Turkey Activity Report 2005

[Hotspotter]

Just like last year, lets get some excitement going. Also, I think this is a good excuse to get out and take a look at some birds. So whenever you see a group of birds, give us the details and help us figure out what's going on. Feel free to list however much you wish. So here goes:

3/25/04

-LOCATION:

339

-TIME:

Sunrise - 6:30AM

-WEATHER:

clear, bright, 30 degrees and sunny

-HABITAT:

stalk-chopped corn stubble (low to ground), on bench below 100ft wooded ridge and pasture

-#/TYPE OF BIRDS:

Over 100, amazing

~25 adult gobblers

~15 jakes

The rest hens

-ACTIVITY:

Hens feeding on pastured hillside with most toms/jakes amongst them in small groups of 3 or 4. Jakes held together, and the toms held together. Group of 7 larger toms together in field below pasture, strutting and taking shots at each other. When hens started moving away, it drove the 7 toms nuts. Lots of gobbling then. Will take their cue in a few days and play hard to get.

Hens were talking it up, gobbling only with hens fighting or calling aggressively. When one gobbled, almost all did, including jakes! Very loud.

The epitome of "flocked/bunched up". Season is in 19 days. Hopefully the warmer weather on the way will disperse them.

Joel

[CornPirateKiller]

I was driving in to work this morning and saw a wierd sight. I was driving along a straight stretch of road, heading East, when I saw movement in the ditch. Suddenly a red head popped up and a big turkey took off running down the shoulder of the road. I slowed up and matched his pace and drove along right beside him. It was a big mature gobbler with a beard that brushed the ground. I drove along right beside him at 20 - 25 mph for almost a half a mile. He just ran down the shoulder, 10 feet away from my truck until we came to a gravel road crossing and he turned and ran off right down the middle of the gravel road. Really strange but cool. Seeing a lot more turkeys now that it's getting warmer and the snow is almost gone. Saw several big flocks last night with toms strutting around the edge. Can't wait to be out chasing those big boys!

[Hugo]

Had 2 Toms, a Jake and 16 hens in the field behind my house on Sunday Morning. One of the Toms was really strutting his stuff. Cool to watch. See them every year butthat's the first I've seen of them this year.

Gonna try for the first time this year in during season E. can't wait.

Dave

[Captain B.R.K]

With the warmer weather, is Season C (April 23-24th--that season) going to be good for some struttin' toms??

[Borch]

Quote:

---

With the warmer weather, is Season C (April 23-24th--that season) going to be good for some struttin' toms??

---

Hard to say. Historicly "C" has been a tough season. It's frequently during the breeding cycle. Lots of breeding, not alot of gobbling, gobblers not as resposive. But a early spring would likely pull it a bit earlier. Sometimes "B" is tough. Last year "D" was tough. Also depends on what part of the state you'll be hunting in. In fact it can vary from one property to the next. So when it comes down to it, any time chasing toms will be a good time to see some strutters.

Anyone seeing the flocks starting to break yet with this warm weather?

Borch

[Hotspotter]

I agree with Borch, for our area too, seasons B, C, and D can be tough ones. You'll see lots of birds, but typically groups of feeding/breeding hens with toms on a string. Jakes are going nuts during this time, and there are always a few gobblers that don't have a girl though. Have several groups of birds and properties to hunt. Find the lonely ones and you'll be rewarded. All it takes is one!

As for flocks breaking up, shoot, wish I had better news. I saw a group of seven gobblers last night out in the open before fly-up, and was pretty excited. I knew the hens couldn't be too far away, but i was hoping they were with only a couple. Well, they were in the woods already, and fly-up lasted from about 6:40-7:05PM. Even if each bird repositioned twice, there were many, many seperate times i heard wings flapping. No gobbling at fly up though, and very little hen calling. Only a few soft yelps and no cackles. I'm guessing there were well over 50 birds, but from my position, i couldn't silhouette them well to get an accurate judgement. But it was just one after another after another. I lost count past 40 something.

Joel

[Terry Hagstrom]

I just built a house in 227 and I have the birds coming through nearly every morning and evening. Toms appear to be along for the walk yet strutting at every chance, trying to get some action. The hens were playing hard to get big time.

My Wife and I were having breakfast the other morning and were watching this unfold. I couldn't help remark that I know how he feels.

I got punched in the shoulder.....

Terry Hagstrom

Terry's Guide Service

www.fishingmn.com/terry

[Nova]

Now that's funny . Just one punch though, you should know better that to say that. Hope your shoulder is better by turkey season.

[Terry Hagstrom]

I'm lucky to have the best wife in the world. She never complains when I have a guide trip or I'm hunting. I'll take that shot any day, she has a good sense of humor.

Terry Hagstrom

Terry's Guide Service

www.fishingmn.com/terry

[CFD200]

I drove 94 and 29 in Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday. The gobblers I saw were by themselves. I saw one flock of hens by themselves.

[WallyGator12000]

Was out yesterday evening and found a group of 6 hens sitting in the middle of the road, while watching them climb the hill on the left side got completely surprised by the two longbeards following them on the right side of the road. It was amazing, the bigger of the two strutted his stuff all puffed out in the middle of the road and then followed right behind the hens, they all roosted together right around sunset. Only problem is they were metro birds (shoreview) so I only get to watch them. Sure was neat to see a mixed flock with a tom strutting though, and not 10 feet from my truck.

[Nova]

Was up near Fergus Falls this weekend. Trying to teach my first time sons how to do it so we went out and did a mach hunt with everything but the guns. Located bird early am, set up above them and put out 3 dekes. 2 hens and one jake. Within 10 minutes we had 2 sets of gobblers just hammering away at us, another 10 minutes and one long beard brokje lose and came to visit us. Got great video and good experience for the boys, but the long beard strutted twice with some drumming, then saw the jake decoy and moved on. Sure was pretty to watch. By the way, I will not be hunting in that area, no one will so I wasn't worried about educating the birds, that's why we go there to practice.

[TomBow]

Many experts advise NOT calling birds before you hunt because you will educate them. The next time you call to them they will be less likely to respond because they didn't see real hens, they saw your decoys. Sitting and watching birds from a distance is good, calling in and decoying birds is bad unless you intend to kill one. 'course I ain't no expert but I always exercise extreme caution when scouting.

Hokay. Activity report: Sat.Apr.2, 5:15 AM to 8:30 AM, Area 338--Birds gobbling until sunrise then Not'in'. 6 AM, 12 Turkeys spotted, 5-6 Gobblers, 3 of them were strutters pushing each other around a bit, and 6 hens. Came into open field to feed and meandered back into woods.

Going to NE tomorrow to get my first bow bird! Maybe 2 if I'm dang lucky! Best of Luck to all.

[quick]

How do you post a picture that I have on my computer that I took (not a URL)?? I have some bird action that I would like to share with everyone.

[lookin4fish]

central minnesota: saw 1 large tom with 6 hens. the tom was struttin a bit, the ladies kept quiet the entire time. this was @ 7:30pm.

[Hotspotter]

Birds in our area have broken up, at least during the daytme hours. In most the of the flocks i'm watching, hens are not traveling too far from the roost area, and the gobblers are breaking off into bachelor groups, pairs, and singles.....ranging out a bit further. I still see them sneaking back to roost with the hens in the few hours before dark.

The massive flocks are no more, at least here, but i'm still seeing groups up to 20-30. This is mostly just after fly-down, and just before fly-up.

Yesterday, I had a lone tom (or so i thought) strutting 40 yards from the deck, then the 3 hens, 2 jakes, and 3 large longbeards he was widh break back for the deeper woods. My brother saw the same group that morning early, about a 1/2 mile from my house, strutting in a hayfield.

Joel

[Borch]

Birds were really vocal this afternoon here in central minnesota. I heard at least 6 different gobblers on two different properties(both public and private) gobbling repeatedly from 2-5pm. Heard at least 60 gobbles during that time. Birds were working oak ridges. Did see two in a field as well.

[NELS-BELLS]

Yesterday morning, I was down near Redwood Falls, MN at about 8:30 and I saw 3 toms by themselves in an alfalfa field, strutting their stuff. I never heard them gobble though. I little further down the road I saw 5 hens feeding in a different field and no males. So I'd say they have broken up and things are starting to get heated up. I wish I was hunting the 1st season.

Nels

[Hotspotter]

Unbelievable morning.....the passing thunder and lightning had birds gobbling outside the window at 5:40AM!!! I had to check my watch twice.

Hens were moving and talking alot, and I heard several gobblers let loose 4, 5, and 6 times in a row. Phenomenal.

3 hens made their way down the driveway, and a lone, small gobbler was strutting in the field nextdoor. He was alone, missing two tailfeathers, probably after getting beat up bad all week. But he was out there strutting away!

For all of you out hunting today, i'm guessing that all over it was one of those magical mornings when it seems like you could use a stick to call in turkeys. Looking forward to seeing more posts/pictures.

Joel

[TomBow]

Sorry to be a hair over due with a report for Last Saturday. Went down south of Belle Plaine again to listen and walk the roads near public land, stayed out of the woods so I wouldn't booger up someones hunt. A few birds gobbling in the area, including 3 that appeared to be heading toward a single gobbler across a hill side. Spoke with a public land hunter as he was headed out and they had not seen a gobbler yet in their season.

I have to wait until the 8th to hunt and am wishing to find a magic wand that we'll leave the birds in their current state of mind, wishful thinking. Best of Luck to all.