East Tx turkeys

[BOWTIE DRYVA]

Has anyone seen or hunted turkeys in east tx around or in polk co, I never taken one trying to see if any are close to home.

[EasTexan]

The turkeys will never thrive as long as logging continues in the area.

I am not against logging at all, but it plays a big role in sustaining a healthy turkey population.

Saw a couple Rio's a few months ago that were released...

[BOWTIE DRYVA]

good point never thought about the logging affecting the habitat

[Nova]

Actually early successional habitat (logging) is beneficial to turkeys. The research I have seen indicates that brooding habitat(maintained native grass openings for bugging) is the limiting factor. We need more openings and plenty of fire.

[Chief]

I have seen a couple on game camera and saw the same one 2 days in a row on the stand about 3 years ago in Polk county.

[JW]

I've killed 2 on Moore Plantation. Still unimpressed with corn buzzards sorry.

[Pineywoods Paul]

We have a small population of Easter birds in northern Polk County from Groveton east over to Corrigan north of FM350 and south of US287. Best drainages are Brushy Creek, Kickapoo, Bull, and creeks east from there. We have legally hunted them each Spring since around 2002. We usually harvest a couple gobblers in mid April on our tracts. We have begun application for another restoration through TPWD and Pineywoods Chapter of NWTF in Lufkin.

Timber thinning is good, new clearcuts are good for a year or so, young crowned over plantations with thicket undergrowth not good-and uneven age tracts of thinned pine timber are ok- as long as roads and fencelines are mowed wide between tracts to minimize predator ambush sites. Hardwood creek bottoms are helpful. Hogs eating their eggs is our biggest challenge, IMHO.

[Aggiebush]

We have tons of them in Red River Co. They are a whole different critter than their Rio cousins, makes for a tough hunt. NWTF will be restocking some in areas that are suitable soon. They are going to "super stock" areas with larger quantities of birds. I read this in the NWTF newsletter last week.

[outdoortexan]

We have a small population of Easter birds in northern Polk County from Groveton east over to Corrigan north of FM350 and south of US287. Best drainages are Brushy Creek, Kickapoo, Bull, and creeks east from there. We have legally hunted them each Spring since around 2002. We usually harvest a couple gobblers in mid April on our tracts. We have begun application for another restoration through TPWD and Pineywoods Chapter of NWTF in Lufkin.

Timber thinning is good, new clearcuts are good for a year or so, young crowned over plantations with thicket undergrowth not good-and uneven age tracts of thinned pine timber are ok- as long as roads and fencelines are mowed wide between tracts to minimize predator ambush sites. Hardwood creek bottoms are helpful. Hogs eating their eggs is our biggest challenge, IMHO.

Would love to find some birds on my lease (6 miles down 2262 from 287) near Groveton. I am part of the SanJac Strutters chapter in Coldspring and all hunting for them around us is suspended. We hope to one day get a population going but most efforts I have seen have been over towards Angelina NF area. However, I am always open to invites.

[singleshot]

Not sure about Polk county, but I was hunting in Titus and Camp county and saw about 4 turkeys in 3 weekends. Had one that came to the feeder every day. I am hoping they will start thriving again.

[muddyfuzzy]

it would be nice to have easterns in angelina county once again. i think the hogs make it really hard for them.

[backwoods]

Actually early successional habitat (logging) is beneficial to turkeys. The research I have seen indicates that brooding habitat(maintained native grass openings for bugging) is the limiting factor. We need more openings and plenty of fire.

This is it right here.
Deep South states like MS, AL, and GA have good populations of eastern turkey, but have the same amounts if not more logging.
I think those states have less fragmented land (larger tracts) due to lower human population density and they practice control burning in pine stands with more regularity than Texas timber growers. However, Texas timber growers are using prescribed fire more and more.

I see Turkeys in Angelina County every now and then in the summer time. I've hunted them for years with no luck.

[TWOHunter]

I know of a few guys around Rusk and Alto that have had several groups on game cam this year.

[jay07ag]

There are a few birds in the Angelina National Forest, the Sabine has a better population. Depending where you are in Polk County you will have a few scattered birds (depends on your habitat). Anderson County has a really good growing population of birds along the Neches River, but you cant hunt them in that county for some reason. There used to be a few groups of birds in the Davy Crockett national forest, but I havent seen any out there in several years....in East Texas, they are just really few and far between. Good luck finding one, its a real challenge and would be considered a great trophy if you do!