NY season starter

[TauntoHawk]

The heat of the last four days made for the toughest NY hunting I've encountered in the 8 years I've been hunting up there. I still tagged out in 5 days but usually on my trip I lay two over and call a few more for others before I leave. Wads of jakes though which is awesome for next year.

[njdevilsb]

My dad and I have not seen one jake so far this year in 5 days of hunting and more days of scouting.  It's odd and has me a bit worried for what next year will bring.  I'm sure they have to be around somewhere, but we aren't seeing them yet.

[NYlogbeards]

Seen 3 jakes 2 toms and 6 hens, only heard one of the toms gobbling but none of the jakes are talking hens are noisy this year as well but the woods go silent after 6:30 am, maybe the tom is so henned up and isn't gobbling and none of the jakes will gobble cause of the more dominate bird, we'll see what the rest of the season holds.

[TauntoHawk]

My dad and I have not seen one jake so far this year in 5 days of hunting and more days of scouting.  It's odd and has me a bit worried for what next year will bring.  I'm sure they have to be around somewhere, but we aren't seeing them yet.

That's interesting in PA and NY Im not sure I've ever seen so many jakes and healthy big jakes at that. In NY I'm hunting Greene county, PA I've been around 3 counties and seen good jake number in all but really high up north in Susquehanna just south of the NY border.

[turkaholic]

Another 3 days without any good encounters. I hunt mostly in Schoharie county and this has been the strangest season ever. I thought this cool snap would shake things loose , not! Watched several birds strutting with hens but not playing the game. Maybe in a few more days. I need to work some birds or its going to be a long wait till next spring. I don't give up easy. Logged 32 miles mostly up or down, covered lots of ground with not much to go on.

[NYlogbeards]

Another 3 days without any good encounters. I hunt mostly in Schoharie county and this has been the strangest season ever. I thought this cool snap would shake things loose , not! Watched several birds strutting with hens but not playing the game. Maybe in a few more days. I need to work some birds or its going to be a long wait till next spring. I don't give up easy. Logged 32 miles mostly up or down, covered lots of ground with not much to go on.

Same thing here in Oswego i've walked up and down miles of railroad tracks and power lines, i've tried 3 mucks and 2 corn fields only heard some gobbling in the morning for the first week but the last couple days been dead silent, i've yet to get a turkey as i've only been hunting turkey for 2 years and this season is killing me.

[jperch]

It's been the same story in northern Cayuga County.  There is just a little gobbling at first light and almost none after flydown.  The few gobblers that I have seen have been with one to three hens and have not been responsive to calling at all.  Certainly turkey numbers are way down from past levels.  Hopefully things will pick up over the next couple of weeks.  Good luck all!  jperch

[troutfisher13111]

You guys are my neighbors, I live in the city of Fulton and hunt all over Oswego and into Cayuga county. I have been seeing the same, lots of gobbling on the roost, then complete silence after 6am.

[jperch]

Terry, I hunt near Fair Haven on a private farm and another property which is all woods half way between Oswego and Fulton.  These properties had tons of turkeys five years ago (and previous to that).  This year I am seeing far fewer and smaller flocks.  Lots of coyotes though.  Last fall I saw a fair number of birds while deer hunting.  It was a tough winter.  jperch

[turkaholic]

Is the NY turkey population in trouble? I don't see a lot of scratching around but the birds that I've watched were eating a lot of bugs. It seems they fly down scratch a bit and then stop scratching and eat bugs. In about 12 days of hunting I've seen over 30 hens. Last years hatch was a really good one with dry nesting conditions. Why is there not many gobblers around? I see and hear way to many Yotes. Going back this week hoping things get better. Birds gobbling and working fine here in CT.

[NYlogbeards]

I don't know if the population has suffered or not, I have seen just as many if not more turkeys this year then in the last 3 years but I haven't heard single gobble past 7 am in the last week, it seems like the hens have broken off from the gobblers cause I've been seeing gobblers alone and I kicked up a Hen this morning sitting on her eggs in the nest, I think the rest of the season will get a little better at least henned up wise but still not much gobbling. the mating season must have started early, probably cause of the warm up in April when it got up to 60's and then with the summer like temps for May.

[TauntoHawk]

I can't say mature bird numbers are through the roof but last years great hatch means next year should be good.