Toms Fanning Out Now?

[JIvers]

I hope this isn't too dumb a question that takes up space here...

I was driving up to SE Minnesota from SE Iowa today, and not surprisingly saw lots of turkeys out in picked bean and corn fields eating.

In one place I saw a tom in full fan, running around in the middle of a flock of turkeys and generally acting agitated. These turkeys were tightly grouped, and from what I could tell the other ten or so were interested only in eating.

I have hunted turkeys a few times in the past when I had the time to prepare, so I know a little about them, but not much. In this case, I am guessing the tom fanned out and acting aggressive was just flexing his muscle and showing who was boss, maybe due to competition for food at a time of year when it is not easy to come by.

I assume toms do this when they feel it necessary to strut their stuff any time of year, and not just during the spring mating season. I ask because I have never actaully seen a wild turkey fanned out this time of year (or any time outside of March through May) before.

[goblueM]

they do that quite frequently... like you said, its a territorial/pecking order kind of thing

[MJ1657]

Keep those so called "dumb" questions coming in. I thought that was an interesting question eyehunter.

I'm new to this turkey hunting deal and enjoy reading anything that all of you guys post here.

[DonBo]

I think for someone who claims to know very little about turkeys, you've pretty much got 'em pegged.

[Hoyt4]

Seen a bird in the metro yesterday strutting for the ladies. Couple Jakes near but mainly hens. He was showing who's boss and just like any guy ready for the ladies. They just were not ready for him. Big old paint brush on him.

Cannot wait for the end of March to start hunting.

[Shoot2Kill]

I had to stop the other day going down the road and get the binos out because I saw a tom all fanned out across a field last week when it was 55 degrees out....sure enough....big ol' strutter all by his lonesome from what I could tell. His ladies were probably somewhere close by but I just couldn't see them. A few weeks from now and the toms will start breaking the morning silence with that sound we all love!

[mrklean]

get my blood really pumping thinking its only a month till i head to kansas

[Musky Buck]

Yep, each morning, group of 30ish, half a dozen toms strutting, they seem to vanish before dark but are in the same spot every morning, I like the juvenile toms that are acting like the cats meow.

[Cooter]

They are flocked up around here but last Fri after the warm weather I saw one struttin and like said was showing he was the boss. Unreal they can make it through a winter like this. They have been spreading manure around here most of the winter so they should come through ok - dont know if I'll hunt them out the back door come May or go to the old spots......

[bluehat28]

Cooter I help you with the over crowding near Brackett on season D. I am glad some made it thru as it had to be tuff for them. Keep up the reports thanks. blue

[Cooter]

Hey bud, I have relatives and friends around there - both on HH and N Martin, if those ring a bell. They all hunt birds so i go elsewhere, but good luck and give a report! Some dandy bucks in that area...or so I'm told I might have been in the Brackett bar once Usually stop at Cleghorn Keg after hunting in Eleva.