Turkey populations

[ThurstonCokid]

Just out of curiosity what has the trend of turkey populations been in the last decade? I saw a post on here that the populations had declined by 70%. Seems like that’s a massive # of birds, and there’s still a huge population. I’m a newer turkey hunter, always been pretty successful, and just don’t know much about these trends! Thanks for any insight.


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[Bucks2Ducks]

Maybe increased by 70%

[phildobaggins]

I've been seeing the numbers go up where I hunt over the last 10 years...

[ctwiggs1]

In other areas of the nation, Turkey populations have declined.  I don’t think they have in WA.

[Fishmaker57]

They are one of the very few game birds / animals, not managed by the state - hence the huge increase in populations over the last 10 years!

[ThurstonCokid]

I was assuming an increase. But i dont have anything to compare it too. Thanks!


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[Mtnwalker]

I did see in one of Bearpaws posts where he mentioned the birds taking a 50% hit this winter on some of the ranches they hunt. Time will tell but overall numbers have been trending up, I wouldn't be too worried about it.

[buckfvr]

Since the state washed their hands of turkey management years ago along with the increase in available tags, and the fact that so many farmers look at them as pure nuisance, what I see in my wanderings is far less birds now than 10-15 years ago.  Theres still a bunch of the buggers but not like there was.  Besides the up one year down the next, they experience noticeably more hunting pressure than years past.   

[mcrawfordaf]

NWTF has WA state population as "stable to increasing" FWIW

[Pathfinder101]

Turkey populations fluctuate regionally.  I have seen the pendulum swing both ways a couple of times the last 20 years.  Seems the last 3 years or so population numbers are way up (but not everywhere).
 

[Russ McDonald]

NWTF has WA state population as "stable to increasing" FWIW

That was me that said this and yes they are but also seeing a huge amount of birds on private property to.  We will see if there will an accurate count.  WDFW is finally doing some work with turkeys like their polt count study.  Of course that will take a couple years to have accurate data.  They lut the turkey plan into their all encompassing game management planand yes the state with my working them most of them can care less about turkeys but get this in all of 2021 they sold over 55k tags.  That is over 850k dollars just in turkey tags not counting the small game license you also have to buy.  Might see some good NWTF projects coming soon.  One is on the GP more to follow.

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[Threewolves]

NWTF has WA state population as "stable to increasing" FWIW

That was me that said this and yes they are but also seeing a huge amount of birds on private property to.  We will see if there will an accurate count.  WDFW is finally doing some work with turkeys like their polt count study.  Of course that will take a couple years to have accurate data.  They lut the turkey plan into their all encompassing game management planand yes the state with my working them most of them can care less about turkeys but get this in all of 2021 they sold over 55k tags.  That is over 850k dollars just in turkey tags not counting the small game license you also have to buy.  Might see some good NWTF projects coming soon.  One is on the GP more to follow.

Sir, what is the GP you speak of.

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[Russ McDonald]

NWTF has WA state population as "stable to increasing" FWIW

That was me that said this and yes they are but also seeing a huge amount of birds on private property to.  We will see if there will an accurate count.  WDFW is finally doing some work with turkeys like their polt count study.  Of course that will take a couple years to have accurate data.  They lut the turkey plan into their all encompassing game management planand yes the state with my working them most of them can care less about turkeys but get this in all of 2021 they sold over 55k tags.  That is over 850k dollars just in turkey tags not counting the small game license you also have to buy.  Might see some good NWTF projects coming soon.  One is on the GP more to follow.

Sir, what is the GP you speak of.

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Gifford Pinchot NF.

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[Russ McDonald]

NWTF has WA state population as "stable to increasing" FWIW

That was me that said this and yes they are but also seeing a huge amount of birds on private property to.  We will see if there will an accurate count.  WDFW is finally doing some work with turkeys like their polt count study.  Of course that will take a couple years to have accurate data.  They lut the turkey plan into their all encompassing game management planand yes the state with my working them most of them can care less about turkeys but get this in all of 2021 they sold over 55k tags.  That is over 850k dollars just in turkey tags not counting the small game license you also have to buy.  Might see some good NWTF projects coming soon.  One is on the GP more to follow.

Sir, what is the GP you speak of.

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Gifford Pinchot NF.

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It is the Wind River projects.  Noxious weed spraying and native grasses, tree and shrub planting.  Benifit lots of different game.  It is right in the middle or eastern and merriam country.

[ctwiggs1]

That’s just for the Rios and Merriam’s right?  Didn’t the state basically give up on Easterns?

[Russ McDonald]

State hasn't done anything for any if the birds in this state. They have moved around merriams to terrible places.  They moved them from Spokane to another over populated area.  They never even informed us either.  I told them that NWTF has turkey in its name you would think that we could provide some input. 

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[bearpaw]

Populations can fluctuate greatly each year. IMO the turkey population each year is mostly based on weather conditions during the spring hatch (chick survival) and then how severe the winter is in an area. Last year in the Colville/Kettle area we had the most birds I had seen in over a decade including a very good hatch. It appears we have about half as many birds this spring as what we had at the beginning of this last winter. For example one property we hunt had about 250 birds in the earlier part of winter feeding with the cattle, but this spring only about 125. However, turkey numbers might be growing in a nearby area if winter conditions were more favorable and the last hatch was good, it's highly variable.

[salish]

With the exception of the past couple of years, my total experience in hunting turkeys has been with Rios in Asotin County. Starting in 2011 onward, I've noticed a pretty big decrease in birds in the area I hunt. At this point I don't know if I will even make an attempt there this season, although I may drive down for a quick looksee.

[tgomez]

Turkeys are definitely rising in population throughout the state.

[hunter399]

Turkeys are definitely rising in population throughout the state.

No joke there.
The wife and I was talking about it as we roasted hot dogs and sausages at backyard fire last nite.
We kept hear a few turkey gobbles right before dark.
Think about it though.
They roost at dark ,right when most predators are getting ready for a night of eating ,them turkey are high up in a tree.
They have a whole nest a every spring.
A few die off through out the summer,always more than a few survivors.
Just behavior,how they winter down low,safe in the tree at night.
Them turkeys just have it all down ,when it comes to survival.

[cooltimber]

saw 15 up coleman creek,yesterday. ellensburg