Spring Turkey

[rod hog]

brian if he isnt going to sleep can he take some time off and let the rest catch up. billys kids too

[GAMBLER]

On 5/9/2025 at 5:20 PM, rod hog said:

brian if he isnt going to sleep can he take some time off and let the rest catch up. billys kids too

I love seeing these young kids doing what we did when we were young!  There aren’t many left like Billy’s kids and Manny!  I wish I could turn back the clock!  6 hours in the kayak yesterday and I’m am beat! 

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

Made my way back up to the north country for a successful public land tag out this morning in Jefferson County. After a couple of moves relocating birds off the roost it all came together watching a group of Toms working my soft yelps as they slipped through the thick swamp into gun range at 20yds. What made this hunt even more special to me was using my Grandfather's Ithaca 12 gauge featherlight he won for a Quarter $.25 at the Brockport carnival back in 1957 🇺🇲

 

Edited May 11, 2025 by SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors

[whaler1]

That’s awesome!

[greenhornet73]

I just bagged my first turkey this morning. Played chess for 1 1/2 hrs to pull him away from his hens then he came within 15 yards and hung out until I picked my shot.

[greenhornet73]

I promise I shot well after sunrise. For some reason my pic isn’t loading correctly though 

[fisherman21]

14 minutes ago, greenhornet73 said:

I just bagged my first turkey this morning. Played chess for 1 1/2 hrs to pull him away from his hens then he came within 15 yards and hung out until I picked my shot.

Congratulations!!!

[greenhornet73]

It was my first time not using a decoy and it paid off. He came in closer than any time I used one.

[whaler1]

Fantastic job!

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

After battling rough weather in the youth season and battling rough conditions again this weekend my youngest boy was able to seal the deal on his very first turkey at 22yds this morning up in Jefferson county. Awesome proud father/son day memories we both will never forget.🇺🇲

[greenhornet73]

That’s awesome. It took a me 6 seasons to get my first one with one miss 2 years ago on a 15 yard shot because my fiber optic sight was off by 6”.  Your son is lucky to have a good guide, he’ll get one every year now I bet.

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

4 hours ago, greenhornet73 said:

That’s awesome. It took a me 6 seasons to get my first one with one miss 2 years ago on a 15 yard shot because my fiber optic sight was off by 6”.  Your son is lucky to have a good guide, he’ll get one every year now I bet.

He's off to a great start at 12yrs old he has a ton of patience and persistence that's what makes successful turkey hunts. He wanted to know every detail about roosting birds navigating using the terrain how to fool them with calls always asking questions. Was a great experience for both of us always grateful to watch them learn and grow.

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

On 5/17/2025 at 12:29 PM, greenhornet73 said:

It was my first time not using a decoy and it paid off. He came in closer than any time I used one.

I stopped using decoys few years ago I think it scares them off more so then bringing them in. Great job Beautiful looking bird!

[greenhornet73]

I vacuum sealed the breasts and legs and froze them leaving one breast in the refrigerator to eat one night this week. How long can I safely store it in the fridge considering I just shot and processed it yesterday?

[Kevin J Legg]

Probably through the week. 
My son and I just made some I had frozen into a white sausage.

It came out very good.

 

Edited May 18, 2025 by Kevin J Legg
Added photo

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

On 5/18/2025 at 9:30 AM, SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors said:

After battling rough weather in the youth season and battling rough conditions again this weekend my youngest boy was able to seal the deal on his very first turkey at 22yds this morning up in Jefferson county. Awesome proud father/son day memories we both will never forget.🇺🇲

Edited May 19, 2025 by SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors

[fisherman21]

What is everyone’s thoughts on the turkey population in the Rochester/greater Rochester area/nys? Seems like the numbers just keep going down each year. It could just be the spots I have, but I rarely ever see turkeys anymore even when driving. It’s not to say you can’t still kill birds, because you can. The numbers are just trash in my opinion. I would love if we went down to a one bird state for a few years. I think it would help tremendously. I also have noticed fishers popping up on every one of my pieces the last couple years, which never used to happen. Can a trapping season be opened in our area for them? I know they can hammer on the turkeys pretty good. The yotes also hammer on them this time of year. I can’t tell you how many times during turkey season I actively see coyotes hunting the turkeys. It would be nice to have a 365 day season like some states do. I know this is all a reach. It just sucks seeing the turkey numbers down to what they are right now. I wish something could be done.

Edited May 26, 2025 by fisherman21

[whaler1]

In my spots numbers are way down. More fisher and coyotes and a lot less birds. 

[whaler1]

So far the spring fishing has been tough as well. 

[greenhornet73]

Numbers are way down here too. There were flocks of 20-30 just a few years ago, now maybe 10 at the most.  Most of the time I see 5 or 6 at one time though.  Fishers have been spotted here as well and definitely a healthy coyote population, I hear them sounding off pretty regularly at night.

[SchultzFishingTeamOutdoors]

Just my opinion in and around the Rochester area and southern tier region the turkey population is down due to many factors. Not as many are predator trapping/hunting and we keep loosing the habitat that turkeys need for proper nesting,feeding, survival etc... I would say around these areas it's been a steady decline since the mid 2000's. Now on the flip side of that up in the Northern region of NY the Turkey's seem to be thriving. I had my best season this year and was not uncommon to take a 10min drive around and see multiple groups of birds. My opinion I think the most contributing factor to turkey decline in the Rochester area and south is  habitat conditions I say that because I too experienced seeing coyotes while hunting this season but also witnessed seeing multiple turkeys during those coyote encounters. Everything is a balance control predators increase habitat in theory in the Rochester area bird numbers should go up but when I have no clue. Hope for the best and good luck to everyone trying for a late season Bird. Hopefully our trout and salmon turn around soon it's been a awful start to the fishing season. 

Best of luck to everyone 🇺🇲