Black Hills

[mowguy]

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?

[Hobbes]

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.

[turkeyfool]

90% of the turkeys in the hills are in 10% of the area

[mowguy]

Walking and calling, covering as much ground as possible. I definitely won't be passing Nebraska for the Hills again.

[Sanders153]

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

[SD_smith]

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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[turkeyfool]

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

[HookedonHooks]

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.

[AndyN]

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.

[HookedonHooks]

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.

[Sanders153]

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

[HookedonHooks]

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.

[Sanders153]

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

[Sanders153]

That icon was supposed to be 100%

[tbowers]

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.