in the fall and winter its not uncommon to find no longbeards in the flocks. longbeards tend to hang out together...just like bucks do in the summer. form "bachelor groups"...the young of the year and hens tend to flock up..and the longbeards in another flock. they could be in the same area...might not be. thats why i usually settle for a nice hen in the fall. the turkey populations in the small woodlots around here are pretty large..me taking a hen doesnt hurt them anymore then a car nailing them..which happens pretty often here.