When hunting henned-up, lock-jawed gobblers try calling to the hens,
but be aware of the stage of the reproductive cycle when doing so. Consider
this: In my experience, I find that hens go through 3 different phases
during the spring relative to their reaction to calling...
1. Inquisitive: Coincides with early to mid April, usually
when harems being established, just prior to full-scale breeding.
If the hens come through the previous fall and winter in poor physical
condition, breeding may be delayed somewhat. Normally use soft subtle
stuff to call hens in this phase.
2. Shy: Coincides with mid to late April, usually during peak
of breeding. If the hens come through the previous fall and winter
in poor physical condition, breeding may be delayed somewhat. Normally
nothing works consistently during this phase to call hens, I always
start soft. But find I run the risk (50/50) of having the flock simply
shy away from my set-up.
3. Aggressive: Coincides with mid May, usually during peak
of incubation. Again, if the hens come through the previous fall and
winter in poor physical condition, breeding may be delayed somewhat.
Normally start with soft subtle stuff but don't waste time to crank
it up a lot to call hens in this phase.
GOBBLERS SIMPLY AREN’T GOBBLING