Lone Hens=Trouble

[BigLouie]

The last few days here in central WI, including this am, I've seen more solo hens in the woods and fields. No gobbling this am either. I'm not seeingasmany groups of birds. I'm thinking thismeans many of the Hens are bred and off nesting on their own. Do you think this makes theTom's morevulnerable to calling ordo you think they are less receptive to the calling. Common Sense would tell me that if the Hens are off nesting, it would make it easier to call in those Tom's looking for a little action. But in past years, I feel like it's been the opposite. Tom's being harder to call in as the season goes. I don't think it's related to hunting pressure, cause where I hunt there is little to no other turkey hunters. The morning gobbling seems to get reduced by 50% or more. Can't beleive these birds would get tired of breeding? But who knows. What ways do you change your tactics, if at all, as the season goes on and more and more hens are getting bred?

[bradisthebest]

Believe me this make the toms just that more easy to bring in because he will still be looking to mate and if all the hens are on the nest he will come right to you.

[JW]

What you are seeing is hens...and this period a tom will just strutt more than gobble. The second phase of gobbling will be when you don't see hens as they sit there incubating thier eggs.....

Now aht I look for is hens and will sit that area calling very little.......ususally you can find a Tom who is making the circuit.

I do hope I hit that the 5th season.

or maybe the 6th

JW

[ranchand99]

We don't really start hammering the gobblers until the hens go on the nest.When you first start to see solo hens that's when the hunting is best.Atleast around here.Right nowmost Gobblers don't have any hens roosting near them.They are gobbling on the roost,and waiting until the nearby nesting hens come within sight,and then he will drop right down and join them.Literally landing a few yards from his tree.This is hard for morning hunts,but by 9 or 10 am the hens are back on the nest.Go in mid-day.If you do some cutting and get one to gobble,he'll come in fast.The gobblers are eating more now,trying to get their weights back up.

Another thing I have learned is gobblers change their roosting habits.Around here gobblers roost where the hens want to be.But when the hens are nesting the gobblers go back to their comfort zones,and roost at 2 types of places.Near nesting hens,or places they like to roost.I have found that they like to roost where they do during the winter.Sometimes they may not say a word at daylight,but if their are hens around I gaurantee he is around.Later in the nesting phase when a gobbler doesn't gobble on the roost,he will pitch down.Go to a strut zone,or either make his way to nested hens.He will usually not say anything until he gets to his strut zone,or within 40-50yds of a nested hen.You will hear him gobble 1 or 2 times here...20 minutes later 1 or 2 times 300yds away from the previous spot,and so on.

Here are the best tactics that have worked for me for when you see solo hens.

Find strut marks,or tom tracks near where you see these solo hens,and set up near by.You may want to try one hen decoy.Maybe one Jake.If there have been alot of people using decoys don't use them.

I wouldn't do much locator calling,besides cutting,byut be ready when you do it.

Mid day run-n-gun.10am-2pm.Cutting every 175 yds.

Setting up at dust bowls.Hens will have dust bowls rather close to their nests,and the big boy will be near sometime during the day.

Setting up near food.(fields with bugs/worms/berries..etc.)

Finding strut zones.Places where you hear a gobbler gobbl alot,but he will not leave.You may have to belly crawl in.

Figuring out what paths he likes to take when visiting nested hens.He is not going to come off of his path.You will have to get along it.Go to an area where you have heard him gobble 1 or 2 times near a suspected hen nesting area.Wait until he gobbles right near you then do a few soft clucks,and purrs.Hens don't get over excited to breed at this time,and you shouldn't either.

Almost all the birds that have made it this far have heard alot of calling.Keep it short and sweet.Mostly bigger,older birds are the one's left right now.They will take their sweet time.Just have some patience,try some of my tricks,and do some scouting.I hope this helps.

Also if you know for a fact the hens are nesting,and a cold front comes in be out there.The hens will not leave the nest until later in the morning,and you may hear tom's gobbling like crazy when no hen will respond to him.Good luck!

[old longbeards]

JW's right....there's phases the turkey seasons go in...knight and hale call them transitions...they're the same all across the country but happen at different intervals from north and south to east and west...try going to their website and see if they give examples of this turkey transition guide...a very useful tool for everyone..