Turkey Behavior Question
 

Tonight I went to try to locate some turkeys for the opener next weekend. Any way I found some on the land I can hunt.

I watched 5 toms jump in the air, chase one another flap their wings and jump around with one another. This went on for about 2 hours. I have seen a little of these actions before but nothing like this. So what were they doing and is it some kind of ritual this time of year. These birds had beards from 8 to 11 inches long and they had 7 hens with them. Hens were feeding and roaming around while these boys were goofing around. Lol

They were establishing dominance for the upcoming breeding.

I have seen that often but normally that is what the trailing jakes do to establish their dominance. Their spurs are nothing but nubs and can't do any harm. A longbeard with 1" or better spurs would be ripping each other up so I can't imagine that would go on all that long. Having that many "swingers" on the land you can hunt is a great sign you will have a good time.

Interesting and thought it is a ritual of who might be boss. Yes these birds had 8 inch plus beards and were making a heck of a racket darning this behavior. There was one jake with a 2 or 3 inch beard and he was off to the side and watched what was going on. He didn't get involved and was chased a few times.

Sounds like you should have some fun when season opens!
-Jake

It is the dominance ritual going on. In my area there are usually more jakes who hang together and are always there off to the side doing their own dance. It doesn't take long for the long beard boss to be "nominated". Sounds like the age class where you are is older. We usually have a ton of birds here on the Island. Starting last year there weren't that many and there are way less than half the turkey as normal. Not sure what is going on whether it is predators or disease.

We have the same issue here. The heavy winter kill we had from the winter before is the reason for us with over 100 inches of light fluffy snow. I am expecting to be seeing more jakes this year from last springs hatch. But not sure if the hawks and the like may have taken more young birds or not yet..

I have seen this and at times a group of jakes will chase off the older birds once they start breeding.. One never really knows for sure what will happen during times like these. I also have seen hens doing the very same thing but have no idea why..

We had a fairly mild winter with little snow. Last year was not a bad one either. The problem might be from a wet spring which can be bad for the nesting and chick survival. I usually hear gobbling from the roost when I go to get my paper out on the road at 5am. Haven't heard one yet this year. Only a few flocks around so I think it will be a hard year once the season starts.

Till last night I hadn't seen or heard a turkey where I hunt. It was the same thing last year didn't see a track or sound till opening morning and then there they were. We have had 2 great winters and things are looking fairly good for all wildlife. We had 3 very hard winters in a row and it showed and was hard on wildlife in general.