There are lots of variables that impact turkey recruitment. Predation is a big one for sure. Around here it is coons, possums and skunks that are the primary nest raiders. Coyotes and bobcats work on the poults once hatched and nesting hens. Habitat is a huge issue and that varies by region. In some places it is a lack of understory cover from poor timber management or the complete lack of. In other areas it is changes in farming practices. Landscape level habitat changes also influence the populations and efficiency of their hunting of the predator base. Weather is another big variable. Flooding can wipe out an entire season of recruitment. Cold rains after poults hatch and before they are fully feathered can be hard or wipe out recruitment in areas. Reaping and TSS are hunt method changes that make humans more efficient at killing gobblers. They make it so folks that otherwise might not kill a turkey but every once in a while if ever, can fairly consistently kill birds. Deer feeding in places can also contribute to bird loss if you have an aflatoxin issue or a break out of blackhead. There is an awful lot that impacts turkey that we have no control over but there are a lot of things we do. Like sick humans though, we tend to first treat the symptom rather than the cause. Not sure what all the right answers are but I dont see regulations and/or incentive programs generally moving in the direction of treating the cause. We seem to be stuck on the symptoms.
We havent had a fall season here in a LONG time. No jakes for adults here either.
