Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
Got the first pic of hens and toms together 3 days ago on 2/27. Prior to that only bachelor groups.
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bowhunterfanatic
Well-Known Member
A lot of times I don't think people who haven't experienced the difference can wrap their minds around just how vastly different the southernmost portions of west TN can be. Like you, I'd LOVE to be able to hunt the last 10 days of March. What few times I can remember getting to hunt the last weekend of March the hunting was incredible. Same goes for the few years I got to carry a juvenile. We never had a problem finding a receptive bird then.
I am trying to understand your thoughts and I may be missing something but how is that different than the old schedule? We had the juvenile hunt followed a week later by regular season? Again I may be missing something here as I am getting old and crusty! Lol
My first pic was 2/14. Friends have heard a little bit of limb gobbling this past week. SW TN.
I rode around February 20 and saw north of 100 birds between daylight and 9AM, of course flocked up pretty good. 15+ LBs that morning, with one field of 9 LBs following 12 hens. Middle TN.
CHRIS WILSON
Well-Known Member
My response was to how the birds might be acting mid/late April this season in comparison to the same time frame in seasons past due the shift in when hunting pressure is applied. I think I worded my earlier response a bit funky.
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Research out of NC is confirming that nesting is more aligned with latitude and day length. Believe it or not, the higher altitude mountains of W, NC nesting is a couple days earlier than the costal.
Be interesting to study TN. Dr Harpers research confirms TN nesting dates but that's a specific geographic location.
Gobble4me757
Well-Known Member
One week for me in south Florida!
Seen some juvenile hunt kill pics over the weekend from south FL.
agreed. I try to be quiet but where I live it pretty much ruined my turkey season. I usually don't hunt much in May- too hot- bugs- snakes - ticks and chiggars- not fun hunting turkeys like deer. I live for the first 9 days of season. Matter of fact I wish it even opened earlier than April where I live. Basically made my season 2 weeks long instead of a month. This guy not happy about it. Lol. But for most of the state not a big deal so I doubt it will get changed back. TWRA deserves whatever financial shortfalls they get.
Keep in mind TWRA did not recommend a two week delay at all as they had zero evidence that a two week delay helps with anything. As a matter of fact preliminary results from the study of delayed areas in TN shows that predators had the biggest impact on nesting success. The commission are the folks we can thank for the delay . You are not alone my friend , I would totally understand if it was recommended with evidence that the dominant gobbler theory made an impact for our turkeys.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Up in TN visiting Dad... redbuds in full bloom, callory pears just past peak.
Hens and toms still separate flocks here, 23 hens in this pic. Saw a group of 9 toms about a half mile away.
Definitely not ahead of schedule on my farms despite the warm spring. No gobbling this morn, but it was awfully windy. Going to listen again in the morn and try to call in some coyotes.
Hens and toms still separate flocks here, 23 hens in this pic. Saw a group of 9 toms about a half mile away.
Definitely not ahead of schedule on my farms despite the warm spring. No gobbling this morn, but it was awfully windy. Going to listen again in the morn and try to call in some coyotes.
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megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Finally extracted my first gobble this morn from a tom on the roost. Ignored owl and crow calls, but popped off to a peacock.
Spent the rest of the day calling in coyotes. 8 sets, called in 3 dogs. Killed 2, but the female of one pair that came in didn't allow for a 2nd shot after killing the male. #11 and 12 since Nov on my farms
Spent the rest of the day calling in coyotes. 8 sets, called in 3 dogs. Killed 2, but the female of one pair that came in didn't allow for a 2nd shot after killing the male. #11 and 12 since Nov on my farms
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Listened in SW TN this morning. Heard 4 on the limb. First gobble at 5:50. 3 quit limb gobbling at 6:10. The closest one to me wanted to taunt me. He gobbled on the ground until 6:45. I left at 7. Beautiful morning.
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
This morn was about as perfect as it gets for gobbling. Hit 3 farms to listen and call in dogs at just barely light until 7am. Heard 2 on 1 farm that gobbled once after hitting the ground.
Called in 1 dog, but he came in and spotted my setup before I could see him. Not many yoties left on my farms that will come to a call at this point, so will prob give them a month for new ones to shift in and get rid of them as well just before fawning and nesting begins.
Called in 1 dog, but he came in and spotted my setup before I could see him. Not many yoties left on my farms that will come to a call at this point, so will prob give them a month for new ones to shift in and get rid of them as well just before fawning and nesting begins.
CHRIS WILSON
Well-Known Member
Haven't heard a peep out of any toms yet hear in Wilson county. I was out both Saturday and Sunday morning this weekend.
Atchman2
Well-Known Member
The one nice thing about the delay, is I can go and hunt in other states then return to here for opening week! Kansas has reduced their bag limit to a single bird. I've seen hundreds of them at one time there, but not many recently. Where I hunt I can slip into Nebraska and Colorado pretty easily.
Eastern time zone? It is just now 6:15 on the west side.