How Many Hens

[PaLongshank]

Man, I'd hate to guess how many I've killed while following a hen I was talking to.  I generally go by the rule of "take their temperature".  If the hen is talking and gets aggressive.......I give it back to her.  If it is a "soft and delicate" situation....that's what I do.  Quick story.....called in an entire flock one time opening day many moons ago.  Hens were very vocal and the flock had 3-4 strutters in it.  This big hen comes to me and ends up literally 1 foot from my big toe and is just going nuts.  I get her so worked up that she actually GOBBLED at me!  Had never experienced this in my life....shortly after my buddies shotgun ruined the conversation. LOL  Still one of my all time favorite hunts!!! Turkey hunting is funny tho.....what works one day may send them the other way the next.  One thing is certain......you stay on it and persistence usually pays.....Now that has accounted for a lot of birds for me.....especially in one of the toughest states to get it done.....Pennsylvania!!! Good luck.....PaLongshank.

[Farmboy27]

Man, I'd hate to guess how many I've killed while following a hen I was talking to.  I generally go by the rule of "take their temperature".  If the hen is talking and gets aggressive.......I give it back to her.  If it is a "soft and delicate" situation....that's what I do.  Quick story.....called in an entire flock one time opening day many moons ago.  Hens were very vocal and the flock had 3-4 strutters in it.  This big hen comes to me and ends up literally 1 foot from my big toe and is just going nuts.  I get her so worked up that she actually GOBBLED at me!  Had never experienced this in my life....shortly after my buddies shotgun ruined the conversation. LOL  Still one of my all time favorite hunts!!! Turkey hunting is funny tho.....what works one day may send them the other way the next.  One thing is certain......you stay on it and persistence usually pays.....Now that has accounted for a lot of birds for me.....especially in one of the toughest states to get it done.....Pennsylvania!!! Good luck.....PaLongshank.

Wow. You got a hen worked up enough to do something that hens are incapable of doing. That's pretty good!  Hens don't gobble bud. They can make some different sounds in the heat of an argument, but gobble they cannot. And take this from a lifelong PA boy, our turkeys aren't any tougher than anyone else's. Turkeys can be tough anywhere, or push overs anywhere.

[troutfisher13111]

Man, I'd hate to guess how many I've killed while following a hen I was talking to.  I generally go by the rule of "take their temperature".  If the hen is talking and gets aggressive.......I give it back to her.  If it is a "soft and delicate" situation....that's what I do.  Quick story.....called in an entire flock one time opening day many moons ago.  Hens were very vocal and the flock had 3-4 strutters in it.  This big hen comes to me and ends up literally 1 foot from my big toe and is just going nuts.  I get her so worked up that she actually GOBBLED at me!  Had never experienced this in my life....shortly after my buddies shotgun ruined the conversation. LOL  Still one of my all time favorite hunts!!! Turkey hunting is funny tho.....what works one day may send them the other way the next.  One thing is certain......you stay on it and persistence usually pays.....Now that has accounted for a lot of birds for me.....especially in one of the toughest states to get it done.....Pennsylvania!!! Good luck.....PaLongshank.

Wow. You got a hen worked up enough to do something that hens are incapable of doing. That's pretty good!  Hens don't gobble bud. They can make some different sounds in the heat of an argument, but gobble they cannot. And take this from a lifelong PA boy, our turkeys aren't any tougher than anyone else's. Turkeys can be tough anywhere, or push overs anywhere.

Hens gobble. I've personally witnessed it with two different hens. Also seen one of them strut at about 8 yards from me.


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[FL-Boss]

Hens don't gobble bud

You would be incorrect ...it's rare, but it happens.  Not the "fullest" gobble you ever heard...but they can do it.

I had it happen last year, and other active member of this forum was sitting 10 yards next to me when it happened.....

BTW- calling to the hens to bring in the gobbler is often the norm in area.

[PaLongshank]

Farmboy......Wow. not gonna argue with ya. LOL  I know what I experienced and am not in the business of making up stories or tooting my own horn....simply stating what happened this morning.  I have never had it happen again...but she did gobble.  Maybe not the gobble of an adult bird, but more like a very juvenile jake.  So, if you care to try to blow up my story just cause you have never seen it....so be it.  I speak truth.....have a good one.  PaLongshank

[Rzrbac]

Interesting debate, I've personally never seen a hen Gobble but know good turkey hunters who have.  I have seen hens blow up and nearly break into a full strut when I'm picking on them. My guess is a hen can gobble but probably has a different sound than that of a mature gobbler. 

[PaLongshank]

Treerooster.....that youtube vid was really neat!  Very cool, have never seen a hen strut like that before.  Her gobble was a little better than the one I heard but definitely very similar.  On that day it happened, my buddy and I were just sitting by his bird reflecting and he said "we will probably never have another hunt like that again our entire life".  Amazing what you can see and hear in the woods.  Thanks for sharing.....PaLongshank

[Rzrbac]

Cool video. That gobble is about what I have heard described by other hunters. She sounded about like I thought a hen would sound if she gobbled.  As for the strutting that's more than I've seen. I've only seen a couple fan and display just a little.  They would pull out of their display and resume cutting.