Crappy gobbling year?

[megalomaniac]

My thinking is less gobbling is a reflection of fewer longbeards, period, and relative to the number of hens.

We're killing too high a percentage of what was living pre-season.

Theres a lot to be said for this....

Dead birds don't gobble very much

But we are still getting a ton of gobbles on my TN farms where we shut hunting down, and there are birds still alive to gobble.

I hope the decrease in statewide gobbling is just due to an excess of available hens, and not due to lack of availability of male birds.

Gotta remember, toms don't just gobble to attract hens. I actually think they drum more for the hens and they gobble more to other toms (especially roost gobbling) to let them know they are still protecting their home turf and for other toms to stay out. No need to gobble if there is no one to challenge them.

 

[TheLBLman]

My thinking is less gobbling is a reflection of fewer longbeards, period, and relative to the number of hens.

LBL my farm's not like what many others across the state are seeing in terms of populations...I got turkeys out the ying yang. What I'm saying is they just didn't seem to gobble well this year. It may well be due to the number of hens but not only did they hardly gobble on the ground, they didn't even hardly gobble on the limb.

I suspect your particular less gobbling issue is due from a combination of high ratio of hens to gobblers,
AND increased coyote, bobcat, & raptor predation (particularly owls at dawn & dusk).

Just think how we "call" in ducks & geese (& turkeys) with a "call".
Just think how we "call" in coyotes with a "call".

I believe over many years, Tom turkeys have been evolving to gobble less and LESS LOUDLY due to their gobbling "calls" CALLING IN all types of predators.

I learned years ago that owls take adult turkeys on the roost. They simply attack the head (usually on a sleeping turkey).
But at dawn or dusk, a gobbling Tom on the roost can call in an owl, as well as nearby bobcats & coyotes which can then be waiting nearby for the landing.

Bobcats & coyotes have certainly evolved to know that a strutting Tom has a blind spot when fully fanned.
They also have figured out to determine a turkey's direction of travel, then get ahead and lay in ambush.
All this happens more when a Tom "gobbles" calling in the predators.

Those Toms more prone to loud gobbling, die at a higher rate.
Those Toms more prone to NOT gobble, die at a lower rate.

Interestingly, I had a Tom a couple weeks ago that was making some perfect gobbles, but they were barely audible (to me) at 75 yds. I had never heard one gobble so "quietly". It was like he was whispering.
Really believe this is evolution in process.

Speaking of which, I'm seeing relatively fewer Toms strutting out in larger fields (farther from wood lines).
Getting way away from cover, such as in the middle of a field can be a good way to escape coyotes & bobcats, and I used to see strutting Toms a lot more out the middle of fields strutting. However, I believe their being attacked more often by eagles has decreased this field strutting behavior.

 

[deerfever]

I was in a different county today and finally just left a bird that got way on private with his hen. I have been on two different birds that have gobbled more in a single day than I can remember in 38 years of hunting. Both were the one you get on that has a hen but acts like he is coming at anytime! I left one at 1000 then struck up another at 1130 and finally give it up at 330. I never heard so much gobbling in a single day. Worst part I have nothing to show for it! Just thankful to hear them! I believe the second was invisible I never did see him just heard him over and over .I could hear his hen yelp every so often. I will have nightmares tonight about this, dang hens!

 

[TheLBLman]

I left one at 1000 then struck up another at 1130 and finally give it up at 330.
I never heard so much gobbling in a single day.
Worst part I have nothing to show for it!

Oh, but you do!
ENJOY the JOURNEY!
Getting there can be more the fun!

Hunting is as much a journey as a destination,
as is life.

Sounds like you heard more gobbling today, in a single day,
than most hunters have heard in the entire season :super:

And, you are now looking forward to going back
as opposed to being disheartened or just "done"?

 

[deerfever]

Yes , you are right LBL man! I enjoyed every minute of it. I got my tail whipped today and that is fine with me. I absolutely love to hear them gobble and yes I am already thinking how I can beat one of them in the morning. If either one of them ole boys loses his hen for just a few minutes I believe it's over! The one I worked so long made me think he was coming numerous times but I would always hear his old hen yelp twice and cluck and that was it he would go right back. I didn't think the first one was ever coming out of the tree but no doubt in my mind he waited on his hen to get close before he flew down and then she ran with him. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful if I did , I will take a day like I had today any day of the season it's never been about killing to me. As a matter of fact I really don't know if I have ever heard so many gobbles in a single day. I wonder if those two are used to having several hens and now down to one are desperate to get some more to join and that's why all the gobbling? I have seen gobblers get one hen and not say anything the rest of the day, that happened in a whole different area on Friday. I finally left at noon as I had things to do yesterday. Who knows just when you think you got them figured out they do something else that is why we all enjoy hunting turkeys so much!

 

[Bgoodman30]

I am glad I am not the only one. The season has been tough for me. The gobbling has been terrible.. It seems that they acted right during youth season and were well henned up by the opener. I guess its a good thing that there just seems to be a lot more hens than usual. I have seen several die mainly by other shooters and should have tagged out yesterday but I am really good at getting them in range just a terrible closer :bash:

I have been surprised by the harvest rate because I have been getting my butt kicked.. ALTHOUGH it has changed this past week. I heard more gobbling on Monday and Friday then I have all season long. Finally some gobblers found themselves without hens at least for a couple mins.. Both were perfect mornings with temps in the 30's and BP above 30.2 funny thing is the next two mornings Tuesday and Saturday respectively I heard ZERO gobbles in the same spots.

Another thing I noticed this season is I am seeing a lot more sharp spurred gobbler with very few 2 year old toms? Makes sense with the lack of Jakes around the last 2 years?

 

[cowhunter71]

Week four has produced some fine hunting here in the NF. Pressure has FINALLY subsided some and gobbling has really picked up, especially midday. Was able to slide into a popular spot just after 1:00 today, after the guy who had been hunting there all morning had finally came out. Walked out the gated road about a 1/4 mile to a lead that drops off into a big bottom. Figured with the wind we had today these Turkeys would have fell off in there midday. Woods have finally leafed out, not jungle green, but still "vibrant" green. Was able to get where I wanted to and set up 3/4 of the way down. Wind lulled and I clucked a few times. Ten minutes later I clucked again and sent a soft three note yelp rolling down into the bottom. After 15 seconds or so a Turkey gobbles 175yrds down off the nose, in the bottom. I quickly moved 25 steps down and another 25 right, these turkeys like to grade right on this lead. Few soft clucks and I went to scratching. Took him almost 30 minutes to come 80 yards. Stalled me out for another ten, gobbling every two or three minutes. Was able to reposition one last time, 15 yards right, just enough to make it sound like I was drifting around in there. A soft whine followed up with a two note yelp and he broke and had to come look for the Hen talk my 5 1/2 Osage Buice yelper was rolling down to 'em. Took him another 15 minutes to come the final 40. Caught his lit up red white and blue head at my 2:00. Was able to come right when he disappeared behind two big oaks. Came out the other side , half strutting and I killed 'em. Just over an inch sharp spurs.

 

[catman529]

Gobbling has been crap the past couple times I've been out. Private land, Williamson county, very low hunting pressure, nothing killed there yet this year. Just ain't talking much.


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[ROVERBOY]

Week four has produced some fine hunting here in the NF. Pressure has FINALLY subsided some and gobbling has really picked up, especially midday. Was able to slide into a popular spot just after 1:00 today, after the guy who had been hunting there all morning had finally came out. Walked out the gated road about a 1/4 mile to a lead that drops off into a big bottom. Figured with the wind we had today these Turkeys would have fell off in there midday. Woods have finally leafed out, not jungle green, but still "vibrant" green. Was able to get where I wanted to and set up 3/4 of the way down. Wind lulled and I clucked a few times. Ten minutes later I clucked again and sent a soft three note yelp rolling down into the bottom. After 15 seconds or so a Turkey gobbles 175yrds down off the nose, in the bottom. I quickly moved 25 steps down and another 25 right, these turkeys like to grade right on this lead. Few soft clucks and I went to scratching. Took him almost 30 minutes to come 80 yards. Stalled me out for another ten, gobbling every two or three minutes. Was able to reposition one last time, 15 yards right, just enough to make it sound like I was drifting around in there. A soft whine followed up with a two note yelp and he broke and had to come look for the Hen talk my 5 1/2 Osage Buice yelper was rolling down to 'em. Took him another 15 minutes to come the final 40. Caught his lit up red white and blue head at my 2:00. Was able to come right when he disappeared behind two big oaks. Came out the other side , half strutting and I killed 'em. Just over an inch sharp spurs.

Alright! Congratulations on a good hunt.

 

[ROVERBOY]

The last couple times I've been, I've not heard a single gobble. I did Saturday morning walk up on several birds though. It was in grown up field and didn't see them till I was almost on them. Mostly hens with 2 or 3 toms. I threw the gun up and tried to get on one of the toms. Every time I would get on one he would disappear behind some brush. All this while he was running. Oh I guess theres next time.

 

[TheLBLman]

Gobbling has been crap the past couple times I've been out. Private land, Williamson county, very low hunting pressure, nothing killed there yet this year.

Unless it's an extremely large acreage (like over 500 acres), to what extent would it matter if nothing were killed on a particular small parcel?

How do you know even a few people in the area aren't shooting turkeys from their backdoor steps?
This is becoming increasingly common.

Just saying, it's easy to lose several turkeys in a square mile area, and someone hunting in that area never being aware.

 

[Andy S.]

Week four has produced some fine hunting here in the NF. Pressure has FINALLY subsided some and gobbling has really picked up, especially midday. Was able to slide into a popular spot just after 1:00 today, after the guy who had been hunting there all morning had finally came out. Walked out the gated road about a 1/4 mile to a lead that drops off into a big bottom. Figured with the wind we had today these Turkeys would have fell off in there midday. Woods have finally leafed out, not jungle green, but still "vibrant" green. Was able to get where I wanted to and set up 3/4 of the way down. Wind lulled and I clucked a few times. Ten minutes later I clucked again and sent a soft three note yelp rolling down into the bottom. After 15 seconds or so a Turkey gobbles 175yrds down off the nose, in the bottom. I quickly moved 25 steps down and another 25 right, these turkeys like to grade right on this lead. Few soft clucks and I went to scratching. Took him almost 30 minutes to come 80 yards. Stalled me out for another ten, gobbling every two or three minutes. Was able to reposition one last time, 15 yards right, just enough to make it sound like I was drifting around in there. A soft whine followed up with a two note yelp and he broke and had to come look for the Hen talk my 5 1/2 Osage Buice yelper was rolling down to 'em. Took him another 15 minutes to come the final 40. Caught his lit up red white and blue head at my 2:00. Was able to come right when he disappeared behind two big oaks. Came out the other side , half strutting and I killed 'em. Just over an inch sharp spurs.

Sounds like a fine hunt, congrats cowhunter71.

 

[Andy S.]

As for gobbling, I'd say my year has been average to slightly above average. Slowing down some now in SW TN. My observations come from west/middle TN and MO.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I haven't heard a gobble since opening weekend. I've had 700 acres to myself. Very sad to say the least.

 

[catman529]

Gobbling has been crap the past couple times I've been out. Private land, Williamson county, very low hunting pressure, nothing killed there yet this year.

Unless it's an extremely large acreage (like over 500 acres), to what extent would it matter if nothing were killed on a particular small parcel?

How do you know even a few people in the area aren't shooting turkeys from their backdoor steps?
This is becoming increasingly common.

Just saying, it's easy to lose several turkeys in a square mile area, and someone hunting in that area never being aware.

I know people hunt 2 farms over, but other than that, not much at all, and it's surrounded by growing subdivisions. My friend has multiple cell cameras that send him pics of longbeards every day. We had 4 Jakes come by at 10 yards one day. The birds are there, they aren't talking.


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[Setterman]

Still god awful for me. It's been two weeks now since I heard a bird consistently gobble on the ground. Days are silent and appears as if the season will close with a thud

 

[catman529]

Still god awful for me. It's been two weeks now since I heard a bird consistently gobble on the ground. Days are silent and appears as if the season will close with a thud

sounds like the last few times I hunted Alabama.


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[PickettSFHunter]

I'm not hearing anything in the lower elevations, that's pretty common though this time of year. I am hearing them in the higher elevations, that's common also.

 

[elknturkey]

We got on one Saturday at 930 that couldn't catch his breath. First one I've heard gobbling mid morning. Seen 4 gobblers riding around yesterday each one had a hen. All on private tho

 

[TN Larry]

It has been a weird gobbling year for us to say the least. Juvenile and the first week of season was great but been very weird since. I know that several birds have been killed but also know where some are still left without much hunting pressure that I know of. Roost gobbling and the first hour or so has been decent but mid morning to mid day gobbling has basically been a bust since opening weekend.