The Drought May Actually Improve Hunting.

[jdmidwest]

Driving through the countryside the past few weeks, I have notice something strange. Hen turkeys with large flocks of young turkeys. Seems like the dry spring and lack of flooding may have actually helped the turkey population. I rounded the corner on a gravel road in Perry Cty yesterday to find 2 mature hens with 20 healthy young turkeys standing in the road. Fall Season may be good this year.

I have also noticed more than usual numbers of Bucks out working the bean fields in the daylight hours. I watched 3 nice ones grazing in one field yesterday. Drove about 2 fields and noticed a tan spot moving in a field of green soybeans. Binocs came out and I glassed a nice buck bedded, the tan was his velvet antlers.

I have seen more quail this year along the gravel roads too.

But, unless we get some water, Duck Season is gonna suck!

[Bird Watcher]

I have 34 Hens and poults coming to the feeder here in town and only 4 of them are mature hens. I think thats a pretty good survival rate.

[jdmidwest]

I have seen more young turkeys in the past month along county roads than I can ever recall. And they all seem to be healthy. Must have been a great hatch year.

[jdmidwest]

Snakes have been few and far between this summer. I think dry weather may have an adverse affect on them.

[Feathers and Fins]

JD, I have seen the same things. But will have to say drought means GREAT DUCK hunting. It compacts the ducks, part of our problem in most years is the ten billion farm ponds and strip mines etc that spread them out. Less water means those birds will be where the water is and that = great waterfowling.

[WHARFRAT]

it'll also compact all the duck hunters too!

so, hope you have a private spot! if not, we'll all be in competition for spots!

[oneshot]

Ok yes it has helped the Turkeys but I believe it is going to hurt the Deer with Blue Tongue.As far as seeing more Deer there is no browse in the Timber pushing them along the Roads,Yards and Bean Fields.

oneshot

[jdmidwest]

Ok yes it has helped the Turkeys but I believe it is going to hurt the Deer with Blue Tongue.As far as seeing more Deer there is no browse in the Timber pushing them along the Roads,Yards and Bean Fields.

oneshot

Good road hunting this fall then.

As far as the ducks go, if it continues to stay dry, they will probably keep on flying instead of loafing around the area. No major bodies of water other than lakes and rivers. And no food. Wetlands are dry and did not produce much in the way of food. If they don't flood, they won't use them. Crops were poor and are going to be harvested early due to the dry weather, not much there either. Poor nut crops for the woodies. I actually think the waterfowl will keep on trucking to better water and food down south.

[Feathers and Fins]

it'll also compact all the duck hunters too!

so, hope you have a private spot! if not, we'll all be in competition for spots!

Doubt it, Not much comp on big waters and even the MDC areas if you stay off the major ones its little to no presure. But in worse case scenerio there is always the MAV and Papa's farm sits right in the middle of it

[BilletHead]

Scott,

Sure will be hard on us midwest pond hunters. You really know how to hurt a guys hope for a nice waterfowl season:)

BilletHead