Can you make him gobble before sunrise?

[Flounder]

Thanks a lot.Been hunting these things for 20 years and never had the opportunity or resources to find other opinions,until I found you guys..and had the nerve to ask.
I'll now go after him on his terms, but their will be two of us!

[SteelerFan]

Gobblers have an uncanny ability to synchronize with each other and decide if and when they'll gobble on the roost. One morning the valley is booming...the next? Nothing! don't tell me they ALL "henned up" at the same time! LOL

That said, I agree with the others - preferable for them to go on their own. Some will gobble when you can still see stars. If I want or feel the need to attempt to elicit a gobble, I'll go standard barred owl. Usually reserve that for my "decision" properties - the ones where you need to decide which way to commit to walking - north, south, etc. I might try the owl hoot then, and commit to the "hot hand".

[tomstopper]

How do you make him gobble 5 minutes early?

I don't even try.   I'm in it for the long haul.  5-10 minutes ain't going to make a difference to me at all.    I learned a long time ago he's going to be easier to kill on his terms than mine.

^^^This

[Bowguy]

Roost em the night before n you don't need em to gobble so you know they're there

[mgm1955]

How do you make him gobble 5 minutes early?

I don't even try.   I'm in it for the long haul.  5-10 minutes ain't going to make a difference to me at all.    I learned a long time ago he's going to be easier to kill on his terms than mine.

[Turkeyman11]

If I'm unable to roost a gobbler the evening before in Merriams country, I will head out a good hour before daylight coyote howling from good listening points.  Doesn't always work, but it's happened enough that I'm not afraid to try it.

[Gooserbat]

I've seen Rios that would gobble all night long. 

[GobbleNut]

Yes, indeed, you can make them gobble before sunrise.  I have yet to hunt anywhere that I could not.

[Double B]

I would tend to agree but do you think owling in early low light conditions hurts at all?  I've wondered at times when I've owled if I shut them up more sometimes.   They gobble when they want but are susceptible early in the season in my opinion.     

[silvestris]

Cause and effect.  If they become conditioned to disturbance following their gobbling at owls, they will cease gobbling at owls.  You will quit talking to Mary Lou after Billy Bob has whipped your butt a time or two for doing so.

[trad bow]

I hunt national forest land here in Ga. If a bird gobbles in the early season you will have several people hone in on him. So I wait them out early season but later on in the season I will try to get one to gobble.

[guesswho]

I'm better at making them stop gobbling than I am making them gobble.

[hotspur]

Yes, and I can make them gobble in the dark, even on clear creek wma. Sometimes there is a truck parked where you've scouted and you need to move on, I have made them gobble back in the dark.(secret)

[brittman]

Crazy morning or fairly quiet morning, I do what many above have already stated.  I let them start on their own and usually don't call until they are down

... UNLESS I am in a woodlot where I hear no nearby gobbling at all.  Strategy then is to let that tree hugger know there is another hen nearby, when it is time for his mid-morning walk about.

[WNCTracker]

How do you make him gobble 5 minutes early?

I don't even try.   I'm in it for the long haul.  5-10 minutes ain't going to make a difference to me at all.    I learned a long time ago he's going to be easier to kill on his terms than mine.

The less noises I have to make the better I feel that I won't get made.