The number of turkeys in the Georgia woods is expected to be down slightly this spring. Photo by Polly Dean.

The approach of spring indicates the renewal of nature with budding flowers and trees, warmer temperatures, and the mating season of the Eastern wild turkey. Hunters across the state anticipate this time, looking forward to hitting the woods and listening to gobblers reverberating their declarations throughout the forests.

Georgia is fortunate to have exceptional turkey hunting, and opportunities abound from the northern mountains to the southern Coastal Plain. But some areas are better than others, and some years are better than others too. The weather and the habitat are the two major factors that determine the health of the flock in any given area or individual year.

These factors affect the turkey population, and consequently, your hunting success and enjoyment. A look back at past seasons and factors, plus a look forward to the upcoming season can provide an indication on your chances for rolling a tom this spring.

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division biologist Kevin Lowrey has been tracking Georgia turkeys for several years and has noted some trends. The biologist has noted the overall statewide turkey population going down slightly in numbers.

"We're definitely on a slight decline, but we still have a lot," Lowrey said of the turkey population. "The turkey population in Georgia has declined since 2003, primarily due to poor reproduction five of the last six years. We still estimate the population at about 300,000 turkeys and harvest rates are still stable."

But at least the cause is not a mystery.

"There has been drought conditions since 1999 and some odd weather patterns," Lowrey noted.

While a drought can mean better hatching conditions, the low rainfall inhibits the plants and insects that the young turkeys need to eat and grow up on.

On the contrary, wet conditions, such as we experienced last year, grow better turkey groceries, but in some circumstances, young still flightless poults may drown. Also, scenting conditions are better in moist or wet weather, which aids predators in locating young birds and preying on them.

Obviously, the weather is a huge factor in turkey survival, though there is nothing anyone can do about it. Another major factor related to turkey populations that we can do something about is habitat.

Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation are serious detriments to the turkey population all across the state.

"It's happening everywhere," Lowrey observed. "There's habitat loss or urbanization across the state and particularly the Piedmont section of the state."

The metro areas continue to expand and encroach while gobbling up wildlife habitat and turning it into houses, shopping centers and businesses. Atlanta continues to expand toward Athens, Gainesville, Newnan and Jonesboro, filling in everywhere in between. But the Macon, Augusta and Savannah metro areas are bulging and clearing turkey habitat as well.

Lowrey noted that turkeys thrive in certain types of habitat.

"Turkeys need mature forests with little understory, interspersed with weedy grassy openings. They also need corridor management to connect the patches of habitat types, including streamside management zones," the biologist added.

This type of ideal turkey land is getting harder to come by, and fewer land managers are crafting their property specifically for the birds. When lands are clear cut and planted in a monoculture of pine trees, it doesn't provide well for turkeys, and consequently, their population won't thrive.

Even though the population has been in a decline, the drop has been slight and it could easily turn around with some good hatches and weather conditions.