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Post by smsmith on Mar 10, 2023 10:03:37 GMT -6
What does it take to seriously depress the Turkey population? Shooting one gobbler per year does nothing, imo. Turkeys struggle in deep snow without corn plots or bird feeders. I had good turkey numbers on my rusk county place, but the 2013 winter wiped them out. I bet it killed 95%+ of the birds. There are tons of bobcats up there too and I think they kill a bunch in the winter when they are grouped up We finally started seeing a few turkeys on my land again last year, so it has taken a long time to bounce back. Turkeys here were relatively uncommon until the last couple years. I'm guessing it took them that long to build the population back up after those wicked winters around '13-'15. I still don't have many around most of the year. I haven't seen one yet while deer hunting (bow or firearm). This winter a big flock did come through and clean up almost all of the remaining crabapples sometime in January. I imagine many of those birds are dead now.
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Post by biglakebass on Mar 10, 2023 10:29:45 GMT -6
that would be fun to tag along on running coyotes.
A guy up by our farm(as I have mentioned), has hounds. He had a female not many years back, that was blood thirsty for for coyotes. If she cornered one, she would attack it and literally tear it to shreds. I dont know how many times it occured but he said one time she got one pinned in a ditch by a culvert and when they got to her, the coyote was completely tore up deader then hell.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 10, 2023 11:30:22 GMT -6
My neighbor in Missouri is putting the hurt on coons & possum. The leg hold traps are easy to set and easy to check . Hopefully it will mean more turkeys .
There’s a decent amount already .
*I’m noticing fewer coons on my cameras.
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Post by badgerfowl on Mar 10, 2023 11:43:04 GMT -6
Import coons, skunks and possums. Pray for a cold wet spring after the poults hatch. Exact opposite of what we are doing. Those are the exact things that depress our pheasant population as well. Not surprising since both nest on the ground.
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Post by benmnwi on Mar 10, 2023 12:08:40 GMT -6
I agree that you might be able to thin the turkeys down a bit if you knew a bunch of guys with fall tags. They would need to target hens though to have any impact.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 10, 2023 15:51:03 GMT -6
I agree that you might be able to thin the turkeys down a bit if you knew a bunch of guys with fall tags. They would need to target hens though to have any impact. They seem to pile in here from late October on.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 10, 2023 19:27:58 GMT -6
I agree that you might be able to thin the turkeys down a bit if you knew a bunch of guys with fall tags. They would need to target hens though to have any impact. They seem to pile in here from late October on. Food ! Turkeys are a strange species. But find good habitat and consistent food, and they will be there.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 11, 2023 6:46:32 GMT -6
They seem to pile in here from late October on. Food ! Turkeys are a strange species. But find good habitat and consistent food, and they will be there. plus nobody hunts them here. I have allowed a few to spring hunt, but the turkeys disperse.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 11, 2023 8:49:37 GMT -6
From last weeks Outdoor News. I think Steve gave a good analysis and my wife and I were lucky to be in a pocket of deer this year.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 11, 2023 8:54:57 GMT -6
I had plenty of deer here, but guys I know who hunt not that far from me didn't see much.
It's the same old story in MN, pockets of good hunting exist in good neighborhoods.
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Post by biglakebass on Mar 11, 2023 9:36:07 GMT -6
Good for Carney.
I also recently visited the same general area in Hennepin county that Carney mentions. I hadnt been through there in a number of years since we came to Big Lake.
My jaw dropped and my heart sunk a little. It used to be nothing but farms on Bass Lake Road out to Corcoran. I could not make out where I even was. Absolutely astonishing. Corcoran is being eaten up. I dont care if I ever go back there in the area again. Then add in the total chaos of people. How do people find life like that enjoying? I guess its just not my cup of tea and never will be.
Saddens me some to think of whats to come. There is no stopping it. Where does it end?(rhetorical question) Yikes. Rogers is building out, and will meet up with Maple Grove developments in a few short years. all gone forever. I am a guilty party, we built a new home in what used to be a large block of forest. So I cant be hypocritical about it.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 11, 2023 9:45:44 GMT -6
Good for Carney. I also recently visited the same general area in Hennepin county that Carney mentions. I hadnt been through there in a number of years since we came to Big Lake. My jaw dropped and my heart sunk a little. It used to be nothing but farms on Bass Lake Road out to Corcoran. I could not make out where I even was. Absolutely astonishing. Corcoran is being eaten up. I dont care if I ever go back there in the area again. Then add in the total chaos of people. How do people find life like that enjoying? I guess its just not my cup of tea and never will be. Saddens me some to think of whats to come. There is no stopping it. Where does it end?(rhetorical question) Yikes. Rogers is building out, and will meet up with Maple Grove developments in a few short years. all gone forever. I am a guilty party, we built a new home in what used to be a large block of forest. So I cant be hypocritical about it. I'll take a stab at the rhetorical question....I94 corridor to St. Cloud from the cities will be one big metropolis within a decade. In another decade or less that metropolis will extend to Alexandria. When you travel those stretches now it is already pretty clear what is happening.
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Post by biglakebass on Mar 11, 2023 9:56:43 GMT -6
yea, I try to ignore the true fact...... I cant ponder how populations nationwide like this growing at such ridiculous rates and having resources for all forever. There is a breaking point, then what.
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Post by daydreamer on Mar 11, 2023 11:57:23 GMT -6
Good for Carney. I also recently visited the same general area in Hennepin county that Carney mentions. I hadnt been through there in a number of years since we came to Big Lake. My jaw dropped and my heart sunk a little. It used to be nothing but farms on Bass Lake Road out to Corcoran. I could not make out where I even was. Absolutely astonishing. Corcoran is being eaten up. I dont care if I ever go back there in the area again. Then add in the total chaos of people. How do people find life like that enjoying? I guess its just not my cup of tea and never will be. Saddens me some to think of whats to come. There is no stopping it. Where does it end?(rhetorical question) Yikes. Rogers is building out, and will meet up with Maple Grove developments in a few short years. all gone forever. I am a guilty party, we built a new home in what used to be a large block of forest. So I cant be hypocritical about it. I’m in NW Corcoran. It’s scary what’s coming. I’m only about 2 miles from high density housing. If that farm I hunt across the street that shields me from development ever sells I’m going to be devastated. Not necessarily for the hunting but for the peace. Interesting to think towards the future and wonder if this is indeed our forever house…
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 11, 2023 12:27:41 GMT -6
Boy Carney is right on! We need more guys like him to challenge the DNR . Next year could be vastly different all over the state .
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