"Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

For the NY opener we had atleast 7 different gobblers going, heard well over 35 gobbles, thing is, none gobbled after they hit the ground. are they just henned up real bad and not needing to gobble?

We worked one to us, only to have a stupid hen come from the other way and simply take him away, he was at about the 40 yard range, but my partner didnt want to shoot due to the deer defense he had surrounding him. Later in the morning, we busted those two apart, and called him in rather easily, only to have him see us (thought he was farther away, so tried moving closer and wham there he was!)...

Seems like they're just henned up real bad (I also talked to about 10 hens today, and had one fired right up only to have her puttin as she wandered off, they were more vocal on the ground than the gobblers!)....

your ideas?!

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

Sounds like you have a real hen problem!!!
Only thing I could suggest is maybe if you can call the hen to you she might bring Ol Tom with her.
It can be a bad thing when you have TOO MANY turkeys.

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

Try some fighting purrs. They might bring in the dominant hens, and the gobblers may follow.

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

Went back in this am, setup under 100 yards away from the birds, had 4 gobblers and countless hens. Gobblers flew down to the hens, and the fight was started.

Me and my buddy basically cutoff every hen call they threw at us and went louder then them too...we held them there for about an hour after the 1st gobble at 5:10am, then they started wandering off, atleast they gobbled on the ground today.

We also had 2 other gobblers where the one yesterday was roosted, a good 400 yards down a hill, I called one into about 200 yards with our hen fight, but he never showed.

After we left, I went to my friends place solo (was around 930) to find a gobbler sounding off, so i setup quick and started calling with my mouthcall (not the greatest at it), but he responded, coming into view, but not into the field. He wouldn't leave the woods or his Harem of 5-6 Hens and eventually shut right up to the mouthcall. I think i over called it.

I just dont know anymore, 15-20 birds heard in the 1st 2 days this year and I've only seen One Confirmed Gobbler...I think i need to be more patient and study my calls, and the Hens need to LEAVE!

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

sit tight and call periodically...every 15-30 mins or so..just enough to let them know theres a hen still waiting....later in the morning the hens will go nest and leave the gobblers...and the gobblers are supposed to come back to find you.....thats what i always hear....sometimes it works.....sometimes it dont....more and more these days patience is killing turkeys it seems....more hunters.....more turkeys...they dont need to come running to you(though alot still will when they want) and they went into so many setups and busted other hunters...or found no hen and left....etc etc....i been dealing with birds that gobble hard on the roost and not much on the ground the last couple years....its frustrating and tough.....patience and turkey hunting just dont go hand in hand with me...i like hot active gobblers that like to talk......i gota get used to sitting on my butt waiting for something to come in.....and alot seem to come in silent..they seemed to learn that if they gobble the hunters are ready and shoot them....if they come silent they can look for the hen and leave if there isnt one.....i think them turkeys are getting pretty danged smart......thats my theory....and my places i find noone else hunts for whatever reason it seems the birds talk alot...or have hens..

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

I guess i got spoiled last year, having one basically come in off the roost and then another running to my love call...patience seems to be whats needed for victory! (I will admit, I call a little too much)

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

I would also recommend the fighting purr and some hard cutting toupset the hens. Also learn if you canfigure out apattern the hens are making. Which way do they head after they fly down? Sometimes I have to find their pattern and set up on their trail. I've take some big tough toms this way and have never made a call. If they fly down and head for a field, try to sneak in early and set up in between the field and the roost.

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

I agree you will have to call less and wait the Tom's out for coming back Usually they will head back after 10:00,
Or get their pattern down and ambush them.
Good Luck to you and your buddy

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

If the gobblers are really henned up, hunt them like it was the fall. Bust the flock, then try and call them back in.

RE: "Beginner" Gobbling Question!
 

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

Totem, we kinda did that yesterday, we busted up the hen and gobbler duo we saw in the am, and called him right back in.

Tomorrow is another day and another chance :D