Author Topic: Poult Watch (Read 10061 times)

Machias · « **on:** June 02, 2009, 09:30:53 AM »

How about reporting here when you see your first turkey poults. Thanks!

WAcoyotehunter · « **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2009, 09:32:29 AM »

I saw a clutch yesterday in Pend Orielle county. tough to count in the deep grass...maybe 10.

woodswalker · « **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2009, 09:41:10 AM »

8 up in the Taneum on Sunday, I think..they were vacating the area at a high rate of speed.

bigdave · « **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2009, 10:45:55 AM »

I have 10 in my garage....does that count?

Two weeks old and they fly like sparrows.

Machias · « **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2009, 11:00:46 AM »

Well very cool! Thanks guys, I hadn't seen any yet. I will tell you one thing, the weather the last few days has been PERFECT poult hatching weather. Should have a good hatch this year.

ratherhunt · « **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2009, 08:37:05 PM »

Hunted in Twisp saw a 3 or 4 hens with poults, I took my 11 year old daughter she had a blast. There were at least 6 poults with each hen.Only Tom we saw was huge but it was in the lawn of a church wish I had taken a camera.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2009, 12:53:18 AM »

Anybody see any turkey chicks lately? I have been looking for some but havent found any yet. Normaly i would have seen some by now.

boneaddict · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2009, 05:57:53 AM »

Saw a few up the road from me. Lost about 50% of the quail to that hail. Haven't seen any wild pheasant babies and have seena couple hens.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2009, 12:40:32 AM »

Anybody see any turkey chicks lately? I have been looking around for them but haven't seen any!

I have seen plenty of hens but they don't have any chicks. Hope this isn't a bad hatch year!

Machias · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2009, 08:30:48 PM »

There was two hens and 13 poults in my driveway yesterday. They were still pretty small. I wonder if something happen to some of the first hatches and this is the second hatch?

Jerbear · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2009, 10:04:45 PM »

Had a hen and 8-10 poults with her. They can fly, so not a late hatch. there was a tom with her and the kids. I have not seen that before. they were in my back yard.

Gutpile · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2009, 07:02:47 PM »

Saw a group of 8-10 the other day. Bet they're tender.

Gutpile · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2009, 04:16:17 PM »

Saw about 6 yeasterday. They were about the size of a hen pheasant.

bearpaw · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2009, 10:54:15 PM »

For two years we've had bad winters and bad hatches in the Colville area. Bird numbers were at 30%-35% of 2003-2006 numbers at the end of winter this spring. Of about 12 properties that we hunt all but one wintered about 1/3 the normal number of birds. Properties where we usually wintered 250 to 350 birds all had less than 100 birds.

I have been waiting before I committed myself to a statement concerning the hatch that I wasn't sure about. The chicks are big enough that hens are bringing them out of heavy cover now. It appears about 50% of hens have 4 to 8 chicks per hen, and about 50% have no chicks. This is about 3 times as good as the hatch has been the last two years. Good enough that if the winter is reasonable we will see more birds next spring.

bowhunterforever · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:57:52 PM »

I just saw 4 hens and they had 23 chicks with them.

bearpaw · « **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2009, 12:19:16 AM »

beautimus.....that's right in the ratio we are seeing....our bird populations need rekindled, especially since the state has the most liberal season ever in the Colville area. If I played it right I could shoot 5 birds this year. Rediculous....I don't even think they do that in Missouri.

I called the Upland Manager in Olympia last year to try and explain what was happening with our turkey numbers and all he could do was tell me how he spent opening weekend in the addy area and heard so many gobblers in the morning....

What an idiot, a dozen or even 20 gobblers sounds pretty impresssive to someone who might not hunt to often....in previous years we might hear 40-60 gobblers going off in the morning. The guys who have been hunting this since the beginning know what the good years were like a few years ago.

The honest fact is that all the birds winter up in barnyards when the snow gets deep. All you have to do is ask the farmers how many turkeyss feed with their cattle all winter, especially bad winters like the last two, and that's what you have for birds....period.

Anyway, things are looking better, pray for a mild winter.

turkeydancer · « **Reply #16 on:** August 02, 2009, 03:51:46 PM »

Roger that ... and the 5 is just in your area ... if you go west to Unit 101, or south to Mica, Lincoln County, etc and get another during the early fall, and westside for an eastern in the spring ... bingo 7 birds .... 3 bearded, 2 beardless, and 2 either sex ...

Wacenturion · « **Reply #17 on:** August 02, 2009, 05:15:41 PM »

Bearpaw.....glad to see a local from Stevens county speaking out. I've labored this point on several boards including the WANWTF forum last year. Hopefully hunters will start to understand that the powers to be in WDFW consider turkeys vermin......yes, that's right...vermin.

The agency non response to trap and transfer nuisance problems to other areas and counties is a deliberate attempt to not, yes I said not release turkeys anywhere else in state. They use a "management plan" to disguise it. Then comes the liberal seasons in the fall.......let alone the spring harvest of two birds in eastside areas.......of which 2 birds in a single day is the dumbest freakin idea ever. That regulation (2 in one day) accounts for lots of wounded birds and teaches unethical behavior. That one ranks right up there with the free tag....remember the free taggers the first couple years that was in the regs.

You'll see less and less birds over time.....that you can take to the bank. Those mature hens that lead the flock are successful nesters.....they are also the first one in line walking by folks in the fall.....wonder how many of those gals take a dirt nap. Absolutely toilet management by WDFW when it comes to turkeys the last 8 years or so.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #18 on:** August 02, 2009, 05:42:19 PM »

Forgot to add......the opportunity to take 5-7 birds a year really does nothing more than lower the status of the wild turkey in Washington. I've already heard from folks that some people have decided not to hunt the fall even with a tag....it's not as much satisfaction as it used to be. That's good in the sense that fewer birds might be taken.

The Washington Slam is a unique opportunity available right here in our state. Take all three subspecies in a single season (extremely difficult), or in multiple seasons (still difficult....just have more time). Turkey hunting should be just that....a unique experience, a sport that rivals others in the outdoors. Letting folks kill off as many as possible spring and fall not only hurts the population, but diminishes the sport.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to fall hunting. I just believe it you have fall seasons it should be as the spring is....bearded birds only. In other words, gobblers, allowing for the bearded hen if shot by mistake. That teaches turkey hunters to pick their shot and make a clean kill, not the opposite by random flock shooting. Removing gobblers has much less of an impact. Just my opinion.

The two birds in some counties I feel puts added pressure on gobblers. If two guys kill two Merriams in Stevens and say move on to hunt Rio's in Walla Walla or Lincoln, the impact is far less than two guys killing two Merriams in Stevens and staying in that spot and killing two more. Multiply that out over the season, especially the early part if the gobblers are receptive. Then add into the mix the scenario of two guys shooting at a group of 7-8 jakes running in on their calling location and guns go off trying to limit on four birds....I think you can do the math as far as long term affects on the population in a given local area.

The nuisance problems were handled quite well during the 90's by Upland Wildlife Restoration staff trained and equipped with rocket nets to remove a given number of birds and move them to other locations....many times out of county to either start or enhance new flocks, reducing the pressure on the Northeast. I mention that so when you hear a *censored* from WDFW say we have to harvest because of the nuisance problems, you'll know that just an excuse for not wanting to deal with it. If they dealt with it they would have to release them somewhere...right. That the last thing they want to do. Wonderful to see our license dollars at work, isn't it.

Machias · « **Reply #19 on:** August 02, 2009, 08:34:07 PM »

X10

Turkeyman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 02, 2009, 09:03:02 PM »

SpokaneSlayer · « **Reply #21 on:** August 03, 2009, 08:47:44 AM »

I saw a hen with about 5 poults yesterday while scouting for deer.

bearpaw · « **Reply #22 on:** August 03, 2009, 09:42:39 AM »

When our spring populations are high and there is a good summer hatch, then there would be no reason not to have a liberal fall season. But such seasons need to be established in August or September after it is deteermined how big the flocks are that are going into fall. Some farmers get fed up with too many birds destroying their haystacks and I have heard stories of some that killed large numbers of birds when the damage got too bad. (Don't agree with it, but can't blame them in one sense, they have to be able to feed their cattle.)

Problem is WDFW has set the liberal seasons after mother nature has already decreased the turkey population by an estimated 70% and alleviated the worst problems. Now we are shooting many badly needed mature hens on the fall hunts. In the future I plan to get more vocal on this issue, I'm busy with other things at the time, but I will need some help from some of you other guys in order to try and get anything done. WDFW does not want to deal with turkeys, they are not going to help us, that was made very clear to me by the upland manager, and that has been mentioned by others on this forum. The only way to get anything done is to build some strong support and go through the right people who can make things happen.

Whether you like NWTF or not, we do have some really good folks here in our local Colville chapter who want to help the birds, we are looking to do on the ground projects here in Stevens County, one focus is to try and find a way to provide better winter forage so we can keep birds out of haystacks. If we can soften that problem, the WDFW will have less reason to kill every bird in NE Washington. We truly beleive this could help birds in the long run and provide more opportunity for hunters.

This spring our group nearly quit NWTF, due to a lack of support from national, our group was going to change our affiliation to most likely SCI which allows 70% of funds to stay with the chapter. The NWTF national is going through big changes this year with new leaders and things seem to be improving, in additional there is a very optimistic regional NWTF bio we are starting to work with, who hopefully can guide us with our on the ground efforts, so we are still an NWTF chapter. Regardless if our group changed affiliation, I would still strongly support NWTF and be a member of NWTF as they are the strongest voice for turkey hunting in America.

BTW - One of my landowners saw a hen that had 13 chicks, but most have 4 to 8, and roughly 50% have none. This is much better than the last couple years.

If someone has any good suggestions on how to help, I welcome the info.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #23 on:** August 03, 2009, 11:10:03 AM »

Bearpaw....to answer some of your comments.....

If WDFW did what they used to do with trap and transfer of nuisance birds, there would be far fewer complaints from landowners and also the establishment of new populations elsewhere. That;'s what happened in the 90's....birds were trapped in Stevens and started flocks in Ferry, P.O., and added new blood in Klickitat. Had fall seasons, but not liberal ones like we see today. You also have to look at the long term affect. You will have good years, but in the long run liberal fall seasons will have an impact. We are already seeing that.

I'm sure they are great folks in the Colville NWTF chapter. Years ago I knew a few of them. Good folks in all the chapters wanting to do good things for turkeys, but as you mentions they almost quit because of the small amount of money that remains in state. Believe me when I tell you....that will not change. Bottom line, NWTF controls it and you get what they want to give you if you spend it as they think you should. Nothing but a big con. A year or so ago, the CEO, and the two staff right under him were booted. Actually the CEO resigned. They received somewhere in the neighborhood of 700K in salaries and probably 300-400K in expenses. I would have to go back and dig up the figures to be right on...but I'm in the ball park. That should give you all a warm and fuzzy feeling about the NWTF, let alone all the perks of "business" turkey hunting trips everywhere.

Habitat enhancement does have positive results, but the scope is large and volunteers by themselves will have little impact on reversing nuisance problems. Sorry to say that, but just being realistic. When the birds were trapped and relocated the landowners were happy....and as a side note, most did not want all of them removed. As an example if a landowner had say 200 birds coming in, he was happy if half or slightly more were taken away. In other words he didn't mind dealing with a lesser number.....landowners enjoyed having them around. That's not to say that there would be an occasional landowner that wanted them all removed, which is probably more true today due to lack of assistance from WDFW as of late.

Oh....and the new biologist you mentioned. Well I can tell you right now, he is not going to disagree much with WDFW. He has his marching orders, and being in bed with state F&W agencies on issues and getting along is far more important than taking the WDFW to task for the benefit of Washington sportsman. NWTF does not, I repeat, does not like to rock the boat. Just be prepared....

bearpaw · « **Reply #24 on:** August 03, 2009, 12:57:16 PM »

I was involved in some relocation, so I know about it, and agree with it completely. We are in total agreement on that being the best choice, furthermore, there are plenty more volunteers who want to get involved and help with it.

One big problem is that the WDFW does not want to do any more relocations. Their answer is to reduce populations so they don't have to relocate.

You can sit on the side and bitch all you want about it, but I choose to find solutions so that we can have better turkey hunting. As a group we are trying to find ways to alleviate landowner conflict and get more birds through the winters.

If NWTF can't help us get the job done, we will drop them and continue in a different manner. But bottom line, it's only the people who are willing to take action that get results. I personally think you need to look past your bad feelings for NWTF because you are not helping turkeys in Washington by simply complaining and bitching. Would you like to help us or would you rather sit on the sidelines and complain?

I have heard there is a lot of hatred and dissent, I don't know all the politics, and don't really need to, quite honestly my goal is to improve turkey hunting opportunities and I will work on it with or without the NWTF, and I will work on it with our without your help. You are doing turkeys no good by merely sitting and complaining and I choose to do more than that.

This biologist has knowledge about turkeys and the passion to at least try to make improvements. He does have the ear of F&G departments and that is one reason he may be successful. With that said, you should know that the commission sets WDFW policy and that is you you work with to make changes......nuff said.......

I hope we can count on your positive help in some manner.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2009, 02:55:19 PM »

Bearpaw..............Well I guess you have figured me out. I'm just a sit on the sidelines and bitch type of sportsman. Couldn't be that I recognize a shell game both by WDFW and NWTF, just for different reasons. Yeah...I must be wrong, those two intities have the best interest of Washington sportman in mind. That's obvious....one collects license fees, and the other memberships, and we get all of those wonderful benefits.

You're right, my disdain for both of the above keeps me from really doing anything positive for turkeys. I should have realized that by now....I'm just too negative. There just isn't much integrity with anything or anyone anymore. Sorry to say I've been there and done that .....and if I choose to express my opinions about how the sportsman are getting shafted, you just can just call it carping from the sidelines. I prefer to call it educating folks to why things are the way they are so they can at least approach the problem with some knowledge and understand what is and isn't realistic.

But I get you drift and I wish you well with the volunteers, the new NWTF biologist in whatever else you do for turkeys. Enjoy your journey.

bearpaw · « **Reply #26 on:** August 03, 2009, 03:43:08 PM »

I agree it is easy to get discouraged with the situation, but it will not do our turkey populations any good to accept the status quo and not try to resolve problems.

You sound very knowledgeable about turkeys in general. If you have any positive recommendations that you feel may help solve the problems at hand, I certainly would very much welcome your suggestions.

I would much rather have your positive input about potential solutions, than to argue with you about past politics of the NWTF. Please feel free to offer any positive suggestions even if you do not want to be involved.

yelp · « **Reply #27 on:** August 03, 2009, 05:45:05 PM »

I once was heavily involved with the NWTF, trying to assist with areas that the WDFW calls "nuisance". It is usually a complaint from a landowner feeding cattle in winter..95% of the time. The other it is human caused where an individual fed turkeys and they are accustomed to coming to these sites annually. It was fun feeding 10 turkeys for the first winter and now we are feeding 150. Oat Hay is one of the biggest rascals. If you switch to barley hay the turkeys don't pay much attention to it..they love oat hay though. Netting was purchased by the NWTF for years and given out to landowners..Landowners aren't as protective of the turkeys as they once were..which is great for most hunters nowadays.

Bearpaw.. Do you book fall and winter hunts along with your Spring Hunts? I know you have a good reputation as an outfitter. I also know several "so called" turkey guides that lease land where they are feeding turkeys until opening day. and/or lease these so called nuisance sites (landowners recover costs of hay/crop loss from lease money)..Some flocks will break up but I see lots of turkeys opening day still hanging around these areas. That can be easy money to a guide. What is your take on this? Not trying to start something here I just see some issues..they are negative in my view and to other positive.

The reason I ask is you make it sound from previous comments that you want the turkey populations to be successful. I assume you mean that as a sportsman and somewhat from a business standpoint too. I know that several people around this state and on this site have a passion for seeing the turkey populations flourish. Many people on here are the reason we have turkeys in this state.

I personally would like to see educational material that can be passed out to landowners about feeding turkeys. I don't think the answer is to kill more turkeys, it is however the only tool enforcement has in a toolbox that they were given. The toolbox used to have lots of tools and options. It is in the past we turn to, to look at what happened or what we could have done differently.

Like I said previous I know you have a good reputation as an outfitter and I have sent lots of newbie hunters your way in the day. Not trying to upset anyone here. I want what you want..that is why my family and I were involved so heavily for years. We put a lot of time and effort into the resource.

yelp · « **Reply #28 on:** August 03, 2009, 08:23:00 PM »

For those that haven't read it...the current direction the WDFW is going.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/water/turkey/management/2005-2010turkey.pdf

Pages 24, 36 and 45 for interesting reading regarding nuisance issues.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #29 on:** August 03, 2009, 09:13:20 PM »

Enjoyable read....63 pages of smoke and mirrors.

Machias · « **Reply #30 on:** August 05, 2009, 10:13:10 AM »

Saw two hens this morning with a HUGE difference in poult age. One hen had 2 poults about the size of Rhode Island red rooster and the other had 2 about the size of quail.

bearpaw · « **Reply #31 on:** August 05, 2009, 10:55:13 PM »

yelp....one thing we discussed was taking some oat hay for turkeys that are causing problems and putting it out nearby to try and pull the birds away from the haystacks, but in the end everyone agreed it is only a temporary fix, every few days we would have to basically feed the birds to keep them away from the haystacks.

The NWTF bio has suggested planting trees that bear acorns, I think oak trees. He seems to think it will take a few years to establish the trees but that its a better long term answer to other winter feeding. Do you have any thoughts on that?

bearpaw · « **Reply #32 on:** August 05, 2009, 11:31:52 PM »

yelp...I get a few fall hunters but not too many, most people book hunts in the fall for bigger game.

You had asked my opinion on hunting the nuisance sites. I think it's a good thing, get the landowner some money to ease his losses and get him to thinking those turkeys are a positive thing for his ranch. As soon as a couple birds are killed on the first couple days, the rest get wary or break up. Many move way back up the mountain onto public land. If no one is shooting in the barnyards those birds would stay on private a lot longer before moving to public ground. Best thing for the public hunters is for the private barnyards to get shot in on the opening morning. That moves birds....

Without the farmers supporting turkeys we wouldn't have many birds after a long hard winter. Most of the places I lease don't have big issues about the wildlife anymore, they view wildlife as an economic asset now. They used to worry about the deer eating some alfalfa in the summer or the turkeys tearing up the haystack or pooping on the hay in the winter. But most of them figure those deer and turkeys are worth having around now. Many throw a little hay or grain to the birds in a seperate area to help them out through the winter now.

You don't have to worry about all the ground getting leased up, some landowners like to let public hunters have a place to hunt, some save it for family and friends, and some don't want any hunting. I even think the "no hunting" places are great for hunters, I view them as game rearing areas that provide additional game to surrounding areas.

I wasn't concerned about the birds until we had two years in a row with bad winters and wet hatches. Hopefully this hatch is more successful and the winter will be gentler.

By the way...thanks for the past recommendations....I appreciate that.

Wacenturion · « **Reply #33 on:** August 06, 2009, 10:18:30 AM »

Quote from: bearpaw on August 05, 2009, 10:55:13 PM

yelp....one thing we discussed was taking some oat hay for turkeys that are causing problems and putting it out nearby to try and pull the birds away from the haystacks, but in the end everyone agreed it is only a temporary fix, every few days we would have to basically feed the birds to keep them away from the haystacks.

The NWTF bio has suggested planting trees that bear acorns, I think oak trees. He seems to think it will take a few years to establish the trees but that its a better long term answer to other winter feeding. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Do I have any thoughts....yeah.....I have one.......that's such a typical NWTF text book response. "All it takes is a forest of acorns" huh? That won't do s**t in the long run as far as our NE nuisance problems are concerned. But I bet they, the NWTF, can probably start an "Acorn in the Outdoors" program and collect fees and sell tee shirts.

Sorry to be so sacastic, but that just ruined my morning cup of coffee. That bit of management direction is almost as good as when the NWTF suggested Rio's in Whatcom county last year.

Machias · « **Reply #34 on:** August 06, 2009, 11:04:20 AM »

Wacenturion · « **Reply #35 on:** August 06, 2009, 11:59:15 AM »

Quote from: Machias on August 06, 2009, 11:04:20 AM

Not jacked.....just answering Bearpaw's question regarding the recommendation put forth by the NWTF biologist. Looking back at his question, maybe he wasn't looking for my input as he directed it to Yelp. My bad.

turkeydancer · « **Reply #36 on:** August 06, 2009, 12:22:51 PM »

My fall experience is that they initially scatter, but back just as thick at the barns within a couple days.

bearpaw · « **Reply #37 on:** August 06, 2009, 02:02:12 PM »

Wacenturion....I still haven't figured out why you are so bitter, but lets just set that aside. I questioned the acorn theory myself, will acorns produce the same way here as back east? Will they really produce food that the birds can get at in the winter? Our birds seem to really do well on pine nuts, problem is when the pine nuts are under two feet of snow they are hard to get. So why would it be any different with acorns? Obviously I am not completely sold on the acorn idea. Do you have any ideas that might work better that we could consider?

Wacenturion · « **Reply #38 on:** August 06, 2009, 02:23:11 PM »

First one has to understand the basic biology of oaks. Here is a chart that shows that generally oaks have to be 20 years old or older before they produce enough acorns to be significant as a food source. Also, what oak do you plant? Most are non native. Oaks are also intolerant of shade....you know like that shade from fast growing ponderosa pine and other conifers.... Not saying oaks are bad...just where they occur is for a reason, as in Klickitat county....Oregon white oak.
The assumption by the biologist that oaks would solve the problem or even make any difference is absurb. It would take forever and require huge plantings that would be unrealistic in scope, let alone type of oaks, soils, keeping conifers at bay to avoid shade, manpower, etc. Sounds good, but generally I call this recommendation, conservation fuzzy talk. Agree....they, the acorns would also be under snow.

yelp · « **Reply #39 on:** August 06, 2009, 05:45:38 PM »

I think if I was to spend NWTF's money to help with the nuisance issue. I would fund an educational campaign about feeding turkeys and about winter diets of turkeys with some tips on what landowners (cattleman) can do to avoid problems. I would also use NWTF volunteers and start a database and document the actual problems landowners have not the perceived problems.

I would have NWTF fund hay replacement and/or pay landowners to leave some crops for wintering wildlife. There will always be large flocks wintering in cattle operations. NWTF could fund trap/transfer efforts. We could take those turkeys that are trapped and move to other sites. Pine nuts do get covered but so does everything else. I think it would take to long for Oak trees to be established and effective. On a larger landscape I think prescribed burning and seeding partnered with private landowners, USFS and private timber companies may have some benefits to turkeys.

Remember wild turkey diets are mostly comprised of insects and having healthy poults going into winter is also important. Outside of artificial feeding it is hard to come up with an approach to assist with nuisance issues. I do believe that the term 'Nuisance' is over used nowadays. I have watched flocks of wild turkeys sustain a winter diet of natural foods and make it until the Spring with no heavy mortalities. I think some use it as an excuse to push certain agendas.

Sorry to Hijack the Poult Thread...LOL

bearpaw · « **Reply #40 on:** August 06, 2009, 07:05:54 PM »

Machias....I am still learning about this whole forum concept, sorry about the extra conversation, I should have started a seperate thread with my questions.

turkeydancer · « **Reply #41 on:** August 07, 2009, 09:27:43 AM »

Just wanted to point out that there is no such thing as "nuisance" turkeys, just sometimes we may have "excess" turkeys in some locations.

carvermoe · « **Reply #42 on:** August 09, 2009, 05:21:46 PM »

I saw 13 sat with three hens

Machias · « **Reply #43 on:** August 09, 2009, 08:14:28 PM »

Quote from: bearpaw on August 06, 2009, 07:05:54 PM

Machias....I am still learning about this whole forum concept, sorry about the extra conversation, I should have started a seperate thread with my questions.

No need, I was only joking.

yelp · « **Reply #44 on:** August 14, 2009, 07:29:57 AM »

Saw some poults yesterday..size of grouse..

WAcoyotehunter · « **Reply #45 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:37:08 AM »

I've been seeing loads of birds with big clutches and well developed poults. It looks like hunters will be eating lots of young birds next spring!

I'll try to get a photo of some of the poults, but they are really well developed (fully feathered) and nearly as large as the hen!

Machias · « **Reply #46 on:** August 14, 2009, 12:18:29 PM »

I have four hens now that I see on a regular basis, two hens have 7 poults each that are fully feathered and half the size of mom and two hens that have two poults each, one set is fully developed and one hen has two poults that are about the size of big quail.

yelp · « **Reply #47 on:** August 15, 2009, 06:45:57 PM »

I saw a new batch of birds today..in a weird spot. Put it this way..in the near future geese may not be the only thing we hunt out of corn fields in Moses Lake..

bearpaw · « **Reply #48 on:** August 19, 2009, 01:00:23 AM »

Definitely the best hatch in at least three years, saw lots of young birds before heading out to montana, even seeing poults over here......

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