Thunder chickens starting early in Virginia
03-16-2012, 07:24 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 47
Thunder chickens starting early in Virginia
Thunder Chickens are already gobbling here in Central Virginia. I think with the mild winter and early spring they are ready to start rocking! Got a new mouth call and Counting down till opening day
April 14th!
April 14th!
03-16-2012, 11:01 AM
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Frederick, Maryland
Posts: 197
Thats awesome! I have a property in Loudon that I can hunt along the Potomac River and I'm going out tomorrow morning before daylight and listen for them. Hope I hear what you've been hearing. Good luck this year!
03-19-2012, 07:37 AM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 47
Thanks guys! Went out scouting yesterday and saw some Toms but no strutting. I hope they don't start too soon! Its supposed to be 80 degrees for the next few weeks!
P.s Ticks are also bad this year. I had Deet on and some still found there way on me.
Good luck everyone this year.
P.s Ticks are also bad this year. I had Deet on and some still found there way on me.
Good luck everyone this year.
03-19-2012, 02:03 PM
#8
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Nelson, WI
Posts: 19
An early start in wisconsin, I believe. Seen 10 toms on neighboring properties this morning, all with hens and strutting, except 3 all by themselves (lonely, hopefully until they fall in love with my hen decoy)! They have been gobbling here for the last week or two, I here them above the house when I am doing chores, but never see them. Acorns are too accessable maybe?
03-19-2012, 02:46 PM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Richmond, Va
Posts: 47
http://www.trmichels.com/PeakTurkeyGobbling.htm
Peak Turkey Gobbling Activity Chart
Some of us like to know when peak turkey gobbling activity occurs in the state we intend to hunt, so we know which dates to choose for hunt dates. There are two normal peaks in gobbling activity, one before peak breeding and one after peak breeding. The problem with predicting the dates of these two gobbling peaks is that unlike the rut of many antlered animals, which occurs at approximately the same time every year due to photoperiod, but may be changed by a major difference in weather conditions earlier that year; turkey breeding time-frames (as in many ground nesting birds) are dependent on photoperiod, and to a great extent on spring weather (meteorology/phenology) conditions. Normal turkey breeding dates may be pushed forward by early warm weather and emergence of forage, or be delayed by later than normal cool weather and lack of forage. Turkeys may also re-nest if their first nesting attempt doesn't produce young due to untimely cold or wet weather; this may result in another gobbling peak.
Peak Turkey Gobbling Activity Chart
Some of us like to know when peak turkey gobbling activity occurs in the state we intend to hunt, so we know which dates to choose for hunt dates. There are two normal peaks in gobbling activity, one before peak breeding and one after peak breeding. The problem with predicting the dates of these two gobbling peaks is that unlike the rut of many antlered animals, which occurs at approximately the same time every year due to photoperiod, but may be changed by a major difference in weather conditions earlier that year; turkey breeding time-frames (as in many ground nesting birds) are dependent on photoperiod, and to a great extent on spring weather (meteorology/phenology) conditions. Normal turkey breeding dates may be pushed forward by early warm weather and emergence of forage, or be delayed by later than normal cool weather and lack of forage. Turkeys may also re-nest if their first nesting attempt doesn't produce young due to untimely cold or wet weather; this may result in another gobbling peak.
Last edited by TurkeySlayer75; 03-19-2012 at 02:47 PM. Reason: add website
