An interesting fact is I remember my Dad telling us that in the late 1930’s
you needed to head even further north for a good deer hunt. It's one reason he bought a camp in the Adirondacks. Now, there are deer as well as wild Turkey everywhere. I grew up in the 80’s and it wasn't until the 90’s the Turkey population moved back in.
My Dad used to leave for work at about 5:15 am, and the DEC didn't believe him when he said he saw a Cougar type cat and Black Bear in the area. Also what he thought was a Wolf and not a Coyote. He also took back roads to the highway and was the only guy on the road at that hour. He started carrying a camera and gave them some pictures. We've also had Moose around us in recent years, never when I was a kid. So as populations grow, populations need to be controlled. Of course one Moron shot the one verifiable Moose in the area, I'm not for that.
Where we live here in West Texas we’re allowed 5 deer total per year, 2 bucks and 3 does. My wife and I rarely take more than 3 deer because that’s about all we’ll eat over the year. We take one elk a year and a couple of turkeys and 50 to 60 quail. We rarely eat store bought beef. The big pond on the ranch is stocked with channel cat, bass, crappie and goggle eye perch so that pretty much takes care of any fish needs.
Growing up in Western New York in the fifties and sixties, I never saw a wild turkey. It still amazes me to see them in the fields and along the road now. People just don't hunt much anymore.
Don't have to, I suppose. Food Stamps, you know.