Hunting Gobblers

[Greg Massey]

Hunting scenario, your setup and have two gobblers coming into range and you have the opportunity to kill either one, which one would you shoot and why?  One is in full Strut ...

[3bailey3]

The one that presents the best shot! I have watched a lot of video's and sometime the looker is the better bird not the strutter, that is when a double is taken!

[zelmo1]

Lots of variables here. If I am alone and 2 gobblers come in, I probably shoot the strutter when he comes out of strut. If they are new birds, not on my hit list, I may let the dominant bird go as long as he isn't remarkably more mature than the other. I can admit that I am lucky and have one private spot where we can usually get 3 year olds or better. Just the number of birds for the small private area makes our odds go up. But most birds I have shot are 2 year olds. 19-20 pound, 8-10" beard, 7/8-1 1/8th" spurs. It's the birds character and the hunt that determines how successful I feel.

[ScottTaulbee]

The first one in range. Reasoning is, I've had hunts that I thought were slam dunks go south and leave me stomping my hat because I got greedy and waited for another opportunity that ended up not presenting itself


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[deathfoot]

I've shot the strutter and I've shot the non strutter.

If the non strutter appears bigger, he's dead. If I can't tell, I'm shooting the strutter.

Sometimes I'm shooting the one I can maneuver on the best. Say the gun is up, but I may need to adjust slightly...I'm shooting the bird I have to move the least on

[Dougas]

The first one that offers me the best shot, has unique characteristics or a special kind of attitude coming in.

[btomlin]

The 1st one to present a good shot is going to "win".

[GobbleNut]

I have always evaluated gobblers by their beards because I don't have superman vision like some folks seem to have where I can see a gobbler's spurs from forty yards away...or even at ten yards unless there is no ground cover, which I have found to rarely be the case in almost every place I have ever hunted. 
...Hence, if multiple gobblers come in and present equal shot opportunities, I will always shoot the one I think has the best beard. As for the aforementioned spurs, like Forrest always said, spurs are like a box of chocolates for me...I never know what a gobbler will have until I have latched onto him. 

[bbcoach]

"Bird in the Hand is Worth 2 in the Bush!"  If both birds are Gobblers, as stated, then the first one that presents a GOOD shot gets a RIDE (provided I have more than 1 tag). All things being equal, the Strutter would be first on my list.  If it's my last tag and plenty of time to hunt, then neither one may RIDE home.  Too many variables to give a straight answer IMO.  GREAT question Greg!

[g8rvet]

On private land one time, I shot the one with the longer beard (strutting).  The other one had a thicker, but very curved beard. Later that season, he took a truck ride too.  It was obviously the same bird because of the weird shape of the beard and how thick it was.

[Notsoyoungturk]

All things equal, I go with the bigger bird/bigger beard.  If only one is cooperating, it's him.  Equal birds, take the best shot.

[Tail Feathers]

I try to take the one I think is dominant.  That is likely to be the strutter but not always.  Sometimes it comes down to which one gives you the shot opportunity.  Like Gobblenut, I never see spurs before I shoot.

[Yoder409]

Two visible longbeards ??

First one that that offers a slam-dunk shot gets it.

Spurs are always like Christmas morning.

[Zobo]

The one with the longest beard

[Mossyguy]

Private land...I'm shooting the non-strutter. If the strutter is the dominate bird then maybe he's smarter and has better chance of survival. If it's somewhere else then whichever bird gives me the first opportunity.