Hunting Gobblers

[Number17]

In most cases your better off shooting the looker not the strutter, reason why you could turn the looker into a non-gobbling turkey. Hopefully in passing up the strutter you will still have a gobbling bird to hunt the next

Question for you guys that have been at this sport for a longer period of time than I have.  If the strutter (dominant bird) is taken out of a 2-gobbler group, with or without hens, doesn't the sub assume that role?

I have seen a quite property light up in the days following the death of the king. Subordinates figure out he's gone and ramp up their efforts to re establish the pecking order with lots of gobbling and displaying.

As for the question, I'm always looking for spurs and the bigger spurs usually get the goods. Unless a gobbler has an enormous beard that is beyond ordinary, I'm looking at spurs. And yes, I have passed on several candy corn spurred gobblers while hunting for a set of hooks.

[WV Flopper]

A Strutting Tom does not mean he is the Dominate Tom.

It simple means he is eager and displaying for the hens to potentially bread. He is actively promoting hims of to get some turkey action. He can be the dominant Tom. But a strutter does not automatically make him the man.

He is the same as the dressed up boy at the eight grade dance. No more, no less. It's that simple.

[Greg Massey]

During the peak of the breeding cycle, I think all kinds of behavior is to be expected with pecking orders and gobblers being challenged with strutting.. I agree he's trying to attract hens, with displaying and strutting.

They can sure put on a show regardless if dominant or not dominant


Lots of great posts'''

[Sir-diealot]

I have only gotten the one but it was two coming in at the same time and I had to take the shot that put the second one out of danger as they kept crossing one another and I did not want to get a bird while injuring another. If it were a situation where one is better looking to be then I would try to wait until it dropped it's tail. I have turned down shots every years since then though and just shot them with the camera, my body makes them hard to clean and carry out.

[TrackeySauresRex]

I will shoot the first one that gives me a shot. I had 3 come in one morning last spring, 2 were strutting and the  other one was not. The 2 strutters stayed out of range but the other one came in to about 40 yards so I shot him. He had 1 & 7/16" spurs.

Throws the old adage of the strutter being the more dominant bird right out the window doesn't it.  I'll bet the other 2 didn't have 1 7/16" spurs.  Makes us think doesn't it?

This does make ya think... one of my Bests was a looker as well.
Bird in hand as previously stated X-2.
How many times have there been when they wouldn't break strut. I'm definitely no pro... But I've missed them shots before.  The upright bird gets it.. if he's a good one.

[Marc]

How many times have there been when they wouldn't break strut. I'm definitely no pro... But I've missed them shots before.  The upright bird gets it.. if he's a good one.

I have never missed a strutter...  Ones I have shot were all in good range.  Shots I missed were head up, but with only the head and neck visible poking over a knoll or log or such...  I tend to shoot over the top, probably putting the bead on the head instead of holding it at the base of the neck (which I could not see).

Of course in the open, head up is a bit easier shot, but we are still talking about shooting a fairly stationary target on the ground with a shotgun...  Most misses come from taking a poor presentation shot, shooting too far, or being over-excited...  Or not properly patterning the gun and knowing where it shoots with a super tight pattern.

Earlier in my turkey career, I once had a bird strut into very close range, and I clucked, chirped, and yelped to make his head come up...  He strutted into range (15 yards), and then he strutted out, without me firing a shot...  It was ingrained in me not to shoot a strutting bird, but after that experience, I was immediately deprogrammed. 

Head up is a bit easier shot, but moreso for me, I do not want to put pellets in the meat, which is more likely when shooting a strutter....  But if he will not break strut, I have no problem with a shotgun blast doing so (in good range).

[bbcoach]

I would say, if we took a poll, 90% of us have always heard to Shoot the Strutter if 2 or more gobblers show up.  If we are looking for a high scoring bird, then we need to get a GOOD look at beard length, be able to see and judge spur length and be able to judge weight by size.  As I said earlier, most of us see redhead and beard and BOOM.

[Will]

I would shoot the one that provided the best shot opportunity for a clean kill. 

[NEhomer]

I would simply like to have this kind of problem to sort out!

[TrackeySauresRex]

Head up is a bit easier shot, but moreso for me, I do not want to put pellets in the meat, which is more likely when shooting a strutter....  But if he will not break strut, I have no problem with a shotgun blast doing so (in good range).

This is funny... about 10 years ago or so. I missed one for the exact same reason. lol! I didn't want to pepper him up with pellets.