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Dominate Boss harvested, question

Started by tracker#1, May 10, 2021, 09:18:46 AM

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tracker#1

I've been hunting this bird for two years and blessed to have harvested him a couple of days ago. I missed him last year and came very close to taking him 3 more times and left the woods talking to myself. My question is, "how does taking the dominant bird out affect the rest of the flock?" In the flock left, there are 4 hens, 8 jakes, 3 2-year-old long beards... I believe he was a 3 to 4-year-old bird, 1- 1/4 spurs... just curious

AndyN

Without a doubt all of those turkeys will die. There's only 11 other male turkeys to breed those 4 hens that should already be bred.

Tail Feathers

Those birds will sort out the pecking order pretty fast and a new "top Tom" will take the crown.  But in the meantime, there may be some real good hunting  as that opens up more gobbling and good hunting as they get to seek out hens to breed without fear of the "old boss" whipping their butt. 
Love to hunt the King of Spring!

Spitten and drummen

" RANGERS LEAD THE WAY"
"QUEEN OF BATTLE FOLLOW ME " ~ INFANTRY
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KentuckyHeadhunter

There's a reason they kick his dead butt after you shoot him.
Loyal Member of the Tenth Legion

Turkeytider

Read Dr. Mike Chamberlain regarding the impact of harvesting the dominant Tom on flock dynamics and the breeding cycle. In brief, another Tom doesn't just step up and become the dominant Tom with which the hens breed.

silvestris

Assuming that the gobbler was the hen's preferred male, it may take the hens awhile to accept one of the remaining gobblers as a mate.  However the remaining gobblers should be attracted to your calling if you tell them what they want to hear.  Congrats on your kill.
"[T]he changing environment will someday be totally and irrevocably unsuitable for the wild turkey.  Unless mankind precedes the birds in extinction, we probably will not be hunting turkeys for too much longer."  Ken Morgan, "Turkey Hunting, A One Man Game

Greg Massey

After that dominant bird is killed it could take weeks or even months before another gobbler takes his place, it's all about going back thru the pecking order again. It took weeks and months for the pecking order to become established even before spring season ever began. So it's about fighting and another gobbler become dominant to take his place. I don't agree it will take place the next day.. i will say it will take place over time the new pecking order and new dominant bird replacing the one you killed. IMO

davisd9

You may find that you have more gobbling birds there than you thought with him gone.
"A turkey hen speaks when she needs to speak, and says what she needs to say, when she needs to say it. So every word a turkey speaks is for a reason." - Rev Zach Farmer

KentuckyHeadhunter

Quote from: davisd9 on May 10, 2021, 05:37:13 PM
You may find that you have more gobbling birds there than you thought with him gone.



Yes.  My experience has proven this also. 
Loyal Member of the Tenth Legion

Sixes

If this dominant gobbler theory is right, how in the world did the population continue to explode for decades before the population crash. Dominant birds have been getting killed on opening weekends in GA for years and years and years and up until about 6-8 years ago, the population was steady to increasing throughout the state.


Happy

Honest question and not pot stirring. Do you think the increased use of gobbler decoys and tail fans have caused more dominate Tom's to die earlier in the season?

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davisd9

Quote from: Happy on May 10, 2021, 07:14:50 PM
Honest question and not pot stirring. Do you think the increased use of gobbler decoys and tail fans have caused more dominate Tom's to die earlier in the season?

Without question
"A turkey hen speaks when she needs to speak, and says what she needs to say, when she needs to say it. So every word a turkey speaks is for a reason." - Rev Zach Farmer

Greg Massey

Quote from: Happy on May 10, 2021, 07:14:50 PM
Honest question and not pot stirring. Do you think the increased use of gobbler decoys and tail fans have caused more dominate Tom's to die earlier in the season?
It's possible, but i see dominate gobbler less likely to leave his hens.

davisd9

Quote from: Greg Massey on May 10, 2021, 07:44:39 PM
Quote from: Happy on May 10, 2021, 07:14:50 PM
Honest question and not pot stirring. Do you think the increased use of gobbler decoys and tail fans have caused more dominate Tom's to die earlier in the season?
It's possible, but i see dominate gobbler less likely to leave his hens.

They will leave them in a heart beat if they feel challenged or threatened.
"A turkey hen speaks when she needs to speak, and says what she needs to say, when she needs to say it. So every word a turkey speaks is for a reason." - Rev Zach Farmer