are there any birds left?

I agree I'm sure they will be fine, hasn't been a terrible winter. It all depends on where you live too. Normally there aren't that many birds by me but they had a good hatch last year and these all seem to be those same birds. Just funny watching their feet go all the way through the snow, up to their bellies. Can't blame them for using the roads.

i have seen some spots that normally hold birds be few and far between then i go down the road and there is literally 100-150 birds out in fields all depends on were the best roost and feed area is for them now, i say there are plenty.

From what I have read turkeys can handle a winter with up to 100 days of snow cover. It's been a pretty mild winter statewide so I think they will be fine. I would personally rather see a portion of the population cleared out by tough weather than a widespread disease come in and wipeout large numbers. Which with the population as high as it is is quite possible at some point.

The past few days there have been a number of birds walking down my driveway, walking along the side of the road, going up to houses, etc. They haven't been around all winter. Seems like they are having trouble finding food. As I type this one is lunging at a branch on a bush to try and pull something off it. It will be interesting to see if there is a winter kill around here. They seem pretty desperate, lived here for a while now and never seen them like this. There were a lot more than normal last fall when I was bow hunting.

I would say the opposite. First year really getting after them and they are absolutely everywhere....on public land....I see them in the fields, in the road and as Im driving they are up and down the public areas.....

The way the spring started thought this would be an awesome year for a good hatch. Now with all the rain and cold another year of a below average hatch I'm afraid. Need to dry out soon!

Less and Less turkeys every year in central WI

I hunt in the central WI area and would say that over the last 6 years or so the population has really crashed. Don't get me wrong, there are still some scattering of flocks here and there, but not even close to what it used to be.

My theories (and they are just that, theories) are the past several winters (not counting this one) there was a lot of winter kill. I know of several roost areas that I'd find dead turkeys under their roost trees. We've also had wet cool springs that are hurting the hatchlings (not seeing the numbers of young birds surviving until fall). The number of predators is also taking a toll on the remaining birds.

Then finally is the number of tags being issued each year. It used to be you'd be lucky to draw your 1st choice every other year. Now you can draw whichever time period you want and then buy leftover tags for basically all of the other time periods. I don't think the tag issue would be a problem if the turkey population was able to get 2 years of easy winters with ideal spring weather, but the DNR doesn't account for turkey survival. They always put out the number of available tags before the winter is half over.

I could be wrong, but I think over the winter the deer ate all the turkeys.

oH BOY !!

Saw about 60 birds around Waukesha co. this weekend.... looks promising!

Just a few.

Located in central Adams County. Have about 5 flocks in my area with at least 100 birds in each. They are all over the cut crop fields.

where our house is just north of manitowoc, there are corn fields in which farmers dont till like usual, so the old stalks provide food for the birds... last year, we had a group of 31 turkeys come into our backyard, which is only 1 acre, but we have a lot of birdfeeders. at least 5 jakes, 3 toms, and 12 hens/younger turkeys, with an unusual sight: a BEARDED HEN! it was definitely a hen, as the beard was 8-10 inches in length, and it was smaller than a tom with that beard wouldve been, plus the head coloring was female. anyway, since that time, the "turkey family" has broken up into smaller groups, and normally they are about 5-8 turkeys big... so we think we dont see as many turkey, but we do... theyre just in groups.

also, the land we turkey hunt has an abundant amount of hens, and a decent amount of toms... rather we had more toms than hens, not only for hunting reasons, but mating reasons also... we have seen declines in both areas, though not very happy bout that. WOULD NOT BLAME THE DNR 4 SCREWING THINGS UP! they have helped the population flourish

Eau Claire county. Zone 4. No where near the birds of 5 years ago. It's disheartening! Too many tags being sold. IMHO