Lone hens?

[Boll Weevil]

Anyone seen any lone hens wandering about...like they maybe they're starting to lay yet? Anyone stumbled onto a nest or maybe flushed a bird off?

Just curious and always trying to gauge how breeding/nesting is moving along.

 

[easy45]

I saw one lone hen yesterday afternoon, was the first turkey I've seen this season

 

[REN]

nope, i have seen nothing but big groups of hens around my area still. Saw a group of 17 hens just this morning! makes hunting hard for sure.

however i did watch a tom mate with 4 of them before he got shot in the face so maybe soon lol

 

[woodsman87]

Not seen any eggs or jumped hens off nest. But I have seen single hens here and there daily for about a week now. North AL and Giles co. TN.

I think it is really early, but not too early for them to be laying any eggs. I bet they are just spreading out trying to find the most suitable nesting/brood rearing habitat. I figure they start laying in my area about April 10th, on average, and go to full setting about April 22, on average. That last week of April is my favorite week to hunt.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I've always thought it interesting to observe the progression of spring, hen behavior, and the willingness of a particular bird to come to the gun. Day 1 he has a dozen hens, gobbles once on the limb, hits the ground, puffs up all day and that's that. A week later and he's down to 5 or 6. At some point he finds himself totally alone and goes bonkers looking for a date.

I've become much more patient week-by-week vs. simply sitting a few hours more waiting on a bird that just ain't ready to die on that particular day.

 

[woodsman87]

I've always thought it interesting to observe the progression of spring, hen behavior, and the willingness of a particular bird to come to the gun. Day 1 he has a dozen hens, gobbles once on the limb, hits the ground, puffs up all day and that's that. A week later and he's down to 5 or 6. At some point he finds himself totally alone and goes bonkers looking for a date.

I've become much more patient week-by-week vs. simply sitting a few hours more waiting on a bird that just ain't ready to die on that particular day.

Never a better time to kill one right after he looses his hens.

 

[catman529]

I saw a hen with 12 softball sized poults cross the road yesterday....


JK... Most hens I've seen are still in small groups

 

[woodsman87]

I saw a hen with 12 softball sized poults cross the road yesterday....


JK... Most hens I've seen are still in small groups

Yep they are done, finished, its over, time to start fishing, the bucks are scraping and starting to chase around here lol

 

[catman529]

I saw a hen with 12 softball sized poults cross the road yesterday....


JK... Most hens I've seen are still in small groups

Yep they are done, finished, its over, time to start fishing, the bucks are scraping and starting to chase around here lol

yeah in some parts the rut is already over

 

[woodsman87]

I saw a hen with 12 softball sized poults cross the road yesterday....


JK... Most hens I've seen are still in small groups

Yep they are done, finished, its over, time to start fishing, the bucks are scraping and starting to chase around here lol

yeah in some parts the rut is already over

Dang, I guess I am too late. I guess the turkeys are about to start breeding again.

 

[catman529]

I saw a hen with 12 softball sized poults cross the road yesterday....


JK... Most hens I've seen are still in small groups

Yep they are done, finished, its over, time to start fishing, the bucks are scraping and starting to chase around here lol

yeah in some parts the rut is already over

Dang, I guess I am too late. I guess the turkeys are about to start breeding again.

they were, but they are already done. The hen poults have poults now.