I have read a lot about buck-to-doe ratios in regards to herd management and potential. I am new to turkey hunting so I am still learning a lot. That being said is there an optimal gobbler-to-hen ratio? If so it seems to me that it would be harder to maintain. Around here you can't take a hen in the Spring season (unless it has a beard) and it seems that there are a lot less people who hunt the fall season.

Thanks in advance.

I know here in Michigan where I hunt , the only way you can take a hen is if she has a beard.
The rules and regulationsclearly state ( one bearded bird per license ) with that being said , it can be a hen or a tom.
As for the ratio , we have more hens than toms in the area I hunt , but thats a good thing cause the toms will be looking for all the hens he can find.

Yep...same here. A hen can be taken in the spring if it has a beard. A hen can be taken in the fall....but not a whole lot are.

Ifyou have a lot of hens in your area....the early season might be tough, because the gobblers will be extremely henned up. The later seasons should be better....once the hens start nesting, there will be less hens around and the Toms will be more vulnerable.

I just was reading about this yesterday. Go to WWW.NWTF.comand on the left side there's a menu, click on"For hunters" and then select about turkeys. Tells you lots andtalks about gobbler/hen ratios.