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Whats everyones opion are u seening less birds in your area or the same historical amount the araes I can hunt it apears numbers are down talking to landowner they say the same Guelph Kitchener area . Maybe Im in the wrong area of the places i mentioned
farmer and i had this conversation yesterday. We both think that from 5 years ago there are way fewer. He figured used to be about 15 birds on his farm, no maybe 5
Same in my area, numbers seem way down compared to over the years. Even driving around I used to see many in fields but this year nothing.
Numbers maybe down a bit, but I think the birds just aren't showing themselves. The farm I saw 8 toms with a bunch of hens under them Sunday had only 3 Jakes and a hen Thursday. The farm that I hunted the rest of the week had another 3 birds show up. I think they are just not moving around a lot during the day once they are settled
Maybe since the day they were introduced back here in Ontario they have been on an upward trend and now have peaked due to available food/nesting/wintering areas so there may be a slight decline to a sustainable level ? Just a theory but based on invasive species like Zebra Mussels, they exploded at first but after consuming most of their environment and new predators developed they have since stabilized.
Lots of birds on the 2 farms I hunt. They just got the memo on season opening Tuesday. One farm had 27 birds out one evening, with 10 of them being mature toms, 1 or 2 jakes and the rest hens. The other farm had 2 toms, 12 jakes and 6 hens out in the field Thursday, but couldn't get into a proper position for a shot on a tom. I agree about seeing less birds around the countryside where I've typically seen them previous years.
More birds this year north of Barrie.
I am seeing the usual # of birds on the farms I hunt between Milton and Guelph.
I did notice alot of birds last weekend just south of Lake Nipissing, that never used to be anywhere near there....
The farm iI hunt and the surrounding area near my home seems to have the same amount of birds.
This year on opening day had 3 different groups one with four birds, one with 7 birds and the last one with 10 birds.
Good mixture of toms, jakes and hens.
My area of 92B is way down. I even gave the area a rest for 2 years and only saw one mature Tom on opening day.
one property I hunt has less birds but theres a subdivision going in nearby, the others are holding healthy bird #'s
This subject comes up every year. In my over 25 years of Ontario turkey hunting, I've noticed every year is different. I'm lucky having multiple farms to hunt. Each year the number of birds vary farm to farm. One year a farm will hold lots of birds, the next year nothing. I don't know why. Could be food or predators or habitat or combination of all three. This year is no different.
Not to be a d@#k, but the less turkey there are the happier Ill be! Considering they destroy grouse and woodcock nests! But on another note I saw a whole bunch of them, on multiple farms, while rabbit hunting this winter.
Than why not take a couple out, I'd be more than willing to help if neededQuote:
Originally Posted by Frank16
Turkey numbers seem very low in the Ottawa area. Fields that traditionally held big flocks, now seem to have none.
I am in south Brant and lucky to be able to hunt right behind my house and there are generally lots of birds here, so I rarely move around much. I feel I got lucky with a nice Tom opening morning but had seen very few scouting and heard and saw none the next few mornings I went out. I was thinking a second bird was unlikely but called a friend whose farm is only about 10km's away and got the go ahead to try there. The difference was unbelievable to me. I was covered up with big birds and harvested the second no problem.
Turkeys!!!
And so ends another Spring Turkey hunt. I made it out for the last day ( finally ) due to my back popping out on me. Had a Hen stroll thru my decoys but that was it. Morning gobbling stopped after the first week or so of the season but last night at dusk I heard a Hen yelping over in my orchard. Oh well... maybe next year ? I don't hunt them in the Fall, too busy duck hunting or getting ready for the deer hunt. Sure hope everybody filed their reports ?