tomgobbler Report post Posted March 11, 2014 about 2 weeks ago there was 3 different groups of toms still grouped up, yesterday there was several gobblers strutting and gobbling for a bunch of hens.... I hope this hot, dry weather doesn't get them going way to soon, as they will be all done come hunting season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bowhuntaz1 Report post Posted March 11, 2014 I have been thinking about this weather and the turkey rut for a while now. I believe it will be over way before hunting season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
desertmafia21 Report post Posted March 11, 2014 I sure hope that doesn't happen. We have 3 tags in Unit 1 for the early hunt. That would be a shame Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Little Creek Calls Report post Posted March 11, 2014 Daylight hours trigger the breeding cycle and not the weather. I was up in unit 1 over the weekend and there is still quite a bit of snow in my usual hunting areas. No tracks or sign in several spring roosting sights. I was really surprised at how much snow was still on the ground even covering meadows no grass showing. I was also surprised at where we found the turkeys and all the turkey sign, they still have a ways to go before breeding. The birds and sign are still down in the lower elevations. We saw grouped up toms with gobbling which is normal and usually starts around the first of March. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seldom Drawn Report post Posted March 11, 2014 about 2 weeks ago there was 3 different groups of toms still grouped up, yesterday there was several gobblers strutting and gobbling for a bunch of hens.... I hope this hot, dry weather doesn't get them going way to soon, as they will be all done come hunting season. This happens every year up here,I don't think it will be any different, March always has strutting gobblers this time if year I saw 12 gobblers with 4 hens last weekend they were all strutting.We have always said game and fish should move it up like on the res ,but they are afraid to many would be killed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHT_MTNMAN Report post Posted March 12, 2014 In January I saw a group of 16 Toms and Jakes ...strutting and 4 or 5 Gobbles. You will always have some when they get together... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZLance Report post Posted March 12, 2014 They have been strutting and gobbling in units 34 a and 35 for two months now... these 85 degree days down here have them thinking spring is almost over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkaddict Report post Posted March 12, 2014 Heading up mid April to start looking. Can't wait to hear some gobblers! Need to change my tactics, every year the same thing. Hear gobbling, they fly down and then it's silent till the next morning! Even when I think I know where they are, I don't get any action in the evening . I see a lot about hunting mid day but there seems to always be something else I need to do then. Maybe this year I'll give that a try. Any advice? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted March 12, 2014 this is nothing new - Our hunting season is designed by G&F to be as late as possible so all the hens are breed before hunters are allowed in the field to hunt, guess they figure there won't be enough toms around if hunters hunt during this time of yr. they will even tell you this - I asked !! By the time we actually get to go hunting , the hens are mostly nesting already . That's why you are seeing and hearing all the goobles now - some of other states start NOW mid march. most by first week of april. by May most of all the action is done - but guess what, that's when my season starts ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Little Creek Calls Report post Posted March 12, 2014 We have always said game and fish should move it up like on the res ,but they are afraid to many would be killed. I would be all for making the Goulds seasons open a few weeks earlier. I think the San Carlos works out because it is farther south and not as high in elevation as most other turkey units. As for the Merriam hunts I think it is fine and more about access and open roads that determine season dates. In unit 1 and 27 they usually have to plow through deep snow drifts to get the roads open for the youth hunt. The rim road in 4A usually opens the weekend of the youth hunt. In 12A you can’t access the entire mountain because of snow drifts. If the seasons opened any earlier there would be people getting stuck trying to get places. Elkaddict, the earlier youth hunt and pressure has made it a little more difficult for the adults hunts. When they stop calling after fly down it is because they fly down to hens and there is no need to call any more. They gobble from the roost to call the hens to them before fly down. I would suggest to try to get just a bit closer and use softer calling. A good rule of thumb is as close as you can get but still out of sight from the tom. Also stick with it and don’t give up after fly down failure. I have killed lots of birds between 8AM and 1PM when most hunters are back at camp eating breakfast and lunch. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr.smith Report post Posted March 12, 2014 I agree our hunts are late in the breeding season but there are still hot birds out there. I killed my tom last year on May 10th at 4pm. He was walking through the woods gobbling his fool head off hounding a hen. She was running away from him so it made it pretty easy to call him over. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted March 12, 2014 the only other issue of an earlier season is with the NF - a majority of prime turkey hunting roads are CLOSED due to seasonal /winter weather conditions and are not due open till second week of april - heaven forbid - hunters having to walk / hike to hunt it would have to be an area/unit not affected by rd access and thus presenting further complications ! so enjoy hunting single toms - if and when you find them some will - most will not Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tomgobbler Report post Posted March 12, 2014 yes I know it is timed on the length of the day... but do you know what length that is.... ???I'm saying they SEEM to be "rutting" earlier and earlier..... which to me is making is harder and harder during hunting season.... and yes I know that when turkerys/gobblers get together they will strut and gobble for the fun of it.... I was camping in the middle of june last year and woke up to a gobbling turkey that gobbled 20 times..... but to me the actions the other day of the 2 gobblers that were gobbling and strutting were actions of gathering/rutting.... and not just "playing around" ...... an example from last spring... ON MAY 1st ( if I am remembering correctly) i saw turkey POULTS, that were i don't... know a week old... little tiny things.... so if you do the math... with a 25-30 day gestation, they HATCHED around the 1st of April.... say the hen layed 12-14 eggs 12-14 days in a row ( 1 egg each day) then she was getting bred by MARCH 15th.... and if the gobbler gathered hens for say 2 weeks before starting to bred then he was GATHERING by the first of march to have POULTS on the ground and following the hen by may 1st....... SO what length of day do you go by.... and yes i know there are a bunch of variables here my only point being that they just seem to be breeding and rutting earlier and earlier... and with our late seasons making it pretty tuff, especially in the units with split hunts, that late one can be very difficult.... and yes i know that after the hens are all bred and the gobblers find them selves alone can be the hottest (late) gobbling that there is, and that can happen any time, with any one particular gobbler, in any unit.... I'm not a novice turkey hunter, i hunted around 28 days for gobblers last spring, in 2 states, 6 units and the San Carlos, from the very first of the season to the very end of them. i wasn't posting to say that our hunts are to late or to early, or really posting for anything except to say they are getting started and I'm getting an itchy turkey finger! :) and season is to far away Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr.smith Report post Posted March 12, 2014 I forgot to mention it but I also saw poults last year during the hunt. It was during the first week of the early season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted March 12, 2014 gobblers will gobble on roost all yr round - had several different ones - just sounding off every morning during the sept archery elk season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
