Silent Spring-(possible cause)---ATVs!!!

[quavers59]

I really wanted to expand on this subject. Less then 10 years ago in 5+ areas of Orange County,New York---I observed while FALL turkey hunting in areas more then 1 mile from a main road- Monster ATVs making the scene in areas that I have ALWAYS seen good sized flocks. These ATVs can be real quiet when they go slow. Seeing camo shotguns sticking up in the back of 2 ATVs while these guys were scanning all around told me what they were up to. They did not even see me until they were close as they were looking for turkeys. What they saw was another turkey hunter- they were surprised anyone would be so far back!! This was in a area of Sterling Forest State Park in NY where no ATVs are allowed! About 8 years ago- I heard over 20 toms in mid- April and by May 1st- I heard zero! I heard those magnum shots though in April. This area is finally coming back and is where I took my 2nd tom last Spring with the fighting purrs. I hike year round before 8.30am on weekends and have seen ATVs in different areas. When I was a member of Monroe-Chester gun club- I was Spring hunting and saw 2 tresspassers in full camo on ATVs riding the field edges closely. They saw me and hightailed through the wetlands and a woods road to where they lived.
   In Sterling Forest there are many homes-400,000+ that back up to the state land. And that is where these ATVs are coming from. One area is CANDLE road. The access road goes right past someones huge home. This state land looks like a (hammer) of maybe 250 acres or so. ATVs were in his driveway. I had a big problem with this guy trying to barr me from leaving with his truck!  I called the park police on him as did a number of others. This state land was not just (his land). Off 2 other areas of Sterling Forest - it is the same. Out their back door and onto the state land. There is a public trail that runs fairly close to many of these homes and ATV trail leading from their backyards!  My brother in law is an oil tech and had to fix someone furnace one Fall. A number of stuffed turkeys and my Brother in law found out he goes out his back door. Plenty of ATV trails near his home as well.
    This could be (just 1) possible cause of a turkey decline in different areas. The more hikers out though---THE BETTER. I don;t hear nearly as many magnum shots in April as even just a few years ago and as I said the turkey population in my area is very high. All replys welcomed . Reflections, Wild Turkeys, And Public Lands was a good book that is now out of stock. One chapter covered the above.

[Bowguy]

I don't atvs have the slightest thing to do w turkeys decline. They certainly can ruin a hunt or the experience n shouldn't be on state land.
In this area we've had a couple bad winters along w rough wet springs. Plus the predators have been strong. It all adds up

[Marc]

I am having some difficulty understanding your point or concern.

One thing I have noticed, is that outside of rural residential areas, that an ATV will shut birds up and send game into hiding rather quickly...  On one ranch I am currently hunting the birds are used to trucks driving around to check cattle, but I have noticed as soon as someone lights up a quad, birds (and other game) scurry for cover.

But I have seen turkeys strutting on a lawn that someone is mowing on a riding mower in residential areas.

Habitat and habitat conditions are the primary limiting factor for turkey populations.

I do think that excessive disturbance will drive birds out of an area though.

[davisd9]

Most birds hear/see the atvs, they hide and quiet down until it is gone and then go right back to what they were doing 30 minutes later.


Sent from the Strut Zone

[wvmntnhick]

I believe his point is that it's allowing people to gain access to land that they wouldn't ordinarily access by walking. Let's face it, the vast majority of "hunters" won't go more than a few hundred yards from the truck. I'll admit, I have been that guy on occasion. However, a buddy of mine has pushed me to better myself over the years and thank God for that. Hunting with him has made the overall experience richer. Walking lord knows how far after a turkey that I'd ordinarily not even hear from the parking lot. His drive got me to walk into a public land area in deer season to shoot the only buck I'd killed all year and drag it the 2 miles back to the car. I was whipped but still excited. Wasn't the biggest buck I'd killed by far but I'd still considered getting it mounted simply because of the work I'd put into it. Personally, I like to go to a place that I can drive to and walk a short distance but it's no longer such a bother to me to cover the distance and putting the extra work into it. I still don't like dragging deer around nor do I care for lugging in a climbing tree stand but I'll do it if it means getting the job done and respecting it more later. In these public locations that are supposed to be ATV free, and the ATV's show up, it does make one wonder if the accessibility hasn't had an effect on things. Hope this made sense.

[perrytrails]

Most birds hear/see the atvs, they hide and quiet down until it is gone and then go right back to what they were doing 30 minutes later.


Sent from the Strut Zone

Very true. In fact, last year I hunted a state area that has trails for ATV RIDERS. Most don't start riding till after 9am.

Several times I was in there, myself and friends working birds. Motorcycles and Atvs would fly by on the trail. Within 15 minutes that bird would be gobbling again. Like it never happened.

I've even had people stop and tell me where they seen gobblers while riding.

But its legal to ride there, and it doesn't affect the birds that much at all.

My buddy and I have laughed many times, saying we would jump up in camo and scare one of those riders clear outta their boots, the risk of hurting someone always stopped us but I'd bet they would come unglued.
Lol

Now I had to walk a mile most days to get to the roost area but it was totally worth it.

I'll let ya in on a secret, I never ran into another hunter the entire season. : )
Those birds soon figure out those loud Atvs are really no threat to them.

[Greg Massey]

I don't see were ATV have any affect on the turkeys . I've saw farmers with tractors running up and and down a field all day long and the turkeys acted like it didn't matter at all and also the color of the tractor was John Deere green...

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

There are fewer turkeys around, dude.

Many reasons to include more hunters killing more turkeys, more accessibility based on atv/utv use, higher percentage tactics (such as blinds, more decoy use, and reaping), poor weather, higher nest raider populations, increased birds of prey numbers, and horrible poult recruitment.

The birds aren't around in most places like they once were and the reason is because DNR's have failed to recognize the increased  pressure on the resource in combination with horrible spring weather conditions.

[Greg Massey]

I agree there are fewer turkeys around but also the number of hunters is on a big decline also. Like VaTuRKStOmPer .. just said, this crazy weather we are having has a big impact on the hatch. I don't see were what type of equipment we use has that big of problem with the turkey populations. Were my farm is located farmers use to farmer all the crop land. Those days have been long and gone with most of us planting food plots now. In a 10 mile radius of my place you want find a single crop field most of the land is all over grow crop land. With these over grow fields we have a lot more predators.. I don't feel blinds and decoys have declined the turkey population.  In my 10 mile radius of my place your lucky to find 2 turkey hunters park on the side of field roads etc...We just don't have the number of hunters anymore..

[catman529]

Turkey population here is doing well and it's been pretty silent this year so far. I dont think ATVs have anything to do with it. some areas are facing decline here in TN as well, but other areas are booming. Can be a number of causes, but you can't judge a population by how much gobbling you hear.

[Greg Massey]

Amen...Catman529

[JK Spurs]

It's not the ATV. Where I hunt it's polluted with ATV's. You can ride up on birds and most of the time they'll just silently walk away until clear....they see you on foot they're flying, running, doing everything possible to get out! Only negative experience I have with ATVs is guys just riding around, stopping and calling. I'll use mine for a piece a ground I hunt but it's to get from point A to point B and then it's on foot all day. We ride all year round where I hunt and the birds go no where...they adapt to them.

[quavers59]

ATVs are probably just (a small part) of the problem nationwide.  I can tell everyone here that they can be used to tresspass and get away very fast! I have been a witness a good 10 times over the years in different areas. I also used to REPOST the Monroe- Chester Sportsmens Club line each August as only a few knew the whole line. So many posted signs were ripped down!!  They were also ripped down on the line where a well used woodsroad ran through. That is where the ATVs came from. This also happened in Sterling Forest. State Land signs were taken down less then a 1/4 mile from very expensive homes that backed up to state land. ATV trails led from their backyards into the hardwoods.  As I wrote- my Brother in law is an oil tech and was in one of these homes. Yup- the owner is a big turkey hunter!

[Marc]

 After reading the thread again, I do see how ATV's would have a negative impact on hunting and hunters...

·   That place you had all to yourself, cause you had to walk in a mile is now open to ATV's and you will no longer have it to yourself.
·   More people with more easy access probably means a few more birds killed by hunters that would not have otherwise killed those birds.
·   Increased activity and disturbance will likely make some birds (and other game) move out of an area.
·   Increased ATV activity while you are hunting will make hunting more difficult.

Personally, most of my best public hunting and fishing spots take a bit of work to get to or to learn.  I am always a fan of having access to public areas for hunting and fishing, I am just not always a fan of making that access too easy.

In the past, I have had access to private areas, that then became open to the public, and those ranches went from extremely productive to being completely devoid of game within a matter of a couple seasons.  Probably due to increased activity/disturbance moving game, and excessive take of available game.

[ilbucksndux]

I think ATV's have little impact on game. It has already been said that they allow you to access some places that would be a several mile walk,is where I see the effects of them. I think low fur prices and fewer trappers makes more of a difference on turkey numbers.