2020 Virginia Gobbling

[mtns2hunt]

It's early but its also a very mild winter with hardly any snow and the saps starting to rise. Seen eight Jakes in a group and two nice Gobblers but there was no gobbling. Any one else?

[trkehunr93]

I got a pic of a jake with 4-5" beard on a trail cam a couple of weeks back, by himself and he was moving thru pretty quick.  I'll start my routine of early rising next weekend. 

[skimerhorn]

Went out this morning and didnt hear anything

[ahfox16]

Think things are starting to happen in Va.   Had pictures of 5 Jakes and 2 LB's travelling together 1 week ago on a few trail cams.  No hens with them.  Now the Jakes are by themselves, and the LB's have left.  I'm sure the 2 LB's have found the hens and are with them.  No hens on the trailcams and hence I think they are on another farm.  Anyway, its starting to happen.

[tlh2865]

Went out in central Va this morning, didn't hear any birds. Cameras show longbeards moving with hens @ all hours of the day last week.

[mtns2hunt]

Been out last couple days but did not hear anything and nothing on trail cameras except deer and one bobcat. Hunted cats hard this winter but had no luck. I think some of the Neighbors have feeders out.

[trkehunr93]

Felt like I was at a turkey farm this morning, heard 5-6 different birds, one was def. a jake but still nice to hear, gobbled off and on from 7:04-7:30. 

[Brwndg]

 Last week saw about 7 or 8 hens in a field about 40 yds from the road near my house in northern Loudoun County. Following them were two long beards. Had a diaphragm call in the car so popped it in and gave a few yelps. They immediately went into full strut and when I called again their necks shot out and the gave me a simultaneous gobble.

About 15 mins later driving down the Rte 7 just after the Rte 9 exit, saw a Strutter w a hen in a nearby field.

It's starting and I'm Loving it!

[skimerhorn]

Didnt hear any gobbles but saw a strutter down the road

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[trkehunr93]

They were lit up Saturday morning, heard 4.  Heard three this morning (Sunday) gobbled a few times but not until after 7:15am. 


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[Brwndg]

Second morning this week I've seen this flock of hens. First time they didn't have any Toms w them. Today there were two LBs following 16 hens. Wouldn't gobble to my calls, but were in constant strut.

[mtns2hunt]

I am seeing plenty of scratching but no Gobbling so far.

[trkehunr93]

Saturday morning heard two, one was a jake.  They gobbled a few times on the roost between 6:50-7:05am. 

This morning got to my spot a few minutes late but was met with one gobbling his head off as I was getting my jacket on.  He gobbled a lot between 6:45-7:10am.  Walked further down the road and spotted two strutting across the river in a clear cut.  Found some scratching on the logging road that wasn't there last Saturday. 


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[skimerhorn]

Heard one gobble twice right about 7

[Brwndg]

Went out to see where the birds I saw in field the other day were roosting. Well, I found out.  Right next to where they were in the field!


Treeline next to field where birds spotted earlier this week. Roosted gobblers replied to owl hoot, but nothing on ground


Close up of roosted gobblers


Birds flew down ~200 yds right in front of me. Brought zoom lens w me this morning