My third Youth Turkey Hunt at Proving Ground Farm (PGF) is now in the books.  Sadly for us, but not for the turkeys, we had another unsuccessful season for those hopeful hunters.  The weather held out for good hunting conditions, especially on Sunday, but no birds wandered on our property.  As I listened from the parking lot at PGF, I could hear some gobbling to the north and shots to the west but no action for our guests.

Since I had some idle time in the morning and, hopefully, will be taking part in a turkey hunt on my own in two weeks, I recorded the time when birds became active.  As they say (whoever “they” are), if you hear songbirds on the way to your blind, you are too late.

On Saturday morning, the cardinal was the first to sound off at 5:50 a.m.  He held the stage until 6:17 a.m. when a robin began its chortling.  At 6:20 a.m., the rest of the bird kingdom joined in the chorus.  The first turkey gobble came out at 6:25 a.m.  Now, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, sunrise occurred at 07:06.

On Sunday, the cardinal (first songbird, again) started off at 6:05 a.m.  This was 15 minutes later than the previous day and the night was clear versus clouds and snow the previous morning.  The first turkey gobble, again from the north, was at 6:27 a.m.  Sunrise on Sunday was two minutes earlier than the previous day.

Based on my limited observations this past weekend, it would be foolish to make an empirical statement regarding turkey activity as it relates to candlepower (sunrise) or bird activity other than; it depends on the bird’s judgment on a particular morning.  If you are a turkey hunter and plan on heading out opening weekend, it’s a safe bet to be in your location by 05:30.  Good luck out there and make it a safe hunt. And thanks to those who participated in the 2022 Youth Turkey Hunt at PGF!