i have a group of about 20 or so hens that keep hangin around the farm, the toms are in bachelor groups but have managed to stay hidden. I've seen the hens at least 5 days a week, but the gobblers only show themselves about 1 or 2 times every 2 weeks. you guys think by the time the season rolls around them birds will be flocked up??
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Wheres the Toms?
- Thread starter MidTnBuck
- Start date
spitndrum
Well-Known Member
They'll start showing up!
Setterman
Well-Known Member
They may or may not show up. Depends on several factors, food sources being the most immediate need, as between now and green up food is fairly limited. If you have food, and the hens stay they may show up.
Second thing to think about, is nesting cover, if where you hunt has little nesting cover then the hens will leave for areas which fit this need.
One other thing which can play a huge role in where they end up when the season opens, is that here in a few weeks the gobblers will really start hammering every morning. The hens will go to them, if those gobblers have staked out areas with plenty of food and good nesting cover then they will stay there, if not they will come back to where you have been seeing them.
My personal feeling is that with hens that you see all the time, that there are gobblers there all the time as well. You just may or may not see them as much. In a few weeks on a nice morning, go listen. If you hear nothing, then it might be time to get worried.
Second thing to think about, is nesting cover, if where you hunt has little nesting cover then the hens will leave for areas which fit this need.
One other thing which can play a huge role in where they end up when the season opens, is that here in a few weeks the gobblers will really start hammering every morning. The hens will go to them, if those gobblers have staked out areas with plenty of food and good nesting cover then they will stay there, if not they will come back to where you have been seeing them.
My personal feeling is that with hens that you see all the time, that there are gobblers there all the time as well. You just may or may not see them as much. In a few weeks on a nice morning, go listen. If you hear nothing, then it might be time to get worried.
Lawrence
Well-Known Member
temps this weekend will be in the 60s
that will get most of them jump started
that will get most of them jump started
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Lawrence said:
Temperature has nothing to do with it, length of days and sun position sets everything into motion. The temp thing is an old wives tale.
Lawrence
Well-Known Member
Really!Setterman said:
That concept has worked for me for the past 25yrs
bvoss
Well-Known Member
I agree with the temp not playing too big of a factor. One of the best mornings I've ever had in the turkey woods was when the temp was 25 degrees and there was a jack frost on the ground. Birds were hammering everywhere! The one I killed gobbled and strutted all the way to within 20yds across a frosty wheat field. It does seem though that on warmer days around late Feb. or early March, the birds are more vocal and strutt around more than when its 20 degrees and snowing.
i appreciate all the feedback guys, Its snowed a good 3 inches at the house so far this mornin an its not showin any signs of lettin up.I saw the regular group of hens but this time there were 2 big ole toms among em struttin like it was nobodys business an it was snowin golf ball sized snowflakes???
Man it got me fired up, let me tell u.
Man it got me fired up, let me tell u.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Really!Lawrence said:
Temperature has not had any impact on breeding patterns in the past 20 years I have been chasing the crazy things. The 4 years I spent doing my master's thesis on turkeys and turkey behavior I never could find any correlation between temperature and breeding behaviors. It started around the same time each year, within a few days of the year before. Weather does have an impact as to when hens start sitting full time etc, mature hens will start sitting if we get a big cold snap after they laid a few eggs in order to protect the clutch.
Lawrence
Well-Known Member
benellifelli
Well-Known Member
I have'nt heard as many gobbling this year as last. I've seen a few strutters, but mostly hens and jakes all bunched up. Not as many showing up in the fields as last year either.?? It seems like the population of yotes have been growing, been hearing them suckers almost every night.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
Lawrence said:
Not a good link to back up your theory. Breeding takes one of each sex, and if you read Lovetts books you will see similar views as mine. Sure birds will gobble early. Heck we have all heard them in Jan/Feb, but BREEDING won't occur until the hens are ready, and many times the gobblers are just stubborn and unwilling to play the game right until the first few hens start to come in.
Are the length of days and sun position different in Middle/West TN than the Plateau eastward?
Also, why is green up with the leaves and vegetation always later Plateau eastward? I always assumed that there was a correlation to temps, but maybe not.
Interesting info!
Also, why is green up with the leaves and vegetation always later Plateau eastward? I always assumed that there was a correlation to temps, but maybe not.
Interesting info!
Outdoor Lady
Well-Known Member
They are all at my house
bvoss
Well-Known Member
Outdoor Lady said:
I don't believe in the temperature deal either. I do believe weather patters can have some effect, but you always hear about the warm temperature heating things up...and its simply because of it being that "time of year", regardless. The absolute best hunt I ever encountered was with a customer of mine, hunting in 25 degree weather, snowing like crazy.
.....if you've always had toms in the past, chances are, you're still going to have toms. They're still about 25 days out from starting to do their thing, in my neck of the woods.
.....if you've always had toms in the past, chances are, you're still going to have toms. They're still about 25 days out from starting to do their thing, in my neck of the woods.
well temp will have SOME part of pattern trends (i know it was started about gobbling and mating trends) but warmer temps bring bugs to life and in fields which in turn pulls turkeys into a more field pattern (depending on their current terrain)
anyways just throwing that in there.
anyways just throwing that in there.
Setterman
Well-Known Member
VolDoug said:
Length of days will vary slightly, and sun position will also be slightly different. However it probably isn't enough to have a dramatic impact.
The green-up is later, mainly because of elevational differences which also transmits into cooler temps. I have seen it green up the first of April for us here in the mtns, and then I have seen it not green up Until late April as well.
