Turkey Hunting in New York State

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anthony m coons sr

Well-known member
Got up this morning and started checking out the woods for some Tom turkeys. Tuesday here in New York State May 1, Turkey season opens. I check a few places where I have roosted turkeys over the years. During my scouting I checked out a piece of my land that has a creek on it. Dropping into the Hudson River. On this creek I saw a bunch of different waterfowl already paired up. A few pair of wood ducks, a couple pair of mallards and some geese. It just started getting a little warm here in upstate New York. So I was a little surprised on how many paired up birds I saw. It looks like it could be a great breading season. I have about twenty wood duck boxes on my small piece of land. But I have placed over two hundred or so in the last three years with the help of a hunting clubs I run Towers Duck Club, also the Hudson River Waterfowl Protective Association. Since 1982 we have built and placed over thousand wood duck boxes. We have also planted well over ten thousand waterfowl plants of many different types. In some of these same spots I checked for turkey. Anyway! Back to the turkeys, I came up on a few nice toms, and it was nice to just get out and do something close to duck hunting. I hope its spring in the northeast where you are and not to hot in the south. But its hunting season so let get out there and just enjoy nature. Thanks
 
We,ve had eggs in woodie bxs I tend for over a month. Took the wife out canoeing last sat. on upper reachs of the Pocomoke river and seen my first for this spring woodie ducklins swimming behind momma. Although it didn,t feel like winter would ever end here on the eastern shore of md. mother nature had other ideas!
 
Roy

That's great you already have little woodies. Its funny what you see when your just out riding around or scouting. I think all the woodies I have seen so far are paired up and ready to mate. Its been a cold winter and lots of snow here in the Northeast. There is many back woods wetlands from the snow melt. So there are plenty of new spaces for the birds to nest. Thanks for your post.
 
First resident Canada goose goslings area already out and about here.
 
Turkey season is open in Ohio since Monday. Cool spring temps have kept the ground colder than normal and hen nesting is being delayed. This will give the gobblers company longer than usual.

I saw my first gosling a week ago. I usually see some the last week of April. Eggs will be hatching for the next couple of months.

Tom
 

Report on the first two days of the season, in my neck of the woods in western NY.

First day - saw 6 birds trotting across a pasture, four had beards. They moved into the thick swampy stuff. I put out my hand carved hen decoy, set awhile then began to call. In two hours had answers but no movement of the birds.

Moved to north side of the woods, that boardes another pasture. Called in two jakes, and let them pass. Even though they were interested and came in, they did lots of feeding along the way. Food was their main priority.

Second day - warm night means active turkey in my experience and they were. Set up on the south side of a large ravine. They like to roost over the stream, and cross where I set up. Sure enough, birds gobbling on the ground in the distance.

8am had a hen and gobbler work adjacent, on the north side where I was, 40 yards away in cover, sometimes closer. The hen was giving me wholly hell in no uncertain terms!

Each time the gobbler tried to cross over to my set up, she would cut him off, and do some serious turkey bitchin at him.. I was smiling the entire time. In 50 years of Spring turkey hunting this was a real learning experience for me. I paid attention and learned new hen calls. Each time I called, and he answered, she was very upset. What a show.

Had he broke free and come in I would have let him pass after such a display. "God Makes Em And Then Pairs Em Up"


I'm no biologist, but in my opinion the birds I saw looked very lean, hungry and stressed, after such a long winter. We had snow on the ground two days before the season opened. No hens are on the nest as of yet, and the less they are bothered the better I believe.

The turkey population in our neck of the woods is very sparse and every bird counts, and it can take a long time for the population to rebound. It felt good to get out there and even better to see and hear birds. So far my season has been a success. Can't ask for much more than that.

As I expected, after such a tough winter I'm finding lots of deer bones. None of which that are going to waste.

Hopefully the hens will nest in the next couple weeks and the end of the season will be enjoyable.


Good hunting to all and be safe out there.
 
Vince

Very nice report! Well here in the Hudson Valley in NYS. The snow is gone in the valley. Opening Day saw one giant Tomand heard a few more. Know hens, today heard a bunch of Hens and no Toms or Jakes. I think next week is going to be better hunting weather. The woods are really muddy and wet. So I hope it drys up soon.
 
Anthony

The woods are as desolate as I have seen. Winter took a mighty toll that is foreboding for the the future. Not good in a state that each year has very little to offer hunters. Just in the 7 1/2 years I've been here the decline as been drastic.

I spoke with my 94 year old uncle today. He lives in my home town in western PA. He had a gobbler and hen in his back yard yesterday, and not long ago counted forty turkeys in his back yard.

Fifty years ago it was unheard of to have wild turkey in western PA. Not so today.

NY really needs to take a good hard look as to what is happening to game populations ASAP. No wild game/product, no license sales, and the anti hunter/ anti gun folks WIN. The NY Outdoor News sez most NY turkey hunters are Geezers. Not a positive stat.
 
Vince

Always great hearing from you, New York is trying new things. And your right the hunter is last on the list. We have the same kind of land and resources as the other Northeast States. Yet we fall far behind on lots of the Sportsmen's needs. But one can only hope and pray that this changes. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Hunting means money! and I have never seen a State turned down away to tax people. So Their going to get it right. It will cost the next generation. But our wildlife will be saved. Thanks as always.
 
Anthony

I hope and pray that you are correct.

NY has so much to offer and great hunting. potential if they can just get their Ducks In A Row.[;)]

For many years Butski turkey calls, made in NY were and still are, some of my most favorite.

Now I live not that far away from where they were made - ironic.
 
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