Dominate Boss harvested, question

[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. 

[Spitten and drummen]

Be one in charge the next day.

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

There's a reason they kick his dead butt after you shoot him.

[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.

[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.

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

You may find that you have more gobbling birds there than you thought with him gone.

Yes.  My experience has proven this also. 

[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?

[davisd9]

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

[Greg Massey]

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]

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.