HuntingNet.com Forums - Gathering gobbling data....

Thought this was an interesting article if you haven' t read up on it yet!This would provide some real proofs to what really effects gobbling patterns....
NWTF Learning What Makes Turkeys Vocal
Turkey hunters depend on the distinctive gobble that is the male wild turkey' s mating call to find and hunt " tom" turkeys (males) in the spring. New research sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation is helping determine what factors cause these birds to sound off, knowledge that will help turkey hunters better understand their quarry.

Biologist Gary Norman studies wild turkeys for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

" Tom turkeys gobble in the spring as part of their mating ritual, but we are unsure of the daily factors that affect why and how much a turkey gobbles," Norman said. " We are working on a microchip that will help us learn what makes turkeys gobble one day and stay quiet the next."

The microchip is located in a radio transmitter hung around the male turkey' s neck and measures the side to side and up and down movements made by the bird' s head. Researchers believe they can use the chip to recognize patterns of these movements that occur when the turkey gobbles.

The data gathered by the microchip will include the day, time and number of gobbles vocalized. Researchers will compare this data to weather records and information gathered from turkey hunters in order to determine how weather, hunting pressure and other factors influence how often a turkey gobbles. In addition to helping hunters more effectively find birds, this information will help wildlife managers better regulate spring turkey seasons.

According to Tom Hughes, NWTF biologist in charge of research projects, the NWTF has contributed $8,000 to the microchip project.

" The opportunity that this technology offers could revolutionize wild turkey management," said Hughes. " This will provide great insights into gobbling behavior, which will help us determine how to set and manage turkey seasons for the enjoyment of the hunter."

Norman hopes to release wild turkeys wearing radio transmitters with microchips attached in late 2004.