Did I really see poults today???

[turkeyhunter1943]

I know for a fact some of the powers that be read posts here. Do they care is the question.

My son and I were talking every morning or two about how many were gobbling in Feb. We would go outside before light and listen. We knew then this season was going to be a joke...and it was.

Let's just hope they listen to us and actually look at telecheck. The hunters aren't going to continue to buy tags to hunt like this. People like spring hunting that is shown by the lack of fall interest.

Don't know.I'm done worrying about it. Can't change what the boys with degrees think.

 

[hunter1hall]

Css i agree, its challenging, thats what makes sucess so sweet. I like earning the bird, outwitting it,and mother nature. You gotta put in the work, and sooner or later you will get rewarded. If you want it to be easy, dont try to get the season moved, just ask them to allow baiting. That will make it easy for you.

 

[ky.longbeard]

Ah, a wildlife bioligist with a degree that thinks he knows everything!!!!!!!!!! The great turkey hunter...if you keep patting yourself on the back your knuckles are gonna drag the ground.

 

[bowhunter269]

The one that I killed today gobbled like a two year old and had a 5 1/2" beard that was a paintbrush for being on a jake. The 3 others with him looked identical.

Ditto......5+ inch "paintbrush"........and gobbled before I shot him.........shocked to see no spurs.

 

[rustyspinner21]

So what does all that gobbling on the roost this time of year mean?.....

This thread, which I started just because I thought I was hallucinating to see poults in April, has really gotten interesting with a lot of interesting ideas and input. Now a question about roost gobbles.....this morning, at 6AM my woods had what sounded like 10-15 gobblers up in the trees (know there were many birds because the gobbles went "down the line" deeper into the woods like a chain reaction.) When these birds flew down at 7AM, there were as many hens yelping as there had been gobblers, and all gobbling ceased. I took a jake today on ambush as he wandered up to my field decoys. So my question is, does the tree gobbling have any meaning as to where the breeding season is with the birds......or not?

 

[JDMiller]

So my question is, does the tree gobbling have any meaning as to where the breeding season is with the birds......or not?

Gobbling on the roost is not necessarily an indicator of breeding phase. You can hear gobbles on the roost during any month / time.....and honestly think I have. I've heard as much in January yote hunting as I've heard this whole season. Also have heard as much gobbling prior to evening fly-up and on the limb throughout the year. Shock gobbling ....triggered from owls, crows..whatever may be more of contributing factor of a bird getting active gobbling on the limb outside of the breeding period.....but again its not out of the ordinary to hear a tom sound off at any time..any month.

In my opinion the hens are more so the indicator during the breeding period... but even then it does'nt always tell the complete story. Like toms...vocalization with hens is throughout the year....their going to roost in close proximity ...even in the fall when you have larger flocks. In spring hen indicators would be less vocalization because they have been bred and have laid their clutch....their sitting on the nest.Their not intersted in responding to gobbles....just getting the younguns born. High populations of hens pending area....will let the "henned up" effect linger longer.....which in your situation is what you have described.

In my opinion..... such as the topic about earlier seasons... is closely related to populations. Some think were uneducated on the biology of turkey reproduction but in areas of lower hen populations...theres only x-amount of birds to be bred...period. Turkeys have a relatively small home range and toms are not going to travel hundreds of miles in search of a receptive hen. So.... gobbling...breeding activity in general will decline before areas with high hen populations. Hence....statements as the season gets better later....just common scence tell you this is not the case from area to area.

Again ...just my two cents worth.

 

[deerhunter1984]

Ya'll make me laugh... If you can't kill a turkey with a gun in the 3 weeks of season we have now, earlier season ain't gonna help you anyway. Take up fishin and quit complainin, today is the good ole days...

I worked 2 birds this morning, they probably gobbled 200 times, one of them, a 25 pounder is in the fridge as I type. The weather has sucked this year, period. I can't remember the last turkey I killed in April, I like getting close with the cover available in May and calling them in my lap. It wouldn't bother me if season opened earlier, as long as we still have a week or more in May.

Thanks for bringing more life to my earlier post! You killed a turkey today... now, like I was some what saying earlier in another thread opposite of this one...you have those what I'd like to call "bragging rights". It's those types of things that makes me laugh. I'm not trying in the least bit to start an argument, but you got lucky you killed a bird today! Same as I got lucky on opening day! Let me ask you something, how many days have you gotten to spend in the woods? Odds are it's twice as much if not more than most of us. Congrats tho, on killing a bird.. I'm sure you worked VERy hard for it! Take up hunting in another part of the state, say the south east mountains, then we'll see if you join what you'd like to label as complaining!

 

[deerhunter1984]

Gobbling on the roost is not necessarily an indicator of breeding phase. You can hear gobbles on the roost during any month / time.....and honestly think I have. I've heard as much in January yote hunting as I've heard this whole season. Also have heard as much gobbling prior to evening fly-up and on the limb throughout the year. Shock gobbling ....triggered from owls, crows..whatever may be more of contributing factor of a bird getting active gobbling on the limb outside of the breeding period.....but again its not out of the ordinary to hear a tom sound off at any time..any month.

In my opinion the hens are more so the indicator during the breeding period... but even then it does'nt always tell the complete story. Like toms...vocalization with hens is throughout the year....their going to roost in close proximity ...even in the fall when you have larger flocks. In spring hen indicators would be less vocalization because they have been bred and have laid their clutch....their sitting on the nest.Their not intersted in responding to gobbles....just getting the younguns born. High populations of hens pending area....will let the "henned up" effect linger longer.....which in your situation is what you have described.

In my opinion..... such as the topic about earlier seasons... is closely related to populations. Some think were uneducated on the biology of turkey reproduction but in areas of lower hen populations...theres only x-amount of birds to be bred...period. Turkeys have a relatively small home range and toms are not going to travel hundreds of miles in search of a receptive hen. So.... gobbling...breeding activity in general will decline before areas with high hen populations. Hence....statements as the season gets better later....just common scence tell you this is not the case from area to area.

Again ...just my two cents worth.

Very good post! Don't think it could have been said/described better.

 

[CSS archer]

I have hunted and killed turkeys from LBL to VA, if you think luck has much to do with turkey harvest then I understand the issue. If I had to hunt them like deer, then I would do something else.

 

[Tha' Hat]

If I had to hunt them like deer, then I would do something else.

Joe, that's exactly what we're complaining about. I'm a pretty seasoned turkey hunter myself. Maybe not as seasoned as you, but I've killed several turkeys and been in the woods enough to recognize trends every spring. It's not that I have a hard time killing two birds in three weeks with a shotgun. It's that in order to do that, I often have to resort to deer hunting for them.

I've hunted in May a fair amount, and have "called" for quite a few buddies in the late season too. It usually ends up being just tagging along for a spot and stalk or sit and watch endeavor and nothing more.

I see that the turkeys are red hot during the youth season virtually every year. That's great, but why make the adults wait a full week afterward? I live 10 minutes from the TN line, and have hunted TN a lot. People only a few miles away from my doorstep get a two-week jump on us for their season, and they work and kill a lot of birds at that time.

We've got a legitimate complaint here. Unfortunately, it seems often as not, those who don't want the season changed simply choose to label those of us who do as inferior turkey hunters.

 

[quackrstackr]

Actually, according to the logic of some, that makes us better turkey hunters for being able to kill out in April year in and year out. It sounds like April hunting stinks but when May rolls around they will practically run over you and peck your eyeballs out.

I am fortunate enough to see a lot of turkey ground and turkeys in my day to day travels. I have seen plenty of turkeys but I've only seen one strutter in the last two weeks and heard maybe 4 birds gobble.. and that includes some rather lengthy hikes while out hunting as well.

 

[ky.longbeard]

Actually they make us wait 12 days after youth season!!!! I do know that theres some good gobbling going on way before even the youth gets to hunt.

 

[JDMiller]

Thanks for bringing more life to my earlier post! You killed a turkey today... now, like I was some what saying earlier in another thread opposite of this one...you have those what I'd like to call "bragging rights". It's those types of things that makes me laugh. I'm not trying in the least bit to start an argument, but you got lucky you killed a bird today! Same as I got lucky on opening day! Let me ask you something, how many days have you gotten to spend in the woods? Odds are it's twice as much if not more than most of us. Congrats tho, on killing a bird.. I'm sure you worked VERy hard for it! Take up hunting in another part of the state, say the south east mountains, then we'll see if you join what you'd like to label as complaining!

I myself would'nt say it all hinges on luck.

I dont know CSS personaly ....but from a few years on this site and harvest.....I have a great respect for his hunting ability.....regardless of the critter he is pursuing. His career does alow him to be afield more than most and obviously ...he puts a lot of effort into his hunting. These are things you can not criticise are assume its all luck to him or anyone else in the same situation. With any of us the more time we spend afield and the more understanding of the animal were hunting ...will increase are opertunities of harvesting by multitudes. I know and accept he is way ahead of the game in comparison to myself , my own abilities or knowledge of critters.

I'll even go as far as saying I agree with 99% of the subjects he has provided some insight on......except the topic of "later is better" being generalized across the state. In the Purchase area where I live....even spreading into some of the Pennrile areas.......theres a majority of hunting ground submerged in water as we speak. While this is uncontrolable circumstances....the effects on nesting will be long lasting and with certainty....the remainder of season will not equate to better hunting. Also...while this is record amounts of water....these areas always experience some amount of flooding every year. Populations are not...and probably never will be to the extent of other areas of the state. Even believe George Wright stated this to that effect.

However... the overall sentiment & observations with hunters in this area.. are issues of growing desention with the opening date of season. Similar to past years complaints with changes to county zones 3 & 4 with deer... theres something to be said from observations of hunters in the field. You can not base or surmise our own successes , sightings , activity pending location as the guage of the entire state. It just does not work that way & never will. I also say it's not without lack of concern from the standpoint of turkey reproduction. I know of no devout turkey hunter that does not have a dire concern but inturn.. it is not a subject that will go away anytime soon.

 

[deerhunter1984]

I myself would'nt say it all hinges on luck.

I dont know CSS personaly ....but from a few years on this site and harvest.....I have a great respect for his hunting ability.....regardless of the critter he is pursuing. His career does alow him to be afield more than most and obviously ...he puts a lot of effort into his hunting. These are things you can not criticise are assume its all luck to him or anyone else in the same situation. With any of us the more time we spend afield and the more understanding of the animal were hunting ...will increase are opertunities of harvesting by multitudes. I know and accept he is way ahead of the game in comparison to myself , my own abilities or knowledge of critters.

I'll even go as far as saying I agree with 99% of the subjects he has provided some insight on......except the topic of "later is better" being generalized across the state. In the Purchase area where I live....even spreading into some of the Pennrile areas.......theres a majority of hunting ground submerged in water as we speak. While this is uncontrolable circumstances....the effects on nesting will be long lasting and with certainty....the remainder of season will not equate to better hunting. Also...while this is record amounts of water....these areas always experience some amount of flooding every year. Populations are not...and probably never will be to the extent of other areas of the state. Even believe George Wright stated this to that effect.

However... the overall sentiment & observations with hunters in this area.. are issues of growing desention with the opening date of season. Similar to past years complaints with changes to county zones 3 & 4 with deer... theres something to be said from observations of hunters in the field. You can not base or surmise our own successes , sightings , activity pending location as the guage of the entire state. It just does not work that way & never will. I also say it's not without lack of concern from the standpoint of turkey reproduction. I know of no devout turkey hunter that does not have a dire concern but inturn.. it is not a subject that will go away anytime soon.

I'm not trying to say it hinges all upon luck, or am I trying to start a baffling disagreement here. Some are better hunters, I will agree.

I'm also not trying to degrade his hunting skills or adventures. I'm just basically tired of seeing people whom think or may even know that they're better hunters hang that above our heads, or even go the distance of laughing at us..like he bluntly stated. When I read that kind of stuff or hear I can't help but assume that person has this gigantic ego. I will never sit & say or claim I'm a better hunter, or go the distance at laughing at my fellow hunters who are less fortunate than I or who disagrees with the way things are handled amongst the NWTF or KDFWR. My father whom has been hunting for nearly 40 years will sit and tell you the same things I am right now, never once has he bragged or made himself out to be a Fred Bear. He can sit & tell you the first deer or turkey he seen, & the year. Is he a better hunter than myself? Hell yeah, by far! He's killed a many deer & spent god only knows how many hours in the field. Same goes for turkey, so if he sits & tells me that something's not right, I'm going to believe something's not right. If he sits & tells me something needs to change, I'm going to believe something needs to change. I don't base my thoughts all upon what he says, I too have observed many days in the field & I too will say that something needs to be changed. I do agree with you that it's not the same across the state, but you can't sit there & tell me that some here (forums) seem to "think" it is. If an issue like this is brought up, or the issues with the zone changes for deer... you will always have those chime in as being an all mighty deer hunter, & a wanna be know it all & say that we're not doing something right or we have bigger problems. I'm sure that some are great hunters & I won't argue that fact, but just because you tag out every season doesn't make you a better hunter than those who are less fortunate. Like you stated it has to do with location, & I will say again...more times than not, luck, & just being in the right place at the right time. Being a better hunter could place you in the right place at the right time more times than those with less hunting experience. With that being said, you will still have those that are less experienced, yet have killed more game. Why is that? Simple, they're in a good spot & are fortunate enough to have such spots. And they will brag, build that ego & "think" they're the greatest... to me, that's my biggest argument & my biggest problem. I'm not a jealous person, & I know by now some are probably questioning that. I'm blessed enough to be able to hunt, I'm glad others have success... but damn, there comes a time when you have to let that EGO & "I know it all" attitude, go!

 

[mason]

Same debate as every year just with a differant title to the thread. Give us the weekend after the youth season and leave the weekends in may for the people that hunt them in the northern part of the state also problem solved. Because in my part of the state its pretty much over. Yea I may catch one feeling froggy this weekend if the weather stays right but for the most part they are about done here. If I have to sit and deer hunt them its not the same. Thats my 2 cents worth and Ive been at this for around 30 years.