Waterfowler2001
Member
Perhaps this snow is the start to end this drought, in which all of us hunters and farmers want that, and with more precipitation this year bird numbers will be up!
Perhaps this snow is the start to end this drought?
- Thread starter Waterfowler2001
- Start date
small munsterlander owner
Banned
KS turkey season is write around the corner im counting down to april 10!!!
how are the turkeys doing in KS this yr everybody seeing turkeys or ???
they keep saying turkey numbers were down due to the major drought i have not noticed any less turkeys had my best season in 3 yrs last yr in KS seen plenty of turkeys quail pheasants & prairie chickens all on same road must of had plenty of water available in them creeks ETC...
did notice less deer overall did see mule deer & whitetails thow in same area so it was pretty game rich wear i hunt turkeys...
been looking into trying eastern KS this yr near the NE,MO,IA,KS border herd the area is loaded with eastern turkeys any truth to that??? im more into hunting rio grandes out west but on my way home i may try the eastern part of the state???
how are the turkeys doing in KS this yr everybody seeing turkeys or ???
they keep saying turkey numbers were down due to the major drought i have not noticed any less turkeys had my best season in 3 yrs last yr in KS seen plenty of turkeys quail pheasants & prairie chickens all on same road must of had plenty of water available in them creeks ETC...
did notice less deer overall did see mule deer & whitetails thow in same area so it was pretty game rich wear i hunt turkeys...
been looking into trying eastern KS this yr near the NE,MO,IA,KS border herd the area is loaded with eastern turkeys any truth to that??? im more into hunting rio grandes out west but on my way home i may try the eastern part of the state???
Toad
Active member
There are still a lot of turkeys, but I would agree that the numbers seem down from a few years ago. I think this Spring breeding may have been better than the previous couple though. That's totally non-scientific though. Just my casual observation of the turkeys I see when I'm doing other stuff... There could very well be hard data that proves exactly the opposite.
I've shot quite a few hybrids here. If it matters to you to shoot a pure strain Eastern, you might want to go farther East than Manhattan. Good luck.
I've shot quite a few hybrids here. If it matters to you to shoot a pure strain Eastern, you might want to go farther East than Manhattan. Good luck.
M. R. Byrd
Well-known member
Some Easterns in Stafford County, due to the efforts of an un-named person.
The Rio turkeys are in pretty good shape in this area, even though it is a limited draw area.
The Rio turkeys are in pretty good shape in this area, even though it is a limited draw area.
I think turkey numbers are down but, there are still a TON of them. I used to love to turkey hunt.
I have permission this year on a dandy spot not far from the house. All hardwoods with about a 20 acre bottom planted to wheat. I think I will save that spot for my kids though.
I have permission this year on a dandy spot not far from the house. All hardwoods with about a 20 acre bottom planted to wheat. I think I will save that spot for my kids though.
small munsterlander owner
Banned
yeah down in the SW of KS there seems to be a load of turkeys wish the pheasants & lesser prairie chickens did as well... lol i wanted to hunt down there & tag a rio/merriams hybrid as they are there in SW KS but they maid it a residents only hunt & a draw hunt so i bet thats why them birds are doing so well nobody ever hunts them anymore... lol
turkey hunting is my fav thing to hunt used to hunt deer,duck, & fish all the time but that all changed once i started turkey hunting nothing more exciting then turkey hunting in my eyes people can have all them big bucks lol
i hunt in OK then head up to along the KS/NE border & see turkeys all over KS its funny the number are down some??? but i you all live there & know more then a 5 day a yr visitor lol...
toad were you seeing hens with a good number of poults in the fall??? 5-6 hens with good poult numbers can make up a flock of 30-50 birds
thanks guys any more turkey info will be much appreciated
turkey hunting is my fav thing to hunt used to hunt deer,duck, & fish all the time but that all changed once i started turkey hunting nothing more exciting then turkey hunting in my eyes people can have all them big bucks lol
i hunt in OK then head up to along the KS/NE border & see turkeys all over KS its funny the number are down some??? but i you all live there & know more then a 5 day a yr visitor lol...
toad were you seeing hens with a good number of poults in the fall??? 5-6 hens with good poult numbers can make up a flock of 30-50 birds
thanks guys any more turkey info will be much appreciated
Toad
Active member
I had some good shots of small flocks on my trail cams. Not very many hens, but a lot of little birds per hen. I'm thinking there were pretty good survival rates on the poults. That would have been about November-ish.
Start a thread in the Spring and I will keep you posted on what I'm seeing and hearing as the birds start getting active. My daughter and I will be hunting them again this Spring, so I've always got an ear to the ground for local farmer reports...
mustistuff
Banned
turkey
in my part of n.w. kansas, the turkey don't seem to be suffering much, state has now allowed a two bird limit for the first time. as i had posted some time ago one flock i saw this winter numbered 527 birds and that was just one of the couple of flocks in the area. i think they are being mismanaged and due to their growing numbers are looking at a major die off in the future. just a guess however. one of the delights for me while sitting in my blind is listening to all the roosters crowing and wings flapping, sometimes i get to see it, mostly just hear them. kinda fun
cheers
in my part of n.w. kansas, the turkey don't seem to be suffering much, state has now allowed a two bird limit for the first time. as i had posted some time ago one flock i saw this winter numbered 527 birds and that was just one of the couple of flocks in the area. i think they are being mismanaged and due to their growing numbers are looking at a major die off in the future. just a guess however. one of the delights for me while sitting in my blind is listening to all the roosters crowing and wings flapping, sometimes i get to see it, mostly just hear them. kinda fun
cheers
small munsterlander owner
Banned
besides a major major cold snap with ice crusted food source for 3-4 wks i dont see what would kill off all the wild turkeys in NW KS i been up there near the NE border & it has plenty of habitat food water & room to roam rio grandes can adapt well to even dry/harsh/arid regions like TX & OK i think them turkeys will be fine in KS... i hope...
yes damn near every place i hunt turkeys in the spring i hear rooster pheasants crowing & wing beating its great to hear!!! & if im real lucky i also hear bob white quail whistling & prairie chickens booming nothing better then a spring audio show of all the creatures singing as they great the morning sun... oh dont forget about turkeys gobbling... lol
yes damn near every place i hunt turkeys in the spring i hear rooster pheasants crowing & wing beating its great to hear!!! & if im real lucky i also hear bob white quail whistling & prairie chickens booming nothing better then a spring audio show of all the creatures singing as they great the morning sun... oh dont forget about turkeys gobbling... lol
M. R. Byrd
Well-known member
Today, here on the prairie. The snow is melting fast.
The big record snow fall around Feb. 25 is a great sign of more moisture to come this spring and summer. That strong storm came out of the north pacific ocean and rode the northern branch of the jet southward over the western states.
But when the strong low pressure reached S. E. Colorado it sucked in or picked up abundant subtropical moisture riding the southern jet out of the south pacific over Mexico. That moisture feed into the storm and thats why we had record snow fall. We did not get that southern branch moisture train at all last year to merge with the storm coming from the north.
This year the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) is neutral. See SOI below:
www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/.../southernoscillationindex/30daysoiv
Meaning we are not in a strong La Nino (dry spring and dry summer) like last two years 2011 and 2012 or in a El Nino (wet spring and wet summer) like 2007 and 2010, good hatch years.
The neutral signal is good news, we can get normal to good moisture with a neutral SOI signal. The year 2008 is a good example of a neutral SOI signal.
But that year in late July hurricane Dolly came into south Texas and brought good rain up the Rio Grande to New Mexico on to S. W. Kansas. Everybody that got a piece of Dolly had a good game bird hatch and good chick survival.
Hopefully the southern branch will continue to bring in moisture all spring and summer. Maybe a weak El Nino will kick in by this summer or fall.
But when the strong low pressure reached S. E. Colorado it sucked in or picked up abundant subtropical moisture riding the southern jet out of the south pacific over Mexico. That moisture feed into the storm and thats why we had record snow fall. We did not get that southern branch moisture train at all last year to merge with the storm coming from the north.
This year the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) is neutral. See SOI below:
www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/.../southernoscillationindex/30daysoiv
Meaning we are not in a strong La Nino (dry spring and dry summer) like last two years 2011 and 2012 or in a El Nino (wet spring and wet summer) like 2007 and 2010, good hatch years.
The neutral signal is good news, we can get normal to good moisture with a neutral SOI signal. The year 2008 is a good example of a neutral SOI signal.
But that year in late July hurricane Dolly came into south Texas and brought good rain up the Rio Grande to New Mexico on to S. W. Kansas. Everybody that got a piece of Dolly had a good game bird hatch and good chick survival.
Hopefully the southern branch will continue to bring in moisture all spring and summer. Maybe a weak El Nino will kick in by this summer or fall.
Last edited:
The big record snow fall around Feb. 25 is a great sign of more moisture to come this spring and summer. That strong storm came out of the north pacific ocean and rode the northern branch of the jet southward over the western states.
But when the strong low pressure reached S. E. Colorado it sucked in or picked up abundant subtropical moisture riding the southern jet out of the south pacific over Mexico. That moisture feed into the storm and thats why we had record snow fall. We did not get that southern branch moisture train at all last year to merge with the storm coming from the north.
This year the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) is neutral. See SOI below:
www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/.../southernoscillationindex/30daysoiv...
Meaning we are not in a strong La Nino (dry spring and dry summer) like last two years 2011 and 2012 or in a El Nino (wet spring and wet summer) like 2007 and 2010, good hatch years.
The neutral signal is good news, we can get normal to good moisture with a neutral SOI signal. The year 2008 is a good example of a neutral SOI signal.
But that year in late July hurricane Dolly came into south Texas and brought good rain up the Rio Grande to New Mexico on to S. W. Kansas. Everybody that got a piece of Dolly had a good game bird hatch and good chick survival.
Hopefully the southern branch will continue to bring in moisture all spring and summer. May a weak El Nino will kick in by this summer or fall.
But when the strong low pressure reached S. E. Colorado it sucked in or picked up abundant subtropical moisture riding the southern jet out of the south pacific over Mexico. That moisture feed into the storm and thats why we had record snow fall. We did not get that southern branch moisture train at all last year to merge with the storm coming from the north.
This year the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index) is neutral. See SOI below:
www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/.../southernoscillationindex/30daysoiv...
Meaning we are not in a strong La Nino (dry spring and dry summer) like last two years 2011 and 2012 or in a El Nino (wet spring and wet summer) like 2007 and 2010, good hatch years.
The neutral signal is good news, we can get normal to good moisture with a neutral SOI signal. The year 2008 is a good example of a neutral SOI signal.
But that year in late July hurricane Dolly came into south Texas and brought good rain up the Rio Grande to New Mexico on to S. W. Kansas. Everybody that got a piece of Dolly had a good game bird hatch and good chick survival.
Hopefully the southern branch will continue to bring in moisture all spring and summer. May a weak El Nino will kick in by this summer or fall.
Bilbo Baggins
Active member
Somebody must be a weather guy, hope you are correct about more moisture on the way!
I pray you are right!
henhenROOSTER!!!
New member
KEEP HOPE ALIVE!!! :thumbsup:
Hope you guys get some of this one about to clobber us just across the line! Supposed to get 1-2 ft @ my house on the western outskirts of Denver & maybe at least 6" (hopefully more) on the eastern CO plains this wknd...
Hope you guys get some of this one about to clobber us just across the line! Supposed to get 1-2 ft @ my house on the western outskirts of Denver & maybe at least 6" (hopefully more) on the eastern CO plains this wknd...
Prairie Drifter
Well-known member
Spring
I spent 4 days on the tractor mowing and disking firebreaks this week. The moisture has awakened a good number of seedlings with most showing 1/2 to 1 inch of growth. None of my grass was grazed in 2012, but the residue left is dismal. That doesn't bode well for the current year production, but what we have is what we've got to work with. I am seeing a lot of young cedar sprouts in the grass, so I'm getting ready to get some fire going in some of the patches furthest from previous burns. The snow laid a lot of the more oxidized residue flat on the ground, and all of the cool-season stuff is flattened. We have more moisture forecast for tomorrow and this coming Thursday/Friday. I do hope it keeps coming! The world has been dormant too long already. We need growth. The plant life is the bottom of the pyramid, for the peak to be tall the base has to be wide. Rain on!!!
I spent 4 days on the tractor mowing and disking firebreaks this week. The moisture has awakened a good number of seedlings with most showing 1/2 to 1 inch of growth. None of my grass was grazed in 2012, but the residue left is dismal. That doesn't bode well for the current year production, but what we have is what we've got to work with. I am seeing a lot of young cedar sprouts in the grass, so I'm getting ready to get some fire going in some of the patches furthest from previous burns. The snow laid a lot of the more oxidized residue flat on the ground, and all of the cool-season stuff is flattened. We have more moisture forecast for tomorrow and this coming Thursday/Friday. I do hope it keeps coming! The world has been dormant too long already. We need growth. The plant life is the bottom of the pyramid, for the peak to be tall the base has to be wide. Rain on!!!