| Author | Message | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Ok, every year someone starts a thread regarding what they are seeing and more importantly hearing. I would like to know when you guys start hearing the first gobbles. I will be heading out this weekend and if I hear anything I will post it here. Last year people were hearing things as early as February. Looking forward to some good posts. | ||
| GN |
I grouse hutn a lot and so I am "in" turkeys a lot all through february. If we gwet a dose of 70 degree days and 55degree mornings anytine from noew on I think you could expect to hear gobbling. Like I said in an earlier post, if youcan avoid hearing one gobble in february it sure makes the time pass quicker till the season opens. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Hey Gn, thanks for the reply. Well myself and Steve (not sure if he has an alias on this board) met up for the first time today and scouted my favorite corner of the Dry River Ranger District. We put on a lot of miles and climbed quite a few hills. I am happy to say that we discovered a gold mine in Turkey droppings along an old logging road. On top of that, we flushed a young gobbler in the open. He was beautiful and had about a 4-6 inch beard. Not sure why he flushed but we were about 40 yards from him in open clearcut. We didn't hear anything (not even from the fleeing gobbler) but I know where I will be on the first day! Anybody else get out? PG | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Hey Freddy, When are you going to start your log? We all enjoy reading your exploits. PG | ||
| daddyjan |
The weather has been right for some pre season gobbling here in Southampton cty.lots of warm days and cool nites .Got up the other morn. and it felt so good out side i wanted to gobble ...so i did... ive only got two neighbors but they are sure im nuts.Till i come home w/ that big ole Tom in my orange bag!!!im noticeing toms alone or in small grouos got my eye on this one big boy stays alone up the road here,then there is a group of five a bit further down and all are leagle birds two of which are mature.Going out timmorow to put fertilizer spikes around wild fruit trees in my hunting area,gonna do a heap of scouting next week end for turkey plus gonna bust into some big buck bedding areas to find stand sites for bow season and next years rut hunt. JMF | ||
| strutstopper
|
Yeah, PG and I went out on Sunday (yesterday) and saw a lot of good sign in one particular area. Not a whole lot of sign elsewhere though. We did, however, flush two grouse on our way in and saw some evidence of deer. Really looking forward to going back and checking it out again before the season opens! Steve | ||
| Turkey576 |
Went out on Saturday 2/16 saw lots of tracks, small ones and BIG ones. The turkey have tore the ridges up in this part of the world. No gobbles yet. I have about 40 acres of land that I have hunted for about 4 1/2 years and it has not let me down yet. Not long now!!!! :> | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
Hey PG... I'll probably start my diary around the 1st of March. I haven't been out listening yet- I usually wait until mid-March to listen for birds on a consistant basis. The birds are still in a winter pattern and their habits will change as Spring approaches. I'm looking forward to the season...  | ||
| Big Bird |
Got out for a brief period yesterday and looked over some new territory in Pulaski County. Happened to see two gangs totaling 19 birds. Saw one grouse. No gobbles. It was dang cold. | ||
| Dale |
Was out grouse hunting on the last day of the season, February 9th, and saw a small flock of birds in a small field in the national forest. They saw me before I got a good look, but mostly looked like hens. Found a good amount of scratchings and droppings on a ridge line near the field. Got up two grouse, only one presented a shot and missed that one to boot. Found a primo bedding area for deer, but looked mostly like does and their young. All in all, not a bad four hours on a sunny Saturday morning. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Ok Freddy, fair enough. Well as you read myself and Strutstopper spent a good 4 hours in the woods and found some good spots. The area we found the droppings looks like an excellent gathering place on a southerly slope of the hill on an old logging road in a clear cut I would guess that is about 5 years old. I suspect this should be a good area come Spring also but just to be sure, Strutstopper and I have planned a few more trips before the season. Later. PG | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
PG... those clearcuts are hen magnets in the Spring because of the nesting cover. Like you said- they will be there in the Spring! You and Strutstopper take it easy on those big gobblers! | ||
| TScottW99
|
just got back from a scouting trip... saw about 17 turkeys total looks like a bulldozer has went through the place I hunt... turkeys have been really tearing up the place... was lucky enough to get low and watch the turkeys feeding up a hollow for a bit. also looked for sheds but found nothing.... | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
See any good gobblers Tscott? | ||
| TScottW99
|
just one... there was a good bit of brush between me and them and could see only see one longbeard.... there were several birds i could not see. | ||
| TScottW99
|
went back out today to a place i've never hunted... walked about five miles and finally found some fresh turkey sign..just one ridge completely tore up but that's it.... did however find more deer sign then you could shake a stick at... and a bunch of grouse sign. | ||
| shopson |
Been watching big flocks all winter. Starting to see some smaller flocks. The break-up is starting. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Good post Shopson. Planning on going out this weekend. Hey TScott, I would die to find a ridge like that. Strutstopper and I walked for miles and although we found a good strutting area, we didnt find any southerly facing torn up ridges. Did find a boat load of deer sign though. Guess this fall I'll find the turkey sign when I am scouting deer. PG | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Bump | ||
| shopson
|
I've not been out to listen for gobbling, but I do have the luxury of watching several flocks daily. I am starting to see some breakup of the large flocks taking place and birds doing some traveling towards their usual breeding grounds. | ||
| mudfork |
I have 40 acres in Tazewell County and keep feed out during off seasons. I've been watching 6 hens and 2 jakes that are around the house everyday. When I looked out the window this morning they had brought a friend to the feeder. A nice big gobbler. Good sign of changes coming as this is his first appearance and he has evidently left his buds. | ||
| Daddyjan |
Seen more lone Gobblers this week and the hen flocks seem to be getting smaller except for my biggest flock which is on a very small farm that is bordered by a river and a hiway.There are still 24 birds in that flock,last week i saw some of the biggest gobbler tracks i have ever seen.Two years a go i missed a big two year old that was bigger than the older bird in the group,as i am the only one hunting that land he may still be around,he is a true swamp bird seldom comes to the field unless his girls are out there then he hangs the edge and will not come to the call,i may have to ambush this bird i have learned this pice of land and ill use my hipwaders if i have to.I dont want him to slip off and die of old age or become bobcat bait.JMF | ||
| turkeypicker |
Birds down my way aren't showing up in the fields. That's actually good sign to me...means they are finding food in the woods. Haven't listened yet. I think this bitterly cold and nasty rainy weather is a blessing in disguise. I hate to see the birds fire up to early before season. I think they "gobble out" earlier in the season when they get started too early. | ||
| GN |
'picker you and me are on the same page here too....warm spring usually means a poor gobbling opener for my areas...course last year it was still winter at all elevations when it opened and it seemd like it took a week to get 'em where they needed to be, even in the lower elevation areas. I usually find a cold March means the lower elevation birds are about right by April 1 (not totaly and completely henned up and shut up)and the higher elevatiuon birds are still in the early assembly stages and gobblin' good. I like for it too get real warm right before April 1 but not mcuh before then. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
If you listen to Knight and Hale, their gobbler guide only has a 5 day margin of error. That seems to discount the mild/harsh winter theory. According to them, it doesn't matter. Not sure what to believe at this point, but I tend to believe my experience has been the same as Picker's. PG | ||
| GN |
PG- When does that Knight Hale thing say I should hunt in East Tenn/SW Va, give or take 5 days...hahha? We're all going to go anyway,every chance we get, till we run out of tags, money, vehicles and/or wives/spouses. GN | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Here is what it says: Those areas are in Zone 2 so: Transition Period 1 (Mar 20 - Apr 4) Gobblers are leaving their winter mode and finding hens. big flocks of toms and hens begin traveling together. The majority of the gobbling is on the roost and very little is done on the ground after flydown except for an occasional shock gobble. Gobblers spend most of the day strutting and displaying behind the hens. How to hunt: Get as close to the roost as possible, call soft first then loud to try to draw the whole flock to you. If you make the hen mad, the gobbler will follow. Also use fighting purrs to create a fight. Hens are vocal and flocks are predictable: Transition 2 - (Apr 4 - Apr 19) Gobblers break up and compete for harems of hens. Usually one gobbler and several hens or two gobblers with seveal hens (the extra gobblers watches over the breeder) (and sells the tapes on the black market). Ok I added the last part. Anyway, Hens start laying but return frequently throughout the day. Extensive gobbling in the first hour then a lull while breeding. gobbling starts back up around 9:00 am. How to hunt: After flydown, it is difficult to call in dominant birds. Look for opportunity mid-morning for subordinate gobblers to start gobbling. Use a 3 or 4 reed call for cutting and yelpint to get lonsome gobblers. Be patient and let him gobble without calling much. He has to quit strutting to come to you and that is against his nature. If he breaks in on your calling then be more aggressive. Hens call aggressively early so you can call more aggressively. Cutting and raspy work best. That should get you started. MIKE | ||
| GN |
You know I have never run in to Harold or Mr Hale or their ghostwriters up there on those steep ridges, but they may be on to somethin'. Cept they apparently do not account for weather or elevation. Those factors could set that thing 2-3 weeks differnt in areas that are 2000-3000 differnt in elevation. 2 cents. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Maybe they have turkeys writing this stuff. Let's hope the turkeys read it so we are all on the same page. PG | ||
| turkeypicker |
GN: I agree with you. Elevation is definitely a factor in my gameplan. I hunt from about 800 ft up to 3,500 ft...sometimes in the same morning...LOL...(legs ache just thinking about it and how out of shape I am). I typically start the season out on the south slopes of the Blue Ridge where it drops off to fields and farms below. The Birds always seem to be a week or 2 ahead there. I move up and start hitting the north faces and higher ridges as the season wears on. I may be over-scheming this whole thing, but the approach seems to work...and as the saying goes.."If it ain't broke don't fix it." | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
Heard my first bird of the year this AM... It was a group of several gobblers that gobbled from the roost a few times at daylight... | ||
| Piedmont gobbler |
ALL RIGHT!!! Credit Freddy with FIRST HEARD. You all know what that means fellas. Time to go out early and see what we hear. I am going with Strutstopper this weekend so guess we will get out early. Guess you will be starting that log soon eh Freddy? You know we are all waiting for it on the edge of our seats. | ||
| mudfork |
Tomorrow should be the first good listening morning here this year. I'm going to get up early and climb the hill across the road. I hope to report good things in the morning. I know gobs should be close as there were a few feeding behind the house at about 4 this afternoon. I saw several birds roosted this evening down the road but they didn't answer hoots. | ||
| sixshot |
Hey Mud, I'll be over at Gene's tommorrow morning. Good luck tommorrow. Let me know if you hear anything. | ||
| mudfork |
When I head in at the house, I often go as far as Gene's. When season starts we should coordinate so maybe we could just hunt through parking at both ends. I can think of one other who frequents those woods. Maybe we get Mr. Lovell involved and we can all share the wealth and not blow the stealth. Enjoy the area now because its all over once they start the new road through Big Branch. | ||
| Daddyjan |
THursday should be good maybe fri and sat will be better.I ve got to go to Nags Head Thur. am so im leaving before light will be good excuse to stop and hoot a few times along the way.Saw three monster Toms eating in a picked bean field they were tearing it up like they were starving,putting on the feed for strutting and breeding i guess.Let yal;l know what i hear between Southampton Va. and the NC line.Later JMF | ||
| sixshot |
Mud, Mr. Lovell believes NO TRESSPASSING means Good Hunting Here. He shot the gobbler I was set up last opener off the roost. Also he was shooting a .223. We had some words, and all he could say was sssssssooorrry. You know what I mean, HA! That parking idea is great. We'll hook up. When are they starting the road? | ||
| mudfork |
Didn't know about that incident. We can air that laundry when I see you. Road could start at any time. | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
I'm going to try and start my diary this week... I've been so busy at work I haven't had a chance to really get it going... | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
I'll be heading out tomorrow (Sunday) morning. Cross your fingers the rain clears out. PG | ||
| Big Bird |
Found some sign and a shed yesterday on some private land in Montgomery County. Saw 3 grouse and a family group today in Carroll County, no gobbs though. | ||
| strutstopper |
PG and I headed out to the Forest after a late start Sunday morning. We flushed 3 grouse and saw 3 fox squirrels. No flocks or any birds though... We saw a few nice sized tracks near a watering hole. Also saw some scat, but it wasn't very fresh. | ||
| Freddy McGuire (Vaturkey)
|
Heard a bird gobble 1 time this AM... saw 2 flocks of 40+ birds each yesterday afternoon. They are still very much in their winter flocks around here. People are starting to see gobblers strutting with those big family flocks. | ||
| mtnbuk |
I have seen 5 gangs since Sunday ranging from 13 birds to 40+. I agree with you, Freddy. Haven't seen a lot of evidence of the late winter break-up yet in this area. I, too, saw 2 strutters in 2 different gangs today in Botetourt County. Am getting similar reports from some of my hunting buddies and co-workers in the past couple of days. | ||
| sixshot |
I'm seein' the same thing here. Been seein' where family flocks are rollin' the ridges. Actually, I'm hoping for it to stay a little cool and damp for a couple more weeks, I want them to be fired up by the 13th. Last year March was awful warm over here (swva) and seemed to get things going a little sooner than on the opener. But I'll still be getting out in the mornings listening for some gobbling. Good Luck!!! | ||
| Rob Mc
|
No gobbles heard here but seen strutting gobblers in 3 groups of 12-15 in each group. I seen 55 or so during the winter and i'm sure its those birds. A neighbor heard one gobble so far. Looks like they will break up soon if thy haven't already. Keep ears open and good luck scouting for that Tom. Looking forward to getting a video this year Fred. Rob Mc | ||
| Daddyjan |
here in southampton cty va we are seeing some smaller flocks with toms in tow.with the exception of one of my favorite farms on which i saw 38 birds Mon. there where three subordnate gobblers and five jakes plus two dominate birds that stayed in full strut the whole time i watched them.It is so nice to see birds of that caliber in your hunting area exspecialy when your the only one hunting that farm.Man is it April yet!!!!!JMF | ||
| Turkey576 |
I heard the old bird gobble like crazy this morning at everything the crows dog barking even a trucks jake brake. They are getting ready and so are we. | ||
| shopson |
There were sixteen hens and three strutting longbeards visible at work today. Smallest flock of hens seen this winter. It's beginning! | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
80 degrees today in NoVA. I hope they are sounding off tomorrow morning. Been out twice now and have seen plenty of sign BUT NO BIRDS. Oh ok, one little gobbler but that doesn't give me that warm and fuzzy. Will let you all now. Taking camera too. MIKE | ||
| sixshot |
Finally heard two this morning. They we're on the roost and gobbled about five times. Driving to work saw three longbeards strutting with seven hens. I do believe it's getting to bust open! | ||
| knight_va
|
I slipped in behind the house & heard two this am before work.....only gobbled a few times right before fly down.........I feel the itch coming on!! Max | ||
| pirate |
I went w/the father in law this morning on the farm to scout. Got there a tad late at 645am and soon as we got to the wood line we heard 2-3 goobles a good ways away. We tried searching for them, but just found scratches and a whole bunch of deer poop. (saw only 1 deer right when we drove in) After walking around half the property, we sat down for about 10 mins about 30yrds in the tree line. When we walked in the field I stopped my father in law. Guess what boys...we saw 1 huge tom all fanned out(pretty as you know what) struttin with 5 hens. They were about 200 yrds out but what a site with the binocs. He had easily a 7" beard and about 18-20lbs!!! IS IT APRIL 13TH YET!!!! | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Out this morning. Bit late about 6:30 and no gobbles heard in Fauquier County. | ||
| sixshot |
Rained this morning. Didn't hear any gobblers today. Instead drove around checking fields. Saw three different gobblers with a few hens. | ||
| TScottW99
|
fields?!?!? thought you were scouting on Brushy for me? ;-) there's only two fields on brushy at the top and one's private, now you don't own that do you????? ;-) I think I might come up Friday and see the family and do a little scouting. I'll let you know If I see anything sixshot, Scott | ||
| Daddyjan |
RAIN IS THE WORD FOR TODAY AND THE POOR BIRDS AND I HAVE GOTTRN SOAKED.THIS IS MOVING WEEKEND FOR THE FAM. AND I AND AS WE DRIVE ALONG WITH OUR RAIN SOAKED POSESSIONS ISEE THE FIELD LINED WITH WET TURKEYS.WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS BONDED TOGETHER BY WETNESS AT THE MERCY OF GODS GOOD GRACES.iS IT POSSIABLE TO LOOK MISERABLE AND CONTENT AT THE SAME TIME THE TURKEYS DO ...IM SURE WE DONT. jmf | ||
| sixshot |
Scott I was on my way to Brushy, but the rain sorta changed my plans. I ended up checking fields around the house. Besides the truck seat was a whole lot drier than hunkerin' under a pine. I'm gonna "try" to get over there this weekend. | ||
| turkey576 |
When out this morning (3-17-02) before the rain started about 6:00 here. I heard about 5 different turkey on my place. They gobbled good at first then as the rain came in they got quite. I set at the edge of a little field and waited to see what showed up. A jake came in doing half gobbles and I heard another bird comming in but did not see him. I thought the whole time not long now. During spring break I will start to pattern the birds as I feel that they still havent broken out of large family groups yet but are starting to because that jake was looking for a fight. Hope everybody else is dry and having good luck. Jon | ||
| Mitch Scott |
How many hunters here from Bedford County? I'm curious as to what the activity looks like down there. I'm stuck at college up in good ole Blacksburg and I haven't heard anything about it since last week. Last week the birds were gobbling from the roost, but were still in large family groups. Any insight about the Bedford County situation is appreciated. | ||
| HODY |
Mitch I posted this on another thread too but the birds are strutting and I saw a few gobblers chasing each other in a field Sunday. The birds were in 2 big flocks so they need to split up a bit. | ||
| sixshot |
Man, I heard NINE this morning!!! I know a few of them we're jakes, but I heard plenty of hard gobbles to. They gobbled hard on the roost and shut up on the ground. Pretty typical, BUT NINE!! I thought I couldn't get more fired up...wrong! C'mon 13th!! | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Ok Sixshot, since there are 9, can you let me and Strutstopper in on where? I figure that is enough for 3 hunters. Lucky devil, MIKE | ||
| sixshot |
Hey, just like Bob Barker says...C'mon down!! Hey let me tell ya, I was grinning ear to ear!! I'm going to listen again in the morning if it's not pourin' buckets. Keep you posted. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Anybody been out this weekend? Has the cold slowed down the gobbling? | ||
| shopson |
Son and I went out today and saw a flock containing 1 jake, 11 hens, and 5 longbeards-2 exceptional. This was around lunchtime and no mating activity taking place. | ||
| Mitch Scott |
Hey guys, back again. Just checking on the Bedford County activity again. I talked to some of my family today back home and they said the temps were really nice and I figured the gobblers were getting cranked up. Any info would be helpful... 3 weeks and counting :oD | ||
| Turkey576 |
The birds down my way are ready. I had 5 gobbling on Sunday two pitched down and gobbled on the ground at a hen on the other ridge. Funny thing they just stayed in one spot while the hen went crazy. I guess that's nature. Maybe that hen didn't talk sweet enough, just wait boys a new hen is in town, at least in a coulpe of weeks. Jon | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
We need more hens like that. If we could get them to call with friction calls they Gobblers would never figure out who is who. | ||
| Gobbler Getter
|
The mountain birds in my Montgomery Co. hunting area are finally sounding off. Got out this morning before work and heard 2 at 6:15. They only gobbled about 3-4 times each but I think they're gettin fired up. April 13th yet? Kevin | ||
| Big Bird |
Driving down Rt. 8 yesterday from Christiansburg to Stuart I saw four gangs in pastures along the road. Two of them had a big fella in full strut. I stopped and watched one group for about 5 minutes. The big gobb never broke strut. It was pouring rain too. All groups were no larger than 10 birds each and had only one tom with them. | ||
| Piedmont Gobbler |
Strutstopper and I are headed to Augusta County tomorrow. Will let everyone know what we here. Now is this dedication.....We have to leave at 2:45am to get there in time for daylight. PG | ||
| Daddyjan |
Saw 30 birds in one flock on my favorite farm this am with three big mature Toms in tow.JMF | ||
| m00sehead
|
Piedmont Gobbler...where abouts in Augusta County (roughly)? Them there ridges are my stomping grounds when I'm back that way. And you guys are dedicated...that's alot of windshield time on I64! | ||
| Piedmont gobbler |
Sure is Moose. We are hunting near Greenville not too from From I-81. There are two ways to get there from here but each is about 2.5 hours. We went there via I-66 to I-81 (South). Came back via I-64 and then US-29 (through Charlottesville). I have permission to hunt a very nice farm down that way. We heard 2 gobblers yesterday at about 5:50 right after the Crows woke up. Where do you go? MIKE | ||
| rayferd |
I started hearing gobbles 3 weeks ago behind my house,I live in monroe va which is north of lynchburg and roanoke.but on the other hand i am still seeing flocks of hens which tells me they haven't split up yet to start nesting and from what i have seen in the past it should be a great season this year. | ||
| m00sehead |
Mike, That's part of the problem....right now I don't go. I'm in Hawaii doing all my turkey hunting by proxy...reading this board and watching TV. Sometimes after reading these posts, I want to put my vest on, put a decoy in the yard, and do some calling. I'm not sure how long it would take my neighbors to call the cops! I'm out of here this November and hope to be back on the east coast somewhere for the last year and a half of my military career. My dad and I (when I'm there) primarily hunt little north mountain WMA and the national forest land west of staunton. We usually do pretty well out there. There are plenty of birds, and not too much competition in most areas we hunt...we hit the ridges pretty hard most days...which rules out a lot of the less ambitious types. It sounds like you have the right idea with some prime farm country to hunt. It definitely sounds like it's worth the drive. I know all too well about that long haul on the interstate. I was stationed in Hampton for four years and made the drive to my folks house (just west of staunton) for the first week of the season...then every friday evening until it closed. Oh well...it's all worth it as soon as you hear the first gobble! Take care and good luck this season! Jeff | ||
| Piedmont gobbler |
Love to chat more Jeff, Drop me a line at mjsbls@yahoo.com so we dont tie up the board. MIKE | ||
| brian carter |
saw over 50 in a field in the rain on sunday.5 toms were strutting. still have'nt split up yet! | ||
| TScottW99
|
just got back from Craig, saw lot's of fresh sign, and heard two gobble at sunset. was lucky to hear those two due to the wind and the high stream. | ||
| sixshot |
Birds are cranked up around here now. Gobbling more on the ground to. The gangs of gobblers are starting to break up. Been out every morning for two weeks and starting to hear them in different places almost daily! Been roosting this week. Gobbling fair on the limb in the evening. Heard two this eve. Going at it again in the morning. Tscott, went to Brushy this last weekend. Heard three. Gobbled fair to good. Lots of sign though!! | ||
| Daddyjan |
Down here in Southampton Cty Va, the birds are starting to split up some , I have seen some small groups of hens with Tom in tow and groups of jakes and subordnate Toms off bye themselves.The gobbling on these warm mornings is realy good and i saw and heard a gobbler sounding off at 3;00 Sat afternoon he was with four hens .i feel like there is breeding going on although i have not seen it yet. JMF | ||
| TScottW99
|
sounds good to me sixshot i still havn't made it up there yet. | ||
| Marshall Wood
|
I live on 6 acres adjacent to 490 acres that is turkey/deer haven. Since the 2nd weekend in March, the turkeys have been gobblin on and off depending upon the weather. The hens are still together and the Gobblers are breaking off. Cant wait till the 13th | ||
| Piedmont gobbler |
Where are yo ulocated Marshall? MIKE |