting and running !!!
Don't forget every time your in the dark alone...you can't hear a Mountian lion in pine needles
Here's a pic of the big cat poop I found on top of a mtn up there too, forgot about that! It had a 3ft mound of pine needles covering it and I uncovered it to prove to my friend that it was mtn lion. Lots of cats running around according to the locals and pics they shared with them on their porches! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210513/bf28a0270d145a2b9388d523ad461f97.jpg)
I just got back from the black hills. I hunted with a guide though because of timing. We walked 10.5 miles before killing my bird in one day. It was by far the hardest hunting Iv done for turkeys but was well worth it. If your hunting public land you better walk far and like others say call call call. Don't be afraid to call . Unlike the Easterns they don't mind over calling from what I've seen. There was 11 people in camp and 10 killed within 2 days. Trophy ridge outfitters is who we hunted with. Moving on to Rios next.
Congrats. Glad you got one. Good luck on the Rio.