It sure seems to be a wide variation in success this turkey season. Some people are covered up with turkeys and some have none at all. That may just be the normal cycle turkeys go thru, but there is a lot of speculation that untreated chicken litter has something to do with the population being down in some places.

Its pretty unlikely that there will any genuine research in AL to see if there is any correlation to chicken houses leading to no turkeys, but maybe we can try a totally unscientific poll here. Could it be that the areas that no longer seem to have turkeys are also places where pastures and fields get untreated chicken litter?

If you wanta participate, list the counties you hunt and your perception of whether the turkey population is normal, above normal, below normal, or way below normal. Then tell us if you are aware of local areas using untreated chicken litter. Just try to keep it local. If there are chicken houses on the other side of your county, don't count them. I'll try to compile some stats if we get enough replies. Unless I get death threats from chicken farmers, and then I will drop it.

Please just give us your info and post opinions in another thread. I'll start:

Counties hunted - Coosa, Perry, Tallapoosa
Turkey population - normal
Chicken litter - none

ALFA is your number 1 enemy. Doesn't matter if litter is the problem ALFA backs the poultry industry in such a big way it will trump any negative PR real fast.

I know that; hence my disclaimer in case of death threats.

I need solid info; you gonna participate or are you afraid?

I'm not afraid at all. Just don't want to come across pushing commercial fert since I do sell it. But I do know there's growing momentum against litter. As a grower there's no way Id pay for litter not knowing how much plant food you're getting.

But here you go
Limestone- normal
Madison- down

Both counties use litter more than most in AL.

Barbour- normal
Jefferson- down

No litter near Jefferson

Covington--below normal for me--some litter is used in fields next to club

>>>I'm not afraid at all. Just don't want to come across pushing commercial fert since I do sell it. But I do know there's growing momentum against litter. As a grower there's no way Id pay for litter not knowing how much plant food you're getting.<<<

I know, just messing with you about being afraid. I don't sell commercial fertilizer, but knowing a little about the NPK contents of chicken litter I would never use it unless it were free. And considering that it might be a danger to our turkeys I would never use it at all.

OK, I am the one breaking my own request about no editorializing, so I will hush.

Jackson- below normal by a good bit.
Litter all over my fields and the neighboring fields for several miles

The areas I have traditionally hunted in the Talladega NF seem to be on a serious decline. Course I dont get to hunt it near as much as I used to. And I'm assuming no one is spreading chicken litter in the forest. But there does seem to be an influx of hunters in the TNF, esp. on Hollins WMA. I've seen tags from Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky during spring break week up there. In the same county on a small piece of private land (lots of agriculture around), the past few years seem to have had an abundance of turkeys. I have no knowledge of what type of fertilizer the agricultural areas are using. In conclusion, I have not a clue.

Maybe they're like really big grouse and just go through cycles.

Jackson on 4 different properties.
One had populations way higher than I've seen in the last 4 or 5 years.
Another I would say was normal.
This was my first year hunting the other 2, but they had good populations.

None of them have any chicken litter around.

I have a question. What exactly does the litter do to reduce the turkey population? Sorry for my ignorance, just hadn't heard of this theory before.

Randolph - places with no litter= good population.
Places with litter= essentially 0
Cleburne- great population 0 litter
Tallapoosa - good population, no litter

Chilton and Perry primarily. But its big timber national forest. No chicken litter to blame. Numbers are down

Spread of disease.

DeKalb= Higher
Tallapoosa=Normal
Clarke= Higher
Chilton=Normal
Shelby= Normal

Tallapoosa and Chambers, numbers are way down compared to 4 years ago, but I've seen a ton of jakes this year, just not as many hens as normal, and hearing about 60% less gobblers.

No chicken litter, but land has been select cut or clear cut. On over 3500 acres of 4950, only 430 acres of old growth hardwoods were clear cut. I think the saw briars, purple briars, and other briar patches that completely take over pine rows for the seven years before the final clear cut cause problems. Seems like there were more birds when the ground was cleaner and canopy a bit thicker.

Monroe co.- noticeable decline in last 3 yrs.
chicken litter started showing up around our place 3yrs ago.

Escambia County-below normal and the ones that are there, don't act like it's even springtime. Same as last year. No litter
Monroe County-about normal but WAY down on gobbling. No litter

Prolly not your best feller to poll since this is only my second year of seriously turkey hunting. The two areas I mainly hunt have fields treated with chicken litter. Have had for several years. I don't know what the normal population is however , between the two I managed to get a limit.

Jackson county 1st year hunting but was on birds every day heard multiple birds 7 out of 8 days. No chicken litter close.
Lawrence county/Winston county Normal. No litter close.