DALE SUNDERLIN
Star Beacon
May 11, 2008 01:01 am
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Go figure, a couple of weeks ago, several of my turkey hunting buds and I were discussing turkey behavior.
When do they move, what makes them gobble? Why do they stay on the roost longer sometimes rather than others? How do you pattern a turkey’s behavior, etc?
I’ve read a lot on deer behavior and how the weather, the rut, food sources and all the like that affect deer but there’s not much out there on turkey.
Ever since that discussion, I’ve been a turkey-hunting fool on a mission. A mission to see if there were any indicators out there to help myself and inform my readers of a few things that may help you be in the woods at the right place and time.
In other words, perfect timing.
Perfect timing
What is perfect timing? The obvious answer, with regard to spring turkey hunting, anyway, is that which occurs when you find yourself in the right place at the right time because of luck or skill or a mixture of both.
Can you adjust?
The next question, then, is, can you adjust to circumstances as they occur during a typical spring season? And finally, will your hard work actually improve your chances for being in the woods when at least a few gobblers are ready to sound off in answer to your interpretation of basic hen calls?
Heck, yeah
The quick answer to the above questions is, of course, yes. However, there’s more to the subject of perfect timing than a number of hunters may realize. To put yourself in those special moments for success normally takes a fair amount of understanding as to what affects turkey behavior under a variety of circumstances.
Moreover, that, generally, is something that comes with experience.
Variable weather
One thing that affects turkey behavior in the spring is variable weather. This, I know, as a fact. In all reality, in Northeast Ohio that can change no only from day to day but from hour to hour.
Generally, gobblers croon the most when the weather is fair, at least before they leave their roosts at dawn. What they do once they’re on the ground is sometimes another matter altogether, but if you’ve hunted turkeys more than a few times you already know that.
However, the point is, not everyday is perfect. Some days are blow on your hands cold, others are far better for parasailing than hunting and still others are drenched with rain.
To hunt or not?
As for hunting in the rain, there are conflicting viewpoints. I definitely prefer fair weather, but have been known to make an exception to the rule.
Some hunters seldom mention the words turkey and rain in the same sentence. I, on the other hand, take what Ohio’s Momma Nature gives me.
Wet willy
I can remember one time several years ago setting in a raging downpour while hunting with my dad and getting soaked to the bone.
All the while, listing to a gobbler that just would not commit. A week or so later, Janie, my wife, and Dad went out to the same place while I was in Pennsylvania and when the rain came they headed for the truck.
While they were sitting there sipping coffee and discussing strategy, the subject of hunting in the rain came up. Dad said, “You know what we’d be doing if your dumb husband were here don’t ya?”
Janie’s reply was, “Yep, hunting in the rain with yer dumb son! But he’s not here so we can just sit here and enjoy our coffee and stay dry.”
Enough said.
An explanation
Now, I’m going to add a qualification to that situation. I was probably still working a fulltime job during this era of my life so my time was limited. Had it been now my game plan would be different.
Rain is for duck hunting, which I don’t do. Clear weather is for turkey hunting.
I think we should wait for a nicer day before deciding to try to put the smack down on our elusive feathered friend.
Clearing skies
If the prognosticator of the conditions is calling for clearing the next day, it will be better. Especially, if the front is moving out late in the day or that night.
Usually, high winds accompany a cool front moving out and it’s a well-known fact turkey just don’t like to move in windy conditions.
In other words, hunt during unsettled weather if you must, but expect your odds for success to improve noticeably on the first calm morning after a storm.
Barometric pressure?
In several of the articles I researched, I found that they perceived that rising or falling barometric pressure has a lot to do with the way turkeys behave on a particular day.
Not enough investigation has been done to prove it scientifically, but nevertheless, observations suggest that gobbling activity slows as a storm approaches and the turkeys go into survival mode, which means filling their crops with food.
Then, as the barometer rises, whether the rain has stopped completely or not, they say your chances of hearing a hot tom sound off grow better by the minute.
No guarantees
According to the above examples, you might presume that picking the perfect time to go turkey hunting during uncomfortable weather is about like throwing darts at a calendar.
Really, while there are no guarantees, it’s not very vague. Case in point, it seems to me that it’s far better to be in the turkey woods when a storm is tapering off than when it’s just arriving on the scene.
Actually, if I had a choice, which is not always the case, I’d be tempted to follow their advice and wait for just the right morning after a storm to get out there among them.
Spring breakup
Another example of perfect timing, in response to some situations encountered in the turkey woods, include making the most of such things as the spring breakup. This happening takes place when large winter flocks of turkeys separate into smaller groups before the annual breeding ritual.
During this process, which may only take a day or two, there are pecking order fights between gobblers and also among hens. It’s during this time that the toms, vying for position on the social ladder, are apt to come running to any loose hen they hear and that, of course, is what you call, perfect timing.
The increasing hours of daylight and the prevailing weather pattern drives the breakup. Cold weather may delay the process while a period of warm weather can accelerate it by days or even weeks. By observing weather conditions you can make a pretty good guess as to whether the break up has already happened or is about to begin.
If you’re lucky to be there when the breakup starts, you’ll be in the short line to enjoy another round of perfect timing.
Angry ladies
Another thing that you might experience early in the season is an encounter with an aggressive hen. It’s not hard to recognize the signs. The hen will answer your calls in an intimidating manner and if you continue, she just might come in looking for a fight.
This is a hen in the process of asserting her supremacy over other hens in the area. To her you’re an outsider that needs to be put in your place.
The trick is to take advantage of an aggressive hen when you encounter one because if she is running with a gobbler or two she may very well be your best friend. While toms with hens are extremely difficult to call, a hen still asserting her dominance is not.
If she comes to you, her companions usually won’t be very far behind. The idea here is to act on the situation as soon as possible. It only takes a few days to sort the pecking order out and for things to calm down.
Fate
So, in conclusion, what is perfect timing?
Perfect timing is the act of being in the right place at the right time. Every now and then, it’s a matter of dumb luck but most often perfect timing is the repayment for dealing attentively with the variables encountered daily in the uncertainty of spring turkey hunting.
Afterall, there are no guarantees, especially when it comes to hunting, no matter the species. Spring turkey season is upon us so get out there and make your own observations.
Maybe someday, you’ll be able to make some sense out of what makes these monarchs of the woods do what they do.
Ryan’s addiction
Ryan DiGiacomo a 16-year-old sophomore at SS. John and Paul is no stranger to the turkey woods. This year, he harvested his sixth turkey since becoming addicted to the sport several years ago. Here’s the way this year’s success story goes...
One is enough
Ryan and his dad decided that for the 2008 youth turkey season, they would just stay at his uncle’s house, a mere 200-yard walk from the chunk of woods that we were allowed to hunt.
They had gone out the Friday night before the opening day of youth weekend in hope of roosting some birds. Inevitably, they heard one gobble, he sounded like a big one, and he was close.
Being satisfied with the situation, they packed up and went back to the house. As they walked back, they made a joke about why he only gobbled once.
Ryan said his buddies hit him over the head and told him that wasn’t a real owl (they had used a H.S. Strut hoot tube to locate the bird) it was a hunter.
Little did they know how right they were?
Did we spook him?
Ryan and dad rose at 5:30 the next day and it was already starting to break light. They hurriedly got to their prechosen area and set up. On their way in, they had bumped some deer in an open field and were worried that it may spook the turkey. Fearlessly, they set up on the edge of the field at the base of a big tree as cover and background breakup.
The weather conditions were perfect as the sun beamed its warming light onto Ryan’s face. Although making it hard to see, Ryan was impervious to its blinding rays knowing his set-up for shooting was off to the right where they had set the decoys.
Cool stuff
Ryan and his dad talked to the birds for an hour until finally they heard one shout back at them. It had busted loose from the rest of the flock and was coming their way. As he came in from Ryan’s right side, just as predicted, and saw the decoy’s he broke into a full strut.
Ryan made the comment, “I’ve seen some pretty cool stuff while hunting but nothing could beat the sight of that boss gobbler in full strut.”
As he strutted his way toward the deaks, Ryan’s heart was racing a mile a minute; he wasn’t sure which one was going to explode first his heart or the gun.
The Benelli bump
As the bird finally came into range, it looped around the decoys and Ryan put the bead on his head. He squeezed the trigger and his Benelli 12 gauge roared as he watched his spring emperor hit the ground. He immediately exploded with excitement and ran to retrieve his bearded jewel; No. 6 was on the ground.
Ain’t nothin’ better
What a day, it couldn’t get any better. The father-and-son dynamic duo tagged his bird, took it to Jefferson Golden Dawn for check in, went to lunch, and just hung out the rest of the day.
When asked to explain why he hunts Ryan said, “Because there is no better experience than calling in a wild turkey and putting him on the ground. Hunting is the best sport out there. Some people have their baseball, softball, tennis, and track, in the spring. Well I have my turkey hunting and this is one sport I’m never going to quit because it’s awesome.”
Ryan’s stats
Ryan DiGiacomo harvested his spring-fevered bird on April 19, 2008 at 8:15 a.m. in Plymouth Township using a 12-gauge Benelli semi auto, powered by Remington # 4 shot 3-inch magnum shells. His bird was at 20 yards when he shot and it dropped in its tracks. It weighed in at 18 pounds had a 6-inch beard and 1⁄2 inch spurs.
He used a H.S. Strut Hoot tube to locate the bird the night before and an H.S. Strut box call to coax him in. He was wearing Realtree camo and his set-up was on the ground using a big tree as a backrest and cover.
My call
I don’t think I could have said it any better. Thanks for clarifying my thoughts for me, Ryan.
Putting it in my terms, some people have their jock type sports and that’s OK. I have my hunting and that’s OK.
I’ll respect your form of recreation if you respect mine. I won’t criticize you when you’re old and grey, sitting on the couch, eating a two-pound bag of potato chips, and drinking pop (or beer). I won’t say a thing when your heart races 100 mph and you go into palpitations because some overpaid 250-pound quarterback blows the last play of the super bowl and your team looses.
Instead, I’ll be out in the woods, in the fresh air, walking till my legs ache or climbing a tree 30 feet up and hanging by the seat of my pants. I’ll be sipping on water and eating granola bars while waiting calmly, using my mental powers to try to become one with my chosen prey’s surroundings.
Further, when they appear our worlds will then meet. My heart will be racing that same 100 mph and the anticipation of that final moment of victory will be there. The difference will be if it’s a blow play, I’ll only have myself to blame and will only be able to chastise myself.
Why do I hunt?
Because I can.
How long will I do it?
For the rest of my life.
Thank you, Ryan. You said it best: “Because it’s awesome.”
Remember, pass it on or it will surely pass on.
Sunderlin is a freelance writer from Geneva. Reach him at djss@roadrunner.com.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
RYAN DiGIACOMO and the sixth turkey of his hunting career. Star Beacon
DALE SUNDERLIN Star Beacon