RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

Usually, if I have more than 1 tag to fill, I will kill the one who isn't the strutter or the one gobbling the least.
Reason being, that the one gobbling is one you may likely call in again.
If you leave one of the closed mouth ones, chances are shooting his partner isn't going to persuade him tostart gobbling anytime soon.
And may shut him up even more for the rest of the season.

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

I try to find the bird that looks the biggest and has a long beard, but if I can't get a shot at that one, I go for a different one

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

I will take the firstLongbeard that offers a shot and be very happy!!!:D

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

Yepper, what I have been talking about! When the shot is there, take it, how many times do you see on video, or yourself, if you would have taken the shot presented you would be carrying one out, yet you waited, and walk out with just your gun over your shoulder! [8D]

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

I will take the one that offers the best shot if you happen to kill the dominant bird i believe the subordinant birds become more vocal what does everyone think?

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

Yepper think you are right, wont take the rest long to figure out the big guy is down! [8D]See it on the videos where they run up and kick the dominanat when he is down! :D[8D]

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

Exactly thats why I like to shoot the strutter ifI can!Get him out of the way and in alot of cases these other birds will begin to open upcreating a good hunting opportunity!;)

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

Where I hunt, the birds get a lot of pressure, so in my experience, I've found that the older birds tend to be the last in line. Obviously, it's not that way all the time, and every scenario is different, but I really do believe that you can read their body language to see which bird is the old resident. There are old birds that will walk away from a hen once he decides that she's not receptive to breeding. Meanwhile, many youngsters will dog them.

If you can see them with their strut let down, you can accurately compare body size/height. Obviously, you want a bird with a good beard too.

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

i would have to pick the one that is gobbling the most and struting the most

RE: which tom do you shoot?
 

the dominant one