OK guys a new year beginning. The earliest I can remember hearing a bird is Feb 10th. Today makes the 2nd earliest.
Feb 19th - 45 degrees started out clear, then a few whispering clouds. Light winds.
6:00 - Made my coffee and went out to the back deck for a listen on the mountain across the road.
6:10 - Rooster down below me started.
6:15 - 1st gobble of the season. Down low on the mountain.
6:25 - Crows started hollering and the same gobbler gobbled. A min. later a 2nd one gobbled.
Up until about 6:55 a total of 3 birds gave a occasional gobble. They were not together and sounded several hundred yards apart. Only an occasional gobble in response to the crows. Total of about 10-12 gobbles between the 3 of them. Not real active, but a start. After 6:55, all went quiet, except for the crows.
Let the fun begin!
But not too early.....LOL
:OGani: :OGani:
Good to hear, normally by now I see them starting to gobble/display. Today I figured had to be good. My plan was yesterday to get out but never made it. Left the house this morning just a pinch too early or I'd have been surprised if I didn't hear them n I'm just a pinch north of central pa
I think the breading season is going to be a littler earlier this year especially if the current weather keeps up! I would think they would be grouped up still and starting the pecking order unless you have a lot of birds where you are at and that's why you hear so many in different locations?
:fud: :OGani:
Went for a hike yesterday on 1 of the game lands roads along with wife and dog.
She and the dog went one way, I went the other way.
When we met up, of course she ran into 8 gobblers, scratching along the road.
:OGturkeyhead:
02/24/2017 - Mostly cloudy and about 50 degrees. One of those day you could hear a country mile. No wind at all.
6:00 - Coffee and I went out to the back deck for a listen. I just love listening to the morning wake up, while sipping a coffee.
6:10 - 1st gobble heard over on the mountain.
6:15 - 6:45 - Gobbles, gobbles and more gobbles. Sounded like 4-5 birds going back and forth at anything and everything. Even the school van backup beeper was making them gobble. Man they were hammering everything. Couldn't even guess how many gobbles.
Wow, what a morning for hearing birds, but these boys need to slow down. I can't remember so much activity on a Feb day. It's a long way until the season opens, but with this nice weather, they are not looking at the calendar. Might be hunting late birds on the 1st day if this keeps up.
:fud: :OGani:
02/25/2016 - Same conditions as yesterday.
From just about 6:10 on gobbles and more gobblers. Maybe even more than yesterday. They were hamming across the road and behind the house. 45 minutes or so. Sounded like 6-8 different birds. Sounded like at least 3 in one group, 1 in a different place, another in a different place and 2 in different places behind the house. 45 minutes of carrying on like it was April. I think this is the most gobbling February I can remember.
Funny thing is, I'm not seeing many in my travels. But boy are they vocal at daybreak.
:fud: :OGani:
02/26/2016
Wow, what a difference in the weather. Woke up 5:45. Heard the wind. Snow on the ground. 25 degrees. I was then kicked back to reality, that it was still February in Central PA. Went back in my hole (bed), as I figured the birds would be sleeping in also.........LOL!
:newmascot:
I'm in south central pa. YORK county. HEARD a few on the farm this morning. YESTERDAY nothing and I know they were roos red in the same place as today. NICE to stop on my way to work, what a great way to start the day.
A friend of mine said they were sounding off in York County the other day. :turkey2:
It's been so cold, snowy and windy, I haven't even given it a listen since my last post. Hopefully soon it will warm up a bit.
:OGani:
My wife saw 4 gobblers the other day strutting just off the road, down from the house. All strutting long beards. 2 of them were "bumping" each other. Other than that, not a peep to be heard. Right now I'd guess they are putting on their snowshoes for the upcoming weather.
:OGturkeyhead:
Gonna take a while to dig the north east out of this snow hole and push the spring Green up back a little.
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
went to tie the dog out they was hammering this morning was surprised as dreary and drizzling here this morning ,, must be fired up lol
Quote from: M,Yingling on March 27, 2017, 06:54:05 AM
went to tie the dog out they was hammering this morning was surprised as dreary and drizzling here this morning ,, must be fired up lol
Nice!
This warmer weather should fire them up again. I'll try and get out the next couple of mornings and report back.
03/27/2017 - 50 degrees, misty and very slight rain.
Good morning. Just before daylight had about 8 different birds gobbling in the trees. Over on the mountain side. Very well scattered along the side in many different spots. Hammered at each other and everything that made a noise. Cars, trucks, school van, you name it, they hammered it. Very exciting. Must have stayed in the trees an extra long time, maybe due to the misty conditions, but they carried on for about 1/2 hour. After they flew down, gobbling slowed down a lot, but still some. Didn't hear anything behind the house, except for about 1/2 hour after light. Heard 1 gobbler 3 times then silent. Across the road....they were having a party. Stayed out a little over an hour and must have heard over 100 gobbles. Most active morning this year. Also, some sounded very low. Down near the main road. Sounded like about 3-400 yards from me. The 1 behind the house was close. Very close. Maybe 150 yards. Yesterday I saw what looked like 4 birds down the road from me. All jakes.
The party is back on!
:z-guntootsmiley:
what time you starting to hear them sound off ? was out this morning thought it was going be good one till the rain let loose round 620 and didn't hear anything
Started real early. Just barely breaking day. Couldn't have seen to fly down. I didn't have my watch with me, so I don't now what exact time. The were just waking up. After flydown, it slowed down a lot. I figure flydown time as to when I can see barely see the surroundings. Lots of activity my way. I'm surprised you didn't have any. Rainy and misty here also. Didn't hear any hens either.
03/28/2017 - Cloudy/Overcast with a slight wind picking up. 58 degrees.
7:15 - 7:30 PM
Birds gobbling over on the mountain going to roost. A couple different places.
1st evening gobbling I've heard this year.
:gobble:
This morning sure felt like a gobbling kind of morning, I live a good 30min probably from the nearest turkey but it felt good out.
03/29/2017 - Clear, no wind, 55 degrees.
I went out to the back deck again this evening and sure enough the mountain boys (4-5) were gobbling going to roost starting about 7:30 PM. Also heard a hen behind the house. Gobbling lasted until about 8:15 PM. Seemed like they were gobbling at each other, as one gobble would bring an immediate response from several others.
:OGturkeyhead:
Cold, rainy, windy last couple of days has them shutdown.
Morning and evening, you would think there wasn't a bird to be found.
:gobble:
didn't even think about it Friday ,,, got up 530 same here wind cold rain went back bed lol ,, think sunday is going be the morning going clear out tonight good sunny in morning bit chilly
Sunday morning I got out scouting 36 degrees and birds were all over the public land gobbling hard.. got eyes on or heard 6-7 longbeards and maybe a dozen Jake's. Good morning but these birds will see a ton of pressure and be pushed into private quickly but I do like to get in there for youth season if I have a kid to take
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
I know this is a gobbling related thread but I did see 4-5 different strutters during my travels today. Got me jacked up even though we're still 3 weeks out
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 03, 2017, 09:05:57 PM
Sunday morning I got out scouting 36 degrees and birds were all over the public land gobbling hard.. got eyes on or heard 6-7 longbeards and maybe a dozen Jake's. Good morning but these birds will see a ton of pressure and be pushed into private quickly but I do like to get in there for youth season if I have a kid to take
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Sounds like a good spot. I really like the idea of the early youth season. Lets them have at them before the crowds start up.
Quote from: HFultzjr on April 04, 2017, 08:48:18 AM
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 03, 2017, 09:05:57 PM
Sunday morning I got out scouting 36 degrees and birds were all over the public land gobbling hard.. got eyes on or heard 6-7 longbeards and maybe a dozen Jake's. Good morning but these birds will see a ton of pressure and be pushed into private quickly but I do like to get in there for youth season if I have a kid to take
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Sounds like a good spot. I really like the idea of the early youth season. Lets them have at them before the crowds start up.
It gets hammered with pressure like 10 trucks on 300 acres hammered on the weekends with 6 guys sprinting at any noise, It doesn't take long for the birds to simply relocate off the public to private. But with youth season being the first crack at turkeys in the woods I usually have them scouted decent and can get set up tight to the roost with a kid. Hoping my Nephew wants to go out
Hiking into some SGL that looks as though the closest road access(from what I can tell) is about a mile from the actual parcel of SGL. Hopefully it has birds. I'll report if anyone is talking this morning.
Nothin doing in the area I hiked into today, 30 degrees and steady light rain all morning could've had something to do with it. Area looked promising but I had to be back at 7 to put the kids on the bus. Supposed to be nicer tomorrow morning
Quote from: compton30 on April 07, 2017, 04:09:43 AM
Hiking into some SGL that looks as though the closest road access(from what I can tell) is about a mile from the actual parcel of SGL. Hopefully it has birds. I'll report if anyone is talking this morning.
What area of the state you in Compton?
Tyrone area
Took the kids out with me to a piece of SGL I found on Hunt Stand. Found a bird who gobbled 100+ times from 6 til we got out of earshot at 6:45. 32 degrees, gorgeous morning
Quote from: compton30 on April 08, 2017, 07:15:11 AM
Took the kids out with me to a piece of SGL I found on Hunt Stand. Found a bird who gobbled 100+ times from 6 til we got out of earshot at 6:45. 32 degrees, gorgeous morning
Sounds like an awesome morning !!
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Wife saw 6 Toms at 5:30 pm last evening just down the road from us. She said they were sparring with each other and creating a ruckus. Watched them for a few minutes, then they went back in the woods.
:OGani: :OGani:
04/10/2017
42 Degrees with very clear skies. Very calm. Early daybreak.
Ok, today was a little strange. I really expected more activity, but here is what happened.
5:45 - Grab coffee and headed out to the back deck. Still pretty dark, but I heard my 1st gobble as soon as I sat down. Was over on the mountain. Had to still be on the roost, as it was pretty dark.
5:48 - Heard what sounded like 3 birds at same place. Just a couple gobbles.
5:50 - 6:10 - Heard just a few more gobbles from same birds. Not much.
6:15 -6:30 - 2 more gobbles same birds. Then nothing after 6:30.
Here are the strange parts:
Gobblers started very early.........still dark. I probably should have been out earlier.
My guess, they had hens and gave a "roost gobble", flew down to them and shut-up.
Rooster down the road didn't start until well after daybreak, about 6:10. He is usually 1st.
Only heard 2 crows briefly...............usually lots of activity.
Only heard a couple "tweety birds"...............usually very active.
For such a beautiful morning it was pretty quiet. Maybe they had a busy weekend...........LOL
Goes to show you, what we think may be a good day, may not be a good day for them.
Always a mystery.
:OGturkeyhead:
Quote from: HFultzjr on April 10, 2017, 08:09:23 AM
04/10/2017
42 Degrees with very clear skies. Very calm. Early daybreak.
Ok, today was a little strange. I really expected more activity, but here is what happened.
5:45 - Grab coffee and headed out to the back deck. Still pretty dark, but I heard my 1st gobble as soon as I sat down. Was over on the mountain. Had to still be on the roost, as it was pretty dark.
5:48 - Heard what sounded like 3 birds at same place. Just a couple gobbles.
5:50 - 6:10 - Heard just a few more gobbles from same birds. Not much.
6:15 -6:30 - 2 more gobbles same birds. Then nothing after 6:30.
Here are the strange parts:
Gobblers started very early.........still dark. I probably should have been out earlier.
My guess, they had hens and gave a "roost gobble", flew down to them and shut-up.
Rooster down the road didn't start until well after daybreak, about 6:10. He is usually 1st.
Only heard 2 crows briefly...............usually lots of activity.
Only heard a couple "tweety birds"...............usually very active.
For such a beautiful morning it was pretty quiet. Maybe they had a busy weekend...........LOL
Goes to show you, what we think may be a good day, may not be a good day for them.
Always a mystery.
:OGturkeyhead:
Have you experienced Gobbling hangover... I have a theory that sometimes after a day where the birds go nuts even if its just as nice out or even better then seem quiet like they are exhausted from the ruckus of the previous day. I'm sure it's not based on science or fact but its how I explain some of those "perfect" days that are oddly quiet and slow in my head lol
It could easily be that the gobblers are just roosted right with the hens and don't need to gobble much, maybe strut on the limb more and then they fly down together and continue to strut with no need to gobble (attract) any hens.
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 10, 2017, 08:54:40 AM
Quote from: HFultzjr on April 10, 2017, 08:09:23 AM
04/10/2017
42 Degrees with very clear skies. Very calm. Early daybreak.
Ok, today was a little strange. I really expected more activity, but here is what happened.
5:45 - Grab coffee and headed out to the back deck. Still pretty dark, but I heard my 1st gobble as soon as I sat down. Was over on the mountain. Had to still be on the roost, as it was pretty dark.
5:48 - Heard what sounded like 3 birds at same place. Just a couple gobbles.
5:50 - 6:10 - Heard just a few more gobbles from same birds. Not much.
6:15 -6:30 - 2 more gobbles same birds. Then nothing after 6:30.
Here are the strange parts:
Gobblers started very early.........still dark. I probably should have been out earlier.
My guess, they had hens and gave a "roost gobble", flew down to them and shut-up.
Rooster down the road didn't start until well after daybreak, about 6:10. He is usually 1st.
Only heard 2 crows briefly...............usually lots of activity.
Only heard a couple "tweety birds"...............usually very active.
For such a beautiful morning it was pretty quiet. Maybe they had a busy weekend...........LOL
Goes to show you, what we think may be a good day, may not be a good day for them.
Always a mystery.
:OGturkeyhead:
Have you experienced Gobbling hangover... I have a theory that sometimes after a day where the birds go nuts even if its just as nice out or even better then seem quiet like they are exhausted from the ruckus of the previous day. I'm sure it's not based on science or fact but its how I explain some of those "perfect" days that are oddly quiet and slow in my head lol
It could easily be that the gobblers are just roosted right with the hens and don't need to gobble much, maybe strut on the limb more and then they fly down together and continue to strut with no need to gobble (attract) any hens.
Yep. This was one of those days. At least for those birds. If I was a betting man, I would have bet they would be gobbling their heads off. A gobbler does, as a gobbler wants. We ain't never going to change that. My guess is they had all they needed, right their with them.
Friday heard one lone gobble at 600 am ,,, today Saturday heard bout 6 different birds heard 2 gobbles between 6- 630 but seemed strange at 645 they all just went off for half hour
hens was just yelping away this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P67YFfoiUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E7avxY31mY
Quote from: M,Yingling on April 15, 2017, 09:10:31 AM
Friday heard one lone gobble at 600 am ,,, today Saturday heard bout 6 different birds heard 2 gobbles between 6- 630 but seemed strange at 645 they all just went off for half hour
hens was just yelping away this morning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P67YFfoiUE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E7avxY31mY
Nice catch on the videos. I haven't been able to get out the last couple mornings. Love to hear a good spring morning.
04/16/2017 - back out after a few days off.
5:30am - Already had my coffee made, sitting outside, comfy. Temp about 55 degrees. rain clouds approaching, very calm. "Tweety Birds" already starting. Expected to here them early. Nothing.
5:40am - Slight rain off and on and the wind picked up a bit. Nothing.
6:15am. - I heard my 1st bird. Gave a couple gobbles and quit.
6:35 - Raining more often now, so I went back in.
7:05 - Clearing up, calm, but I got to get ready for church.
Surprisingly quiet morning.
:OGturkeyhead:
different spot today
same here poured rain at 530 quit at 550 looked radar and seen another round was coming
600am give them them a owl hoot one gobble was it,,, rain and heavy wind till 630 cleared out and hung out till 730 and nothing
04/19/2017 - Overcast looking like rain coming. 45 degrees very calm, could hear a country mile.
Birds started gobbling at 1st light and continued for about 20 minutes. Then it started a light rain and all went quiet. I went back in after hearing nothing for about thee next 20 minutes. Pretty active, but for a short period.
GOOD GRIEF!! Opening day forecast now calling for 85 degrees!! Ugh!
Lets hope that changes between now and then..
Quote from: SteelerFan on April 20, 2017, 08:25:30 PM
GOOD GRIEF!! Opening day forecast now calling for 85 degrees!! Ugh!
Lets hope that changes between now and then..
No worries! Check the forecast again in a couple of days and will probably say 29 degrees and 40 MPH winds.........................LOL!
They can't predict a forecast that far in advance if their life depended on it.
I always wait and check it a day or 2 before.
A meteorologist is the only job where you can screw up constantly and still be employed..........LOL!
I certainly hope it is not hot. Give me wake-up of 45-50 degrees and a high of 60-65.
:fud: :OGani:
34 degrees slight frost sunny morning birds started at 545 and just hammered for an hour from roost and when they hit the ground ,,they was getting close so I left ,,,,, would have been great morning to have a gun lol
Went out to the property I hunt Saturday.
Rained pretty good until about 5:15am, then cleared up.
5:50am 4 gobblers about 150 yards from where I usually set up hammered pretty good until about 6:20.
Gobbled their dang heads off, then not a peep.
If I would have got there at 6:30, I would have sworn not a bird around.
Looking good if they stay put.
:fud: :OGani:
Quote from: HFultzjr on April 23, 2017, 09:12:13 PM
Went out to the property I hunt Saturday.
Rained pretty good until about 5:15am, then cleared up.
5:50am 4 gobblers about 150 yards from where I usually set up hammered pretty good until about 6:20.
Gobbled their dang heads off, then not a peep.
If I would have got there at 6:30, I would have sworn not a bird around.
Looking good if they stay put.
:fud: :OGani:
good luck !
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Quote from: trefalga on April 24, 2017, 12:10:15 AM
Quote from: HFultzjr on April 23, 2017, 09:12:13 PM
Went out to the property I hunt Saturday.
Rained pretty good until about 5:15am, then cleared up.
5:50am 4 gobblers about 150 yards from where I usually set up hammered pretty good until about 6:20.
Gobbled their dang heads off, then not a peep.
If I would have got there at 6:30, I would have sworn not a bird around.
Looking good if they stay put.
:fud: :OGani:
good luck !
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
:thanks:
You too!
:fud: :OGani:
Youth day had good gobbling but the nature of small parcel public land in SE PA is that birds tend to hang 90% of their time on private where they have fields, open timber, maybe a bird feeder or two and not the thicker public stuff. Nephew had a good time and I had them scouted and roosted just couldn't budge the flock up the hill
Opening day I'll fly blind and meet my dad upstate at his brothers, turkey numbers have been down for a few years there but its been family tradition to get together there and chase what birds we have in the mountains.
birds did their thing this morning first one was at 520 gobbled on and off till little after 7 nothing extreme but they was sounding off ,,they was workin my way so left ,,, Saturdays the day hopefully LOL Good Luck
They have been gobbling almost every morning. Even heard a few gobbles during the day and evening roost. Hope it keeps up. Good luck everyone.
:fud: :OGani:
Almost no gobbling this am in lycoming county; for the first season ever i difnt hear any tree gobbling. I did get a few gobbles around 8 and callef in two gobblers. One down, one more tag to fill! Up in tioga county tmrw am!
They were absolutely going bananas last Saturday. I'm still trying to figure out how we didn't manage to punch a ticket on just ONE. Blah. Anyway, one tag left and off 3 days for a 5 day weekend. Cmon boys!!!
Quote from: compton30 on May 09, 2017, 05:03:48 AM
They were absolutely going bananas last Saturday. I'm still trying to figure out how we didn't manage to punch a ticket on just ONE. Blah. Anyway, one tag left and off 3 days for a 5 day weekend. Cmon boys!!!
Yeah I know the feeling! Lots of birds wanting to talk, but nobody wants to play. Hopefully as the season gets later they will get lonely.
Gobbling started at 5:15 yesterday morning! They were tearing it up in Clinton County.
They were gobbling at 5:30 this morning down in Greene Co. We had bad fog too. :firefighter:
Quote from: HFultzjr on May 09, 2017, 08:22:20 AM
Quote from: compton30 on May 09, 2017, 05:03:48 AM
They were absolutely going bananas last Saturday. I'm still trying to figure out how we didn't manage to punch a ticket on just ONE. Blah. Anyway, one tag left and off 3 days for a 5 day weekend. Cmon boys!!!
Yeah I know the feeling! Lots of birds wanting to talk, but nobody wants to play. Hopefully as the season gets later they will get lonely.
Same here in NJ..either the birds are still henned up or just not seeking..so you have to bring it to them and get close...when doing so, I immediately strike off to the bird that's gobbling the most and get as close as I can given the terrain, cover and light..many times I've been able to get within 50 yards...once that close I post a decoy and call very little...sometimes just 3-4 clucks...less is more
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Punched out in PA, killed opening morning second morning was in but just all jakes, 3rd morning I missed, 4th morning punched my second tag. All four morning I had really good gobbling on the roost and early on the ground. Never hunted past 7:00am so not sure how they've been gobbling rest of the day
With my Nebraska and PA tags punched i just need to get to NY and fill those two tags
Birds were lackluster on the roost. Did get steady response throughout the morning once on the ground - but unable to move them my way. Courtesy gobbles as they headed away (separate birds). Did not hear a hen, but they sure acted like they were in company with 1 or more.
Yeah, sure got quiet for me too! Only a courtesy gobble and maybe 1 or 2 on the roost. Although today I called in a very big hen with nobody in tow......LOL. However about an hour later one very loud and close gobble right behind me. Never heard him again or saw him.
:newmascot:
4-5 gobbles on the branch to start things Saturday morning, once they flew down I got them (2 toms) FIRED UP and they were going ballistic. Nice longbeard came into 40ish yards and stood looking for us, basically inviting my Dad to shoot him, which didn't happen for whatever reason...not a pleasant truck ride home. Anyway they must have gobbled 40-50 times to my calling and a hen that cut loose some very impressive cutting before eventually wandering off somewhere on property we couldn't follow. Has been haunting me nearly every waking moment seeing that gobbler standing there begging to be shot, but I am encouraged by the gobbling activity. Thought for sure a double was coming.
where in pa you guys hunting ...?
Blair and Centre County for me
Glad to hear they are still good and active - going out memorial day to punch out in lycoming i hope
Blair county for me.
Memorial Day morning was the last day I'm gonna be able to get out and didn't hear a single peep. Pouring rain at daybreak. Disappointing finish to the season as my #1 goal this year was to get Dad his first bird at age 60. He had a great opportunity on a beautiful 3 year old but he's just wasn't ready when the moment came.
Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread and kept things updated as best they could. This really is an invaluable resource to have on hand at the touch of a button. I hope everyone had a great season! Already starting the countdown to 2018!!! :gobble:
Anybody still hearing any?
Last ones I heard was Memorial Day weekend.
See you all next spring.
:character0029: