Hunting Gobbling Rios in February

[GobbleNut]

I'm sure there's some gobbling going on in February, but still suspect this is more like a fall/winter turkey hunt with the birds still not dispersed.

My suspicion, as well.  Gobbling turkeys are not any kind of indicator that spring breeding behavior (and the associated hunting methodology) has set in.  I'm not against fall hunting gobbler flocks...I just prefer hunting them when they get into the "mood" and come to a call strutting and gobbling.

Now, maybe they do that in south Texas that early but, like you, I am skeptical of it. I would feel much better about it if the hunt was in mid to late March rather than late February. 

Nonetheless...a good cause...they can have some of my money...   

[eggshell]

Thanks for your response CW. Y'all do have a great podcast and I think it's great to raise money for turkey research.

I'm sure there's some gobbling going on in February, but still suspect this is more like a fall/winter turkey hunt with the birds still not dispersed.

If that's correct?, of the 5 birds killed last year, were any of them jakes, all jakes or all mature birds.

I would think a mid February hunt anywhere including S TX, S FL, one would be hard pressed to get on 5 mature birds?

As an avid fall hunter that focuses on gobblers, I have no doubt you could get 5 mature toms using fall tactics. I'd hunt them and have a blast.

[deerhunt1988]

South Florida's youth season will be opening February 22nd this year and yes, birds will be gobbling. This Texas hunt is at a very similar latitude, so I'd expect a good chance of gobbling.

[RND1983]

Hey PalmettoRon I actually looked at the social media account of the owner of the ranch where last years raffle hunt took place and it appears at least 4 of the 5 birds taken were jakes. One was difficult to tell. Regardless, it is very puzzling to have a hunt raffle that raises money to "benefit turkeys" and on the hunt, at least 80 percent of the birds killed never had the opportunity to reach sexual maturity and create more turkeys. I like to kill turkeys as much as anyone, but this just does not make a lick of sense to me. I do not care how many jakes were running around. Just my .02. Experienced hunters should make a conscious effort to kill turkeys when they are ready and when they are mature.

[PalmettoRon]

I've directly asked the question twice about the makeup of the 5 kills on last year's hunt. Several questions were answered, but not this one.

The Spring S TX hunting season begins on March 15th. The state of TX labels the few counties that have turkey hunting from November until Feb 23rd as a Fall hunt.

Again, I've heard turkeys gobble every month of the year. I'm sure in S TX in late February, a few  adult gobblers might well be called in, but I seriously doubt things are lit up and the birds are even close to a typical Spring pattern.

Anybody interested in a mid-late February hunt in TX deserves to know what comprised the kills last year. Most of us would rather eat a tag than tag a jake certainly in the Spring. A Fall hunt might be a different matter.

If what RND1983 alleges is true, I can't imagine many hunters wanting to travel to kill a jake.

I will pose the question a third time. Were the 5 birds killed last year on this hunt all jakes, all mature gobblers or a combination of jakes and mature gobblers? If a combination, what was the ratio? Was last year's hunt 4-5 jakes?

If so, if that trips your trigger, go for it, but you might just want to donate directly to TFT and/or the NWTF.

[eggshell]

If so, if that trips your trigger, go for it, but you might just want to donate directly to TFT and/or the NWTF.

Yep this promotion looks to be going sour quick. Like I've said before I prefer donating directly to my state agency where law dictates 100% has to be spent on the resource it was donated for. I know it does because I directly got some of those donations when I worked for Wildlife.

[slicksbeagles1]

Is this a legit raffle? Well after doing a search the season is open in the county the ranch is located in South Texas.

[RND1983]

Yes it is a legit raffle. They do sell tickets and the winners (as well as the two hosts) get the opportunity to go kill 2 turkeys each. So that could be 8 turkeys removed before they've ever had a chance to breed a hen. Last year's harvests from the raffle hunt appeared to have been mostly jakes. This raffle also has to cover the cost of 4 hunters at a ranch in south Texas for two turkeys according to the podcast. Anything leftover does get donated. I am all for raising money to benefit the turkey but the raffle prize needs to make sense. Especially with what we know about population decline. I would think a raffle where the top winner receives a shotgun and some others get a gear package would make the donation to the organizations more substantial and would likely not raise any eyebrows. I once won a shotgun to support a local youth baseball team. I was shocked at how many tickets were sold and how much money was netted. The beauty of our country is that people have choices. You can choose to spend your money and support whatever you choose. Bottom line...there is nothing illegitimate about this raffle. It does however contradict what is preached and discussed on the podcast.

[PalmettoRon]

At the great risk of lowering the very poor odds I already have, I would certainly recommend at $20/ticket with no limits, the NM NWTF raffle for the chance to kill a Goulds turkey with another NM regular tag for Merriams or Rios.

All the money goes to the NM NWTF. You have to arrange your own camping, hunting, food ,etc, but I know Don Fell with the NM NWTF has been a huge aid to those successfully drawing this tag.I believe they're running 100% success on mature Goulds gobblers.

I can't find the link for some reason, but I'm sure this has either been posted already or someone else can provide the link.

[eggshell]

Here ya go

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML24V1VRWMWWA/checkout/NQIGXUNEPUUQVEQ2KQFINDG2?utm_source=sqmktg_email

[PalmettoRon]

Thanks eggshell. I will stay tuned to see if my lucky 7 purchase is a winner. LOL.