I believe it's all of the above. Overharvest during a decline, killing hens during a decline, un natural predator population, bird flu, avian pox, weather, habitat, highest bird of prey population in years, greed of NWTF, CFM, and the MTA pimping out the wild turkey during and ignoring the decline and putting resource last over money, refusing to making any regulations changes by MDC leadership. etc etc etc
Almost forgot when I talk habitat I not talking about what biologist are talking about - I talking about the habitat pie - That the wild turkey now has to share with wildlife that did not exist in the numbers - Armadillos, Feral Hogs, Black Bears, Elk in one area, whitetail deer.
To me it's simple -- Add something - Take Something away.
The seed coatings, pestcide, herbicide and even the habitat make me laugh. The no. 1 ag area is the bootheel in Missouri, More Seed Coatings, more pestcide and more herbicide and even less biologist approved habitat had the highest poult to hen ratio. While Mark Twain National Forest that has none of that has some of the lowest.
