The Hunting Beast

What a beautiful sight it is to catch a glimpse of a fanned out Tom strutting around a bunch of hens in a field as you pass on the road. The last few days have shown numerous encounters, and yesterday while shed hunting I cam accross a pair of Tom's strutting around a half dozen hens. Awesome encounter as they were no more than 15 yards away (I was in an "urban" environment). Blood is pumping and I just can't wait for April 21st!!

Just went to the print shop to pick up an assignment for work and as I pull back in the parking lot at work, what do I see?? I big Tom with at least a 9 inch beard (thick) walking along the fence. . . As if I wasn't having a hard time waiting for my season the way it is!

A little over a month away lol. Im getting the itch already also!!! sucks

April 20 is the peak of what???

Spysar wrote:April 20 is the peak of what???

I guess peak strutting in WI?

Our turkeys are wacked...they strut all winter

They gobble all year long also, if people didn't know that. I have an area I go to that I can hit my coyote howl and 7-8 toms in the valley will sound off. I also hear them gobbling in the fall once in a while by themselves.

Good point Casper, a yotes howl often gets them to gobble when nothing else will. What kind of howler do you use? I've tried a couple different ones but neither has worked worth a damn...

Been watching them strut for a couple of weeks already. Sure gets a person anxious!

Spysar wrote:April 20 is the peak of what???

Spysar, April 20th is around the peak time for turkey mating in Wisconsin. Like a Wisco bowhunter looks at the first week of November, or November 4th - 12th as peak rut times due to photoperiodism. . . April 20th is recognized as the peak of the "turkey rut" to be simplistic. Doesn't mean their not strutting and gobbling before or after of course, it just means thats prime time baby! So if you're thinking about applying for a Wisco Turkey Tag next spring, consider that as your first time choice.

Sam Ubl wrote:

Spysar wrote:April 20 is the peak of what???

Spysar, April 20th is around the peak time for turkey mating in Wisconsin. Like a Wisco bowhunter looks at the first week of November, or November 4th - 12th as peak rut times due to photoperiodism. . . April 20th is recognized as the peak of the "turkey rut" to be simplistic. Doesn't mean their not strutting and gobbling before or after of course, it just means thats prime time baby! So if you're thinking about applying for a Wisco Turkey Tag next spring, consider that as your first time choice.

I don't live or hunt in Wisconsin, so I don't know. But where did you get this info from? Just curious.

Casper wrote:They gobble all year long also, if people didn't know that. I have an area I go to that I can hit my coyote howl and 7-8 toms in the valley will sound off. I also hear them gobbling in the fall once in a while by themselves.

Not in NY. But I have observed this in mid west states. Once in a blue moon will you hear one gobble in the fall in NY, but I hear them almost every day in the fall in the mid west.

PredatorTC wrote:Our turkeys are wacked...they strut all winter

Turkey's also strut when they are less than a week old.

Spysar wrote:

Sam Ubl wrote:

Spysar wrote:April 20 is the peak of what???

Spysar, April 20th is around the peak time for turkey mating in Wisconsin. Like a Wisco bowhunter looks at the first week of November, or November 4th - 12th as peak rut times due to photoperiodism. . . April 20th is recognized as the peak of the "turkey rut" to be simplistic. Doesn't mean their not strutting and gobbling before or after of course, it just means thats prime time baby! So if you're thinking about applying for a Wisco Turkey Tag next spring, consider that as your first time choice.

I don't live or hunt in Wisconsin, so I don't know. But where did you get this info from? Just curious.

Experience dude. . .

3dog wrote:Good point Casper, a yotes howl often gets them to gobble when nothing else will. What kind of howler do you use? I've tried a couple different ones but neither has worked worth a damn...

I use the Primos Hot Dog.