Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Pulled the game camera cards on my place today, and I was surprised to see photo evidence of a gobbler breeding a hen just yesterday!! I had figured that the hens I'd been seeing in the yard every day were just taking a break from the nest and getting a bite to eat. Apparently not!! One of the hens laid down and let a dominant gobbler do his thing, and it just happened to be in front of one of my cameras!! :icon_thumright: Now I understand why the boys have still been hanging around and strutting their stuff!! :turkey: :funnyturkey:

(https://i.imgur.com/RgFZFmf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qHzbp2m.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uvrsaut.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vl4VTkU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RlPdsdX.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/tWsquLB.jpg)
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Awesome , great pictures

Awesome!!

On May 30th in Pennsylvania I harvested a longbeard that was still hot trailing 2 hens.  He only gobbled once.  An hour later, I called in the hens with him trailing behind.  BOOM.

Great pics. Thanks for sharing

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Quote from: West Augusta on June 03, 2022, 09:13:08 PM
On May 30th in Pennsylvania I harvested a longbeard that was still hot trailing 2 hens.  He only gobbled once.  An hour later, I called in the hens with him trailing behind.  BOOM.

I don't doubt that. Pennsylvania is north of TN, so the breeding season there should be later.

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 I wonder.......how old this hen may be? Is she fertile or sterile? I know we cant hardly answer either of those question but here is my thought.

I believe some of these hens are old and sterile, maybe just sterile. I have seen this before a few times while hunting and think that is way to late to just be getting breed. Multiple times I have seen a strutter with his hareem at the end of season.

Another option is she may have lost her clutch and is trying again, or maybe, she just likes the boys!

Nice pictures!

A spread out breeding cycle is part of the potential issue with the current state of the turkeys population.  You want a shorter window so all the poults hit the ground around the same time, gives them a better chance at surviving.

Predator swamping is the term used in this regard.  Some claim the fact we are hunting the birds during breeding interrupts and pro longs breeding, which is why some states have adopted a split up season, it is not new but has come to light recently.

Of course there will always be some variation regardless but we are not helping in many cases.

Awesome photo's!

Quote from: WV Flopper on June 04, 2022, 11:45:06 AM
Another option is she may have lost her clutch and is trying again

Interesting theory. However, I seem to recall reading an article by Lovett Williams that stated hens get all the sperm they need in one breeding session, and can store the excess for later in case of a failed nest. Did anyone else read the same article?

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I wish Lovett was still around to get his opinion on sterile birds, late breeding, etc.

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I would assume if a hen had a nest and lost it she used the sperm from previous breeding to fertilize that clutch and would need to breed again to fertilize the new one.

 All the hens eggs can be fertilized by one initial breeding. The sperm stays viable in ducts inside the hen and is used daily to fertilize new eggs.

From time of initial breeding, to fertilization, to laying of clutch, to setting.....if a clutch were lost the viable sperm may not be viable any longer. I may be wrong, but I believe the number is 28 days of viable sperm in the ducts.

You do the math, yes, it is possible.

Quote from: WV Flopper on June 04, 2022, 06:33:16 PM
All the hens eggs can be fertilized by one initial breeding. The sperm stays viable in ducts inside the hen and is used daily to fertilize new eggs.

From time of initial breeding, to fertilization, to laying of clutch, to setting.....if a clutch were lost the viable sperm may not be viable any longer. I may be wrong, but I believe the number is 28 days of viable sperm in the ducts.

You do the math, yes, it is possible.

Good point!!
Not trying to argue. Just thought you guys might enjoy the pictures.

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 No argument, Great pictures! Thank you.

I think new research says the sperm isn't as viable as once thought.
So if all the gobblers get killed, hens that try to re-nest are out of luck.
This is the reason season dates are being pushed back.

Quote from: Roost 1 on June 04, 2022, 08:36:17 PM
I think new research says the sperm isn't as viable as once thought.
So if all the gobblers get killed, hens that try to re-nest are out of luck.
This is the reason season dates are being pushed back.

Glad that the biologists are keeping up with the changes.

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Quote from: WV Flopper on June 04, 2022, 07:39:24 PM
No argument, Great pictures! Thank you.

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Quote from: Roost 1 on June 04, 2022, 08:36:17 PM
I think new research says the sperm isn't as viable as once thought.
So if all the gobblers get killed, hens that try to re-nest are out of luck.
This is the reason season dates are being pushed back.

If you have a link to this research, please post it. Very interested.

Nice. They will breed from February to the early part of July at least. 

 I just took a few minutes to read over some materials on this egg topic. Lots of interesting stuff for sure. Some of which is way to much for me to understand. Lots of commercial info which is an obvious thing.

In reading several studies I seen a few things I knew and more that I didn't.

I read an article from PA department of wildlife and a page from Georgia department of Wildlife. Like I said, some interesting stuff, but I didn't see where the sperm was now decided to be dead in less than time previously stated.

I did see talk of multiple breedings showing better hatches. I also read studies that shown multiple A.I. of commercial hens not effecting hatches to the better, and the opposite as well.

Left me undecided, I guess an extra breeding or two couldn't hurt. But is it necessary?

Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on June 05, 2022, 01:42:43 PM
Nice. They will breed from February to the early part of July at least.

This is correct and why this season push back is total horsesh#t.

Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 05, 2022, 12:37:21 PM

Quote from: Roost 1 on June 04, 2022, 08:36:17 PM
I think new research says the sperm isn't as viable as once thought.
So if all the gobblers get killed, hens that try to re-nest are out of luck.
This is the reason season dates are being pushed back.

If you have a link to this research, please post it. Very interested.

https://georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/wrd/pdf/research/Spring%20Turkey%20Harvest%20and%20Reproduction%20Handout.pdf