|
Gobbling Activity in Relation to Hen Calling
Toms usually begin gobbling before the hens begin calling, probably to let the hens know where they are, to get the hens to respond so the toms know where the hens are, and to try to attract the hens. The graph below shows that hens may not begin calling loudly (Loud Yelp) until 10-20 minutes after the toms begin gobbling.
Dominance and Mating Display Strategies
One of the things we need to keep in mind when we talk about gobbling is that toms can't strut when they gobble, because they have to stick their neck out to gobble. We also need to keep in mind that a tom's tactics for attracting hens and expressing dominance change depending on how close the tom is to other toms and hens. When toms are not within visual sight of hens they often gobble. But, once they are close to hens they often begin to strut, consequently the gobble less when they are with hens, particularly during the Primary Breeding Phase.
Changes in Daily Gobbling Activity During the Breeding Phases
Because I graphed daily gobbling activity 3-4 times each week during my studies I discovered that there may be only one daily gobbling peak, or there may be two gobbling peaks. The graph below shows that there was often only one (early morning) gobbling peak before the Primary Breeding Phase in mid-April (Pre-Primary Breeding Gobbling Peak) by several different toms (not all together, but within hearing distance of each other). Because the toms often roosted with the hens, gobbling normally peaked before sunrise, and diminished as the toms and hens went to the feeding/strutting areas. Since the toms were with the hens they did more strutting and less gobbling at the feeding areas, and because they often stayed with the hens during the day, they continued to feed and strut rather than gobble.
The graph below shows that in early May (the Post Primary Breeding Gobbling Peak) there were often two gobbling peaks, one as the toms gobbled from the roost, followed by a decrease in gobbling as the toms found hens at feeding/strutting areas and begin to strut. Because many of the hens had already been bred at this time, they often left the strutting area by themselves, often leaving one or more hens behind. As long as one hen remained at the feeding/strutting are the tom stayed their and continued to strut. But, once the last hen left the feeding/strutting area the toms often begin to gobble more, probably in an effort to attract any nearby hens, or they left to go to another feeding/strutting area, where they began to gobble again to try to attract any nearby hens.
Daily Overhead/Underfoot Position of the Moon
Several popular game activity tables (Solunar Tables, Feeding & Fishing Times, Vektor Tables, Moon Guide) suggest that game activity is affected by the overhead/underfoot position of the moon. Supposedly the gravitational pull of the moon is strong enough when it is directly overhead of underfoot of a game animal's position on earth that it will cause them deer to begin to move or feed. There is no scientific evidence to support this belief/theory. Since the time of the overhead/underfoot position of the moon changes every day (by about 55 minutes) the times when turkeys are sighted (over the course of a month) should be scattered throughout the day, but they aren't, turkey sightings peak at dawn and dusk. The data from the above graphs (and several other studies) show that turkey activity is not affected by/correlated with the overhead/underfoot position of the moon
The data, graphs and information on this page are the copyrighted property of T.R. Michels/Trinity Mountain Publishing. Copying and use of the data, graphs or information, without the written permission of the owner, is expressly forbidden by Federal law.
There is more information on deer activity in the Turkey Addict's Manual available in the Trinity Mountain Outdoor Products catalog.
Questions? Log on to the "T.R.'s Tips" Talk Forum / Message Board
Trinity Mountain Outdoors Home Page
T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors,
E-mail: TRMichels@yahoo.com Website: www.TRMichels.com
Trinity Mountain Outdoors Home Page I Trinity Mountain Outdoor Products Catalog
T.R. Michels' Guide Service / Hunting Trips I Whitetail / Turkey / Elk / Waterfowl Hunting & Guide School
I Trinity Mountain Outdoor News
T.R.'s Hunting Tips & Articles I Daily Updates on Outdoor News
T.R. Michels' Seminar Schedule I Christian Witness / Articles
Links to Other Websites I TRMichesl.com Webring / Hunting Site Directory
Join TRMichels.com Webring I I |
