What To Expect?

[guesswho]

I've heard that the meanest gobblers get the best spots.  So if you kill a boss gobbler in his perceived spot this year, will the new boss claim that spot as his next year?  Or could there be a a sub dominant claim it?  Or does the boss get all the spots and the sub's just trespass?     

[Spring_Woods]

How do you know said tom turkey was the boss?

[BOFF]

That's just a rumor.


It's actually the hen who tells the gobbler where to roost, how high to fly, and where to eat.


She is known to change her mind quite frequently, which sometimes drives the gobblers into being funny.


Now if your refering about those funny gobblers, you could be on to something.








God Bless,
David B.

[guesswho]

How do you know said tom turkey was the boss?

I personally watched him whip three longbeards at the same time in front of several hens and jakes in late February.  The last I saw of those three lb's that day they were kicking up dust getting out of Dodge.  After that the closest I heard or saw another gobbler in that spot was roughly 300 yards even though the spot was covered up with hens.    Then when I lucked up and killed said tom he was a light weight but sported 1 3/8" needles on each leg.  So for me to say he's the boss would just be a wild guess on my part.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Ronnie, the offseason doldrums are pelting you already??

I was looking forward to these exercises but not this soon!

In my mind, desirable habitat is desirable habitat.  Sometimes a particular animal's personal preferences will lead them to obscure locations but most of the time, the best areas draw the most hens which subsequently creates competition amongst the males with the "dominant" bird securing the right to reside there.

I'm probably not qualified enough to comment, though !

[guesswho]

the best areas draw the most hens which subsequently creates competition amongst the males with the "dominant" bird securing the right to reside there

Makes sense to me, and kinda what I was wanting to hear.

[Spring_Woods]

How do you know said tom turkey was the boss?

I personally watched him whip three longbeards at the same time in front of several hens and jakes in late February.  The last I saw of those three lb's that day they were kicking up dust getting out of Dodge.  After that the closest I heard or saw another gobbler in that spot was roughly 300 yards even though the spot was covered up with hens.    Then when I lucked up and killed said tom he was a light weight but sported 1 3/8" needles on each leg.  So for me to say he's the boss would just be a wild guess on my part.

That seems pretty conclusive to me.

[Old Gobbler]

The best habitat for a gobbler seems to be standing on the back of hen -

[mossy835]

You will just have to back there and observe (not shoot) and report back to us at the end of next season so we have proof positive from you that he was replaced by a new boss gobbler. That will answer your question I am sure.

[turkey_slayer]

Ronnie, the offseason doldrums are pelting you already??

I was looking forward to these exercises but not this soon!

In my mind, desirable habitat is desirable habitat.  Sometimes a particular animal's personal preferences will lead them to obscure locations but most of the time, the best areas draw the most hens which subsequently creates competition amongst the males with the "dominant" bird securing the right to reside there.

I'm probably not qualified enough to comment, though !

Yep I agree. He will be the one with the most hens and the most hens will be in the best habitat for the area. Every year I find a bird with a bunch of hens and try to kill him later on. I will say I was greatly disappointed one time after calling a gobbler away from 19 hens and he was just a one incher, lightweight, and thin beard. Figured that sucker had one dragging the ground and 2" spurs