turkeyfoot
Old Mossy Horns
I think its a combination of several factors. I think the people factor is overrated there are tons of cases where turkeys make a nuisance out of themselves in neighborhoods. Some factors I do believe in are the more advanced tactics removing to many gobblers and older better gene gobblers to soon, some seasons opening to early, loss of nesting and lack of predator control by that I mean on eggs and poults. Turkeys are so different than say deer their numbers are totally dependant on a successful hatch and poults surviving the summer. Its reason some states have adjusted their opener and others are opening certain public lands or counties later to research. You can also add poaching as small factor lot people don't like how much corn they eatThat is valid. Again, I'm no expert. Just think about things as we read articles and such.
In your experience, is there anything else you might think it could be ? Predators ? Raccoons and skunks getting to the eggs ? Some type of mite (or something else) weakening eggs leading to decreased numbers in clutches ?
I find this a very interesting topic and am just trying to learn more.