It’s called shock gobbling, they’ll do it at any loud noise. It’s pretty much them responding to any noise they hear hoping that it’s a hen as an attempt to assert dominance. Crows and coyotes do something similar.
Why do turkeys gobble back to you?
The most likely reason you hear turkeys gobble is that it’s the mating season. Turkeys can start breeding as early as February in the southern states and in April or May in northern regions. Only males gobble, and they do it to attract females.
What do turkey gobbles mean?
Only male turkeys, or toms, can gobble, and they mostly do it in the spring and fall. It is a mating call and attracts the hens. Wild turkeys gobble at loud sounds and when they settle in for the night.
Do male turkeys gobble?
Male turkeys are called “gobblers” because of their famous call, which is their version of a rooster’s crow. It’s a loud, shrill, descending, throaty jumble of sound that lasts about 1 second. Males often gobble from their treetop roosts, where the sound carries better than on the ground.
What turkeys gobble the most?
I’ve found later in the season, as birds break up due to breeding and hunting pressure, that a tom or two will stay around to guard a few hens in a small-acre property. Eastern birds have the loudest gobble of all subspecies, and on a clear, calm morning, the woods will boom.
Why do gobblers go silent?
In short, the theory goes, we have killed the noisier, more eager toms, leaving the craftier, quieter ones to pass on their genes. That theory sounds good around the campfire, but there is no real evidence or studies to support it, says Ken Duren, wild turkey biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
What do you say in a turkey mouth call?
“Chick,” “chirp,” “chop” and “chalk” are some options, with “ch” as the common sound. Some say “shuck” or “shock” or “shick.” Others say “chee-uck” when making the yelp. Whichever way you go, call with snapping, beak-like lips, just like a turkey. To practice, choose a single word: “shock.” Break it: sh-ock.
What do you do when you hear a turkey gobble?
If you hear a turkey gobble or fly up, you know where to hunt the next morning. Slip into the area well before first light, set up 100 to 150 yards away from a turkey’s roost and wait for tom to roar. Then give him your best calling.
What to do when you get turkey to gobble?
Get Him Into Range
If the turkey starts gobbling but won’t come into gun range, make sure the turkey is far enough away from you that he can’t see you. Move closer to the turkey but off to the side of where you’ve heard the turkey gobbling. Take a stand, let the woods become silent and start soft calling again.
Do turkeys sleep standing up?
Turkeys in the wild sleep in trees at night, while domesticated ones sleep in brooders. Turkeys sleep by tucking their head around their neck and hiding it under their feathers. This mode of sleeping often makes people wonder if they are dead.
Can a female turkey gobble?
Only males gobble
There’s a reason that male turkeys are called “gobblers” — they’re the only ones that make that noise! Each gobbler has a unique call that he uses to attract females during breeding season. Female turkeys also make distinct noises, but they sound more like chirps and clucks.
What time of day do turkeys start gobbling?
Sunrise to Two Hours After Sunrise. A gobbler will start the day gobbling on the roost, often strutting on the limb, to demonstrate his dominance to other males and to attract hens. After flydown, the gobbler will often go to a predetermined strut zone to gobble and strut.
What month do turkeys start gobbling?
April
The data shows peak gobbling usually falls during the first week of April, but a closer inspection reveals significant geographical variation. For example, gobbling activity rises much earlier in southern Mississippi and crests around March 20.
Where do turkeys go during the day?
First, turkeys are on the move more than at any other time of day since early morning. In most habitats, turkeys make a circuit out from a roost area, spend the late morning and afternoon hours in loafing cover or other seclusion, then work back toward roost sites as the day wanes.
Will a missed turkey come back?
If you shoot and miss a turkey, and if that gobbler starts running or flying away, sit still until you know for certain he’s all the way out of sight. Then, sit still for another 30 minutes or an hour to see if that turkey will start gobbling again. The turkey doesn’t know what’s happened when that gun has gone off.
How do you call turkeys when they are not gobbling?
Set up your ground blind or hide in natural cover. Make soft hen yelps, and increase the volume until they respond. Once a tom gobbles back, remain quiet or stick to soft, subtle occasional calls. It’s tempting to call back and forth with roosted gobblers, but you’ll usually fare better with silent patience.
Why are turkeys quiet some days?
On rainy days, especially cold rainy days, gobblers go quiet. Turkeys will opt to stay in the roost longer. Once they do fly down, they will alter their daily routine. Rainy evenings and mornings can also produce fog.
How long should you wait between Turkey calls?
Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations. If she does a soft 4-note yelp, you do the same – if she gets loud, you get loud, too.
What time should you start calling turkeys?
When To Call A Gobbler. OK, so let’s narrow it down to the time of day. In my view, the best times of the day are right off the roost, then again from about 8:30 to 9:30 when more hens start to leave the gobbler to go lay an egg, and again from about 11 until noon.
How do you approach a turkey?
Sit Tight or Stalk In Closer
Some turkey hunters take an aggressive approach and try to close as much distance as possible between themselves and the gobbler. Other hunters are more cautious, preferring to hold tight and start calling even if the bird is several hundred yards away.
Can turkeys see in the dark?
Turkeys really struggle to see at night, though. Their lack of low-light sight is why it’s so imperative that turkey hunters are set up early. However, this doesn’t mean that you can wander too close to the roost in the dark, since they still have a great sense of hearing.