Is it possible to create.....
 

quiet populations of wild turkeys?I'm talking in terms of being vocal!The NWTF says no,but I disagree.How about you?WHY???

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

It's instinct that makes them gobble, genetics, etc. The gobbler gobbles to attract hens during the various mating seasons. You always hear that Myth that all the vocal toms will be harvested out of the populations, but each and every single year those familiar sounds echo through the woods!!
Personally, I feel that calling to the birds before the actual season is in, hurts you more than helps you. All your doing is educating the gobblers to comming in silent and being much more warry. I don't think it's possible to have silent toms, just my opinion. Great question Bob!!!;)

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

I believe that all Gobblers gobble some time or another. I do believe that they can become silent do to presure/calling. I have also shot gobblers that just appeared out of no where and not a sound from them whats so ever. Another thing that I have a "my own view point on" is that silent birds tend to use the Spit-and-Drum call to attract near by hens. If they didn't have this sound for a perpous then they would not do it. Quote by Adrian J Hare, Canadian Turkey Hunter of the 90's ;)...BT

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

Bob,I agree with Paul.I've seen days where the birds were dead silent in an area and five miles away they were gobblin their heads off.Twenty-four hours later the dead area was ringin with gobbles and the area that was loud the day before was quiet.My feelin is if they're gonna gobble they're gonna gobble and if not they won't:)

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

Agree with all posts.
I also have hunted areas where a local factory loaded with hunters who would either hunt before work or drive by this farm every morning.
The birds ran if a car slowed down.

Come mid morning around 9AM they would get cranked up and start gobbling.

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

I'm with Adrian and Paul on this one ;) especially the spit-n-drum part.

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

I would also agree with all posts. Even the oldest, biggest tom will gobble but I think that it would take many years down the road to say that the gobbles are learning to be less vocal as I'm not seeing it. I've seen some birds in Wisconsin that were huge (27 lb or better range) that looked like flying tanks. They would gobble on the roost but would never come to call no matter what I tried. Those are the ones that never die by gunshot.

RE: Is it possible to create.....
 

Good posts by all,and no doubt come spring when ole gobbler starts to feel good all over in most areas of the U.S I do believe he's gonna rattle the woods.But with that said I still believe there are birds who over an extended period of time have developed ways of communicating with each other and rely on those means rather than becoming a target and letting there presence be known to every creature around.I'll give ya a couple of things to chew on in this regard (IMHO)!!I've been fortunate to hunt these birds for quite sometime now and have most definately observed subtle changes in behaviour on this particular subject over the years.I do believe quieter birds are area specific relevant to two particular subjects that keep coming up as I've talked to many old time hunters around these parts and my own general perceptions afield!#1 is predators have a significant role in just how much attention a bird wants to draw to himself.Coyotes,bobcats,and even Mt lion around these parts have definately learned what that sound is and in most cases vocal turkeys mean dinner is on the menu!Its no coincidence that every year now we call in coyotes,bobcat,and lion using a turkey call they no what it is.And lets face it man is a player in this as well.With the ever increasing popularity of potential hunters hitting the woods ever since the video craze hit hunters are at all time highs chasing gobbles, and no question its those vocal birds that are the main target.High pressure zone birds just dont start lighting the morning up with gobbles(they may early in the season)but as the season progresses those gobbles become less why because those vocal birds either get chased off,killed,or spooked silent.... bottomline is its the silent that learn to survive...#2 is the birds themselves...With the great adaptability that the wild turkey possesses being able to survive in most climates and terrains coupled with the fact you have many agencys devoted to managing the survival of this great bird, we now have populations of birds across the US at all time highs and birds being introduced back into areas where they once thrived and now are.With this in mind and considering the fact # 1 plays a role here,we end up with gobbler to hen ratio's that are way out of wack.We have boss gobblers in some areas around these parts and I've seen it in other areas of the US that have harems of hens from the beginning of the spring breeding season to the end.For many of us who understand the behaviour of these boss birds know they just dont say much as long as there harem stays in tact through the course of the season because one they dont need too and two they dont want draw attention to themselves from rival males.And theres no doubt in my mind these boss birds have an effect on the gobbling activity of those birds in his area,we know them as "satellite toms"!Now with said I'm not saying these birds dont communicate with one another because obviously they do or else how would a boss tom gather a harem of hens and even in high pressure zones we still have birds flocked up!These quieter birds do communicate one with another not neccassarily vocally but by keying in on movement sounds and body language.Just as we can give hand signals that mean something turkeys learn to understand that things like scratching,walking,wing beats,a gobbler dragging his wing tips on the ground,and even preening mean something,and many of these movements portray the same meaning as if they would have done it vocally.We all know its been a longtime tip to scratch in the leaves to a hung-up tom,we have the wing flapper,I've had many a hunter tell me the bird responded to his own steps,and we even have the spit-n-drum call.Yes I most definately believe there are birds who maintain a quiet lifestyle and in doing so will survive.And to the birds credit this is just another adaptive trait that keeps the wild turkey as one of the greatest wildlife management success stories ever...:)Bob