I know that for many of you, Turkey Season has already started. Here in Oklahoma the first day is the Sixth of April.
I was out last week doing a habitat evaluation and inventory (for work) on some property in the NE corner of the state and saw four strutting toms trying to herd about twelve hens. They were having none of it though.
Are the birds already doing their thing in your part of the world? I know it has been a wet spring so far around here. All the green nibbleies that pump-up the vitamin C levels in the birds have been around for two weeks (vit-C levels are what help make the toms feisty).
For us it's always a little tougher to get birds to work a call if they have already found some receptive hens before season starts.
I am really looking forward to season this year. I have a new bow that should be a winner.
Are the birds working in your neck of the woods?
OkKeith
up here in ny we've been seeing them strut for about 2 1/2 weeks now, not good for us our opener isnt till may first. it has been unseasonably warm up here. last weekend is usually the last weekend for ice fishing and their calling for temps in the 70s this weekend.
Ive been seein them down here struttin for 2 or 3 weeks already
Our season isn't until April 17th, they are already breeding now. I like late April/early May for bowhunting turkeys, my success is much better after hens start incubating.
Strutting, Gobbling, Breeding...come on April 5th. I can't wait!!!
The merriams I have seen seem to be in their winter flocks still. The snow level has them still pretty low and we have some more storms on the way. The Rio's in my area should be started but I haven't scouted the low country yet. I just don't think may can come quick enough.
Sounds like things have really started in most places. The birds on my hunting lease are hybrid Rio-Eastern birds so start later than the true Eastern birds but before the Rios.
Oklahoma is a pretty great place to turkey hunt. We have Easterns, Rios AND Merriams. The wife and I are planning a Double Oklahoma Turkey Slam for next year. We are both going to try and get all three with traditional equipment, her with a recurve, me with a longbow. We are using this season for scouting and setting the hunts up.
I agree that opening day can't get here soon enough. I feel for you guys that still have a month to wait. I only have a week and it's tough. I crawl in bed thinking about it and it's the first thing I think about when I crawl out.
Of course it will be the same once turkey season is over and deer season is on the horizon.
What about calls? I use a couple of friction calls and on occasion a box call. Never could get the hang of a mouth call. I have never had any trouble calling in birds with my slates. I am sure it helps that our area is not heavily hunted. Do those of you who hunt in pressured areas find that mouth calls are more effective than any other type?
"Good luck" to those already out there and a hearty "Hang in there" for us still waiting for the day to arrive.
OkKeith
TTT
OkKeith
I just drove the Laguna de Santa Rosa, our local wetlands, for work and noticed where all the turkeys have gone. For three solid weeks the birds were struttin' and calling and herding. Now all the hens have nesting sites along the riparian area of the wetlands. I bumped so many hens I lost count.
North central Arkansas in the foothills of Ozarks, they are still running seperate.
They been strutting for about 2-weeks in S.J.when the season opens they will be gone as always.
Here in West Central KY the 2 year olds are still "yarded up" in their bachelor groups, while some of the 3+ year olds are strutting among the hens.
Archery season opens here tomorrow, gun season the 14th. They must sense it because I haven't seen turkey for over a week now.
Dennis
Sounds like some of you need to get out there ASAP!
I have found that if I miss them early, when they are hot and come running to any old squeaky hen call, I can still have good success late in the season.
It's a little more like deer hunting though. You have to be in a travel corridor, between feeding and roosting areas. It also involves long sits in sometimes hot blinds. If a bird does come along they seem to jump at the last chance for a girlfriend.
I have actually killed more GOOD birds later, than earlier in the season. Once all the hens have started sitting nests through-out the day, those Toms start awandering.
OkKeith
They strut year 'round here.