Hey bogobble,

I'm not sure where in the country you're hunting, but I'll give you my take on your question.

I witnessed one of the worst jake beatings I've ever seen last (2001) winter. I was still hunting for deer, and decided to stump-sit overlooking a pasture. A gobbler flock worked in and I started hitting them with soft hen purrs & clucks.

The lead jake, looking probably like a possible 2 year old by the time Spring 2002 rolled in, decided to purr aggressively.

I have never in my life witnessed a faster or harder gobbler beating than that bird took. The 6 adults chased him into submission within 10 minutes, and then started fighting amongst themselves for this elusive "hen".

I went back this last February with the camera and the binocs to see what would be around in May. The fighting purr, in my estimation, will bring in the hens or toms starting in late Fall all the way through the harem-gathering months, up here in the NE that equates to about mid-April.

Go get-em!!!