Less Gobbles From Above (CC1)

Throughout the years that I have been hunting spring gobblers, I have had some pretty good success. However when I first started out the birds used to gobble almost all morning. Now when I go out there are some days that I will not hear a single gobble all morning. This isn’t just because there aren’t any turkeys there or because they have already mated for the year. I think it is more likely because there is way more turkeys in the woods than there used to be. The population of the birds has been steadily increasing over the years. Even though the DEC and the government have been saying that the population of turkeys has been decreasing, I would not believe them at all. I believe the reasons for the toms not gobbling all morning is because there are now more turkeys in the woods. Therefore with the higher number of birds in the woods, the toms don’t have to gobble all morning to find or locate the hens. The toms are either roosted with them or they are roosted fairly close to them. So if you do not hear any toms gobble at all in the morning do not freak out or get upset. You have to make up a brand new strategy enable to kill them. This new strategy has to include patience. Patience is the key. If the toms are not gobbling in the morning at all then just sit there and wait. There will be a lot of birds that will wonder into your calling without making a single sound. So all you have to do is sit there and be patient and wait. When you feel like you have waited long enough then wait longer. You have until twelve o’clock p.m. so use the time limit and kill some soundless gobblers.

Live Life and Hunt (BB2)

There are many reasons for people to go hunting and to continue hunting. Otherwise people that don’t hunt should get into hunting. One reason can be to keep the tradition of hunting alive because believe it or not the tradition of hunting is starting to die out. Therefor it is important for hunters to pass down the tradition to other people such as close friends or their family. Another reason for people to keep the hunting tradition alive is because some people get to benefit from hunting. Such as people that go to food pantries because they can’t afford everyday meals. Therefor hunters can donate their meat to families in need of food and help them out. Hunting is also an experience of a life time. Hunting just isn’t the killing of specific animals. Hunting is the time you get to spend with family and friends. Hunting is getting the chance to see other things that other people wouldn’t have the chance to see. Hunting makes connections between certain objects and brings them closer. The biggest reason for keeping the hunting tradition alive is because of over population. People don’t realize that without hunting you will have more accidents occurring all over because of more deer getting hit by cars. Also if people stopped hunting then the over population would cause the animals to just kill themselves. With over population there will be more animals in the woods which means less food and less space for them to rome. That means that we kind of need hunters in the woods to help feed people in need and to keep the animal population in check and healthy. People need to realize that hunting is good and not just about killing animals. It is about helping people, enjoying your free time, and to make connections between family and friends. So let’s keep hunting alive.

Set Backs Help Bowhunters (BB1)

The setback in Albany about the requirements for firing an arrow near homes will be good news for bow hunters in New York State. DEC wildlife biologists who have lobbied for the loosened restrictions may be even happier as they grapple with managing growing deer numbers in urban areas. The recently approved New York state budget reduces the setback requirement for firing an arrow from 500 feet down to 150 feet, a move DEC officials say will open thousands of additional acres to hunting. The budget also calls for a 250 setback requirement for crossbows, which will be allowed for hunting in portions of the Northern and Southern zone deer seasons. This will open up a lot of woods that hunters can now hunt that the deer have now moved into.  DEC wildlife biologist Jeremy Hurst said last year that while bow hunters can play a critical role in helping manage the deer population in developed areas, “one of the primary hurdles has been the discharge setback requirement of 500 feet, which includes bow hunters.”  The 500 foot setback will remain intact for hunters using firearms. DEC officials have called the 500 foot restriction “a prudent and appropriate safety measure for firearms but not for longbows and crossbows.” The reduced setback is seen as a major step in addressing high deer numbers in some areas of Erie, Albany, Monroe, Westchester and Suffolk counties. DEC’s deer management plan said those counties “have expressed increased interest in the use of archery hunting as a tool for controlling deer numbers.” Officials dismissed safety concerns with the 150 foot setback, noting that arrows have a much shorter range than shots from a firearm. This new requirement will have a lot of new benefits for bow hunters. I think you will see a major increase in the numbers of the deer killed this next up and coming deer season.

Turkey Population Decreasing (AA2)

When it comes to spring gobbler hunting in New York State, the good old days weren’t so long ago. But what a difference a decade makes. Combinations of factors are habitat loss, increased predation, and Mother Nature have conspired to send the state’s wild turkey population to its lowest in 20 years, and as a result the spring gobbler kill has seen a corresponding plummet. The spring gobbler kill peaked in 2003 when an estimated 36,800 birds were taken in New York State. Mother Nature has also played a role as New York’s turkey population struggles to rebound from historic highs. Wet and cold spring weather impacts nesting success and survival and in recent years that’s been the case in New York. From 2009 through 2011 we couldn’t catch a break with the weather. Last year was also below average from a production standpoint in many areas. A solid nesting season two years out means more two year old long beards will be available to hunters this spring. But last year’s below average production will likely translate to fewer yearling gobblers in some areas. Predators too have been eyed as a factor in the turkey population drop. However the recent winter will be a wild card in the turkey population. Typically a tough winter affects the young yearling birds more than adult birds. The DEC is in the second year of a four year study into hen survival and harvest rates and data from that study is likely to lead to alterations in the fall turkey hunting season. Despite the gloom and doom, good turkey hunting still exists across much of New York. However the total harvest may not be as good as they were ten years ago. Because of the decreasing population of birds all hunters should hunt smart and take advantage of the opportunities any birds give you.

Turkey Decoy Setups (AA1)

There are many technological advancements that have completely changed the way turkey hunters pursue spring gobblers. However I would have to say that the realistic decoys that companies make are probably the biggest improvement. Spring gobbler hunters can’t just go out and purchase a few of the many lifelike decoys on the market today and then throw them out in the woods or in an open field and expect the birds to come running. All spring gobbler hunters need to have a strategy. How you set your decoys may change as the season drags on and the birds’ behavior changes. Every part of the season has a different type of way you set up your decoys. There are three parts to the spring turkey season. They are early season, midseason, and late season. Your early season setup should consist of a gobbler (either a strutter or walking long beard out of strut), a jake decoy, and a single hen. You can do this set up almost anywhere but I would prefer to set up on the edge of an open field or in the open woods. Avoid intimidating other gobblers by sticking with a walking tom and maybe a jake decoy following a hen. This set up is because many early season birds haven’t “made up their minds”. In the mid-season gobblers have bred the hens and are breeding some of the last that haven’t yet been bred. Often, a talkative gobbler or a strutting decoy will attract a bachelor group of two year old toms running around. So your midseason setup should be a strutter decoy with two or three hens out front, with the gobbler following the hens. The set up for the late season is simple. All you have to set up is one simple hen by herself. Follow these tips and you may see a difference in the gobbler’s actions.

Prices For Trappers Take a Fatal Fall (Z1)

Many local and statewide factors have contributed to the worldwide fur market in 2013- 2014. This market has previously been enjoying a growth spurt for three years running. Still, New York trappers managed to produce good numbers of high quality pelts, although they were generally at a lesser price than in recent seasons. This year was just about as tough as many trappers can recall from a competition standpoint. This is mainly because when prices rise dramatically many trappers run trap lines. This has an impact on everyone. In addition to the increased competition, New York trappers had to navigate through the inclement fall and winter weather. Land trappers fought for the majority of the season to keep their traps working with the snow and icy conditions brought on by the extremely cold temperatures. Likewise, trappers targeting water furbearers were forced to ensure less than ideal trapping conditions. For most of the trapping season the ice was either too thin to walk on or it was too thick to push a boat through it. Price wise, industry forecasts prior to the season called for more of the same growth that had involved the market for the past few years. But some unexpected events led to a bit of uncertainty for trappers, buyers, resellers, and manufacturers. Internationally, Russia and China, two of the largest fur-buying nations, pressed the fur market for different reasons. Russia, unlike the polar vortexed United States, experienced a slightly warmer than normal winter, providing a minor downturn in pelt demand. These slight impacts on the countries around us directly impacted us. No one ever thinks of these things when these things can directly impact the money that we make. Many trappers were let down by the price forecast for their furs. Hopefully next year all trappers will see the prices for our furs grow again for the future years.