Can you call in turkey hens?
One of turkey hunting’s biggest draws is carrying on a conversation with a gobbler or old boss hen. Sure, you can call to all types of game, but turkey hunting is unique in that you can have a call-and-answer, one-on-one dialogue with a wild bird.
Do hens get gobblers?
Hunt later: You’ll always get birds to gobble from the roost, but if you’re trying to target these late-season toms, you can sleep in. Typically the hens and gobblers will still be flocked up as they come off the roost, but before long the hens will depart to sit on their eggs.
Do Gobblers stay with hens?
Mature gobblers do not roost with the hens and younger birds, but they will roost nearby to keep tabs on the group.
How often should you call a wild turkey?
But don’t call too often – less is more. Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations.
Why does a gobbler walk on a hens back?
A male turkey gobbles for one reason and one reason only: to attract as many receptive hens to his position as possible. Period. This one fact needs to be remembered foremost when hunting turkeys.
What time do turkey calls start?
They respond to calling any time of day but they come to the calling better in the morning at first light. Another good time is between 9:30-11:30am when the gobbler(s) leave the tended hens and seek out other ones. I have had good luck at this time of day by simply giving an occasional yelp or content purr.
Do tom turkeys roost with hens?
Gobblers love to roost within 50 to 200 yards of hens. If a turkey hears you yelping and cutting late in the day, he might come in to roost in the area. Better yet, he might run over to check out the hen before he flies up.
Why does a gobbler walk on a hens back before mating?
A male turkey gobbles for one reason and one reason only: to attract as many receptive hens to his position as possible. Period. This one fact needs to be remembered foremost when hunting turkeys. We as turkey hunters try to attract gobblers to our position with replicated hen vocals.
How many times will a Tom breed a hen?
No, the hen only needs to breed once in order to fertilize all her eggs. Hens typically lay one egg per day over a two-week period with two or three days during that time when she does not lay an egg.
How far will a turkey travel to a call?
600-800 yards
Whether you are using a mouth call or a friction call, you should use a cutting call and try to sound more aggressive. Turkey hunters should want that sound to travel as far as possible, potentially as far as 600-800 yards. The third most important call to master is the cluck and purr.
Why would a wild female turkey be by itself?
Eggs of wild turkeys are particularly more vulnerable to predators compared to other birds. Predators don’t only consume turkey eggs, but they also kill and eat the neonates after they are hatched. Therefore, mother hens separate themselves and actively search spots to ensure the safety of their babies.
Do turkeys roost in the same tree every night?
In areas with few suitable roost trees — parts of Texas, Oklahoma and the Dakotas, for example — turkeys predictably use the same roost trees day after day for generations. Unless you spooked your turkeys by the roost site that morning, they probably just chose — for whatever reason — to roost elsewhere that night.
How far can a turkey see?
He has an approximate visual field of 270 degrees around him, substantial compared to Bob’s measly 180 degrees. Put that together with Tom Turkey’s uncanny ability to rotate his neck completely around and he can spot the Bobs of the world coming a mile away, 360 degrees around him, with a simple twist of his head.
Do wild turkeys sleep at the same place every night?
That said, once you find a good roost site, it’s generally used on a frequent basis, even if it’s by different turkeys. For hunting purposes, in spring, turkeys do commonly fixate on their favorite roost trees and spend nights in these more often than others.
Why does a male turkey walk on a hens back?
It is actually the hen that initiates the actual breeding act. She will seductively wiggle her tail in front of the old boy and then lay down on her tummy. That’s when the gobbler approaches from the back, climbs on her and initiates breeding.
What is the mating ritual of wild turkeys?
The mating ritual of wild turkeys is an interesting dance. Certainly it begins with the gobbler displaying for hens. Out of the mix a receptive hen will parade close to her suitor. She will circle him, get his attention and once he becomes interested the two become locked in a beautiful ballet.
Do wild turkeys mate with siblings?
Members of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) flocks are often siblings. The males are usually brothers and though only one male, the dominant brother, gets to mate with the ladies the brothers work together to protect their territory.
Will a turkey come back if spooked?
So, after he thinks you’re gone, and he hears a hen softly calling, there’s a very good chance he may come back in that direction. Remember — the gobbler has a limited number of days to breed. How fast a gobbler returns will vary, but he’ll take chances then that he won’t take if this isn’t breeding season.
What does a lone turkey hen mean?
Your lone turkey could be one of those guys. The bachelor toms will eventually be welcomed back by the females and their broods, once the mating season is over. It might also be a younger turkey that has become separated from its flock and is calling out to its mother and friends.
Do turkey hens nest alone?
The hen doesn’t incubate the eggs (sitting on them to keep them warm) until she’s laid them all. Hens travel in a females-only flock, but they become more solitary and secretive in May when it comes to nesting. She’ll hang out with the flock and feed until she needs to lay an egg.
How far do turkeys travel from roost?
“We have had some other birds that have taken longer trips. Two gobblers went about 20-miles. In general, jakes seem to move the farthest. Hens do as well and we’ve had several 12- to 15-mile treks.”
What time do turkeys come down from roost?
In my view, the best times of the day are right off the roost, then again from about 8:30 to 9:30 when more hens start to leave the gobbler to go lay an egg, and again from about 11 until noon. It’s somewhat obvious why gobblers respond off the roost; it’s a new day and they’re not necessarily with hens yet.
Do turkeys have memory?
Turkeys have short term memory loss, and they also suffer from short term memory loss.
Can turkeys smell human scent?
When they do, turkeys can hear and understand that the alarm sounds of other animals means there’s danger in the woods. You may be set-up and working a turkey when a deer comes in downwind of you and starts blowing and stomping, because he smells human odor.
What kind of trees do wild turkeys roost in?
Turkeys also prefer pine trees to any other types of trees. They offer cover year round and often a clean forest floor to take off and land on. A single pine tree will do the trick if it is big enough, but clusters of them are best.