Henned Up Gobblers In Early February

[mountainhunter1]

I'm seeing henned up strutting Toms in North Georgia and it is only the first week or so of February.  Not used to seeing them already broke up from their bachelor groups and with hens this early. And there is still eight weeks til opening day. Safe to say that we better not be dragging our feet when the first week of April gets here.

[Louisiana Longbeard]

I think a lot of that has to do with the warmer weather we are having. I feel like its going to get cold again. I wouldnt think they would be doing there deal now, but nowadays who knows.

[deathfoot]

I've seen videos of it happening here in southwest Virginia too. Strutting gobblers with hens already.

[mountainhunter1]

I think a lot of that has to do with the warmer weather we are having. I feel like its going to get cold again. I wouldnt think they would be doing there deal now, but nowadays who knows.

I had the same thought yesterday, but looked at the long range forecast for the rest of February and there is not much of any real cold weather coming the rest of this month. 68 degrees today and 63 tomorrow followed by a couple of days in the high fifties. Then starting on the 13th, we will be in the mid to upper sixties for seven of the following ten days.

[guesswho]

I witnessed a gobbler breeding a hen in Alabama the second week of February several years ago.   As mentioned earlier, I think it's because of the warmer weather.   I think it's a common occurrence country wide to have early activity going through the motions based on wether patterns.   I think you will be fine, although I'm not a fan of the season being pushed back like it was.   

[Howie g]

It will be over before it starts here in the sip ,  if any of you are planning a trip here ? I wouldn't come ?

[WV Flopper]

 If I were the only fourteen year old boy around I would be showing myself to the girls as much as I could. Maybe there aren't the bachelor groups there that once was....

And, if I were the only boy around, why wait. Let's go girls!!!

Those feathered boys ain't no different than a 14 year old boy, specially on a nice string of days. They are ready for action wether the girls are or not!

[Tail Feathers]

Like teenagers, the boys are ready and eager well before the girls give in.  It may vary a bit, but mostly it's around the same time every year despite out concerns otherwise.

[MK M GOBL]

Like teenagers, the boys are ready and eager well before the girls give in.  It may vary a bit, but mostly it's around the same time every year despite out concerns otherwise.

The Breeding Phase is determined by length of day, which gets the hormones flowing, there is always an "early/peak/late" as in any bell curve... then from the south to up north, breeding will start down south in February and late March/April up north. Cold rainy weather can delay the start of this cycle, hens actual check ground temperature with their body.


MK M GOBL