Slightly Confused Gobblers


archerjg

Recommended Posts

In the pasture field across the road from Grandma's house we have been seeing turkeys for a few months now when we feed the cattle herd across the road. They were there last year as well.Normally we only see the two gobblers they are 2-2 1/2 year old birds and really nice ones at that. Somewhere in the 18-20 pound range and thick 6"-8" plus beards. Sometimes we see a couple of hens. The other day I saw a clutch of this years birds there were 7 in all and they were decent size birds and looked healthy.

Tonight when we went to feed there were 5 hens and the 2 gobblers and they thought it was spring because they were going from full to half strut and gobbling like crazy. The gobblers were more interested in finding mates tonight than they were in the spring. They put on a great show the dominant bird would strut and the lesser gobbler would go into half strut then they would switch and both would gobble at the same time. I have never seen Turkeys do that at this time of year in all my life. We used to raise tame turkeys and they never did anything like this. Anyone else seeing gobblers thinking it's springtime?

Archerjg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yup. One year during bow season I had one some hens and gobblers come into the stand site.

The gobblers where in full strut and gobbling as they followed the hens.

I had to scratch my head and remind myself it was late October and not early spring!

I have also heard them gobble year around. Even with snow on the ground.

Just proves turkeys are CRAZY!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haven't seen any strutting around here lately. But they do some nutty stuff sometimes.

About 10-12 years ago, I called a longbeard and a jake in......gobbling & strutting the whole way.........on July 31st!!! :confused: That's why I always have to laugh when locals are start saying "the birds are done" on the 2nd or 3rd weekend of spring season. :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A couple of years ago in Kansas the middle of Sept I got into my deer stand before light. It was muzzleloader deer season as it just started to get light I heard thunder off in the distance. Well that set off a bunch of gobblers still on the roost. Each time it thundered they set off. Then a train whistle blew and they gobbled, A truck back up beeper set them off again. By this time the thunderstorm was fast approaching and I did not feel very comfortable sitting in a metal tree stand with a powder filled lightning rod in my hands so I left for the truck. By the time I got back to the truck which was only about 200 yds away those gobblers had gone through 36 rounds of gobbling. What a morning.

I have seen them strut in Sept here in PA but since it was all gobblers I presume it was a dominance thing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.