Still constipated with few gobbles. No strut sign yet, little walking in the roads.
Next week is T/S , cloudy, rain showers. Look out the second - third week of April to bag three in four or five days if weather cooperates.
I ain't heard any gobbles in about a week and a half hope it picks up soon.. I will be going in the morning and check them out to see if there gobbling yet.. This is by far the slowest year I have ever saw
West Central Bama- Heard about 6-8 gobbles total, on a place with alot of birds, over the first week and I hunted probably 5 days. Saw more gobblers than I heard.
Going this morning to see if it's going to pick up any. Warmer weather the next week or so should get things cranked up I hope.
Second straight week of way less gobbling activity. I did hear at least one each day albeit few and sometimes far far away.
This morning a quail was whistling at 5:50. First gobble at 7:05 3 gobbles and hush.
Friday - waited until after 7 to even yelp and one answered immediately went to a plot .
Gobbled once and hushed.
Thursday- Heard on at 6:20 to my owl hoot . Waited 25 minutes no more gobbles.
Went to another area , yelped and got five gobbles but never came. The one that gobbled at 6:20 gobbled 5 times in a couple of minutes and hushed. ( Way off by then).
I may buy a rhinoceros call and see if I can get one of them to come in. Probably do about as much good right now. Week of April 14-21 they will be gobbling like crazy and falling like flies I hope.
April 2- In Monroe County we heard at least 6 , maybe 8 or 10 this morning.
On my club in Esc county one hunter heard one gobble twice today.
Did I mention that I called one to within 6 feet of me this morning and was not able to get a shot?
It happens sometimes, especially when you are on a string of misfortune. It was a great hunt and we had several answering my calling so it was not a bad day at all.
Monroe County 4/9/2013
Thinking of changing the term gobbler back to male turkeys since they aren't really gobbling a whole lot .
Quote from: RAJ on April 09, 2013, 11:58:01 AM
Monroe County 4/9/2013
Thinking of changing the term gobbler back to male turkeys since they aren't really gobbling a whole lot .
Same in Washington County. Know birds are there and calling them in, but no gobbling to speak of.
Shelby County hasn't been very good . Birds with gobble 8 or 9 times from fly down till 8:30 and then go silent for the rest of the day. The ones that do gobble are loaded with hens.I believe the last two weeks will be good.
I ran a hen off the nest last week .11 eggs in the clutch. VERY spotty gobbling and I would not bet any amount from one day to the next that they will be gobbling. Maybe worst season ever but I'll know for sure in two weeks. :help: :gobble: :gobble:
Heard very little gobbling in Central AL (Chilton/Elmore Co). Had one bird gobble about 5 times on Wed morning and then silent. The birds that we are killing are coming in silent and all except the ones killed on youth weekend have been killed after 12.
We saw a gobbler breed a hen on feb. 20 in Wilcox county. Our season came in March 15 and we killed a good many until about April 20. We have done very little since! I don't think it is going to get any better.
Wsp3
The pervious post should read April 1
Ok folks its about that time again..Just thought I would get this thread back at the top. I am just ready to hear that first gobble of the season. I think they are starting to get a little frisky.
I heard 9 one morning in late January across the river from Cahaba management area.
Went this morning in Tuscaloosa Co.; nothing yet. Gave 'em a few hoots & managed to get all the barred owls mad at me! ;) Going to a different spot in the morning to see if there's any action there.
I went scouting thsi morning. Turkeys are still in the woods scratching. Not much sign in the open ground. Saw one lone hen and heard no gobbling.
My grand daughter said that a turkey has been gobbling behind her house each morning since Tuesday. She hears him waiting on the school bus. She lives in South Monroe County.
They should be getting cranked up in about another 8-10 days. I know I am seeing allot more gobblers this year than the past 5 years.
Think they will be doing anything around Camden by opener?
Quote from: arkrem870 on February 26, 2014, 09:25:02 PM
Think they will be doing anything around Camden by opener?
I could be wrong but I think this year where i am they will be just starting to gobble the first weekend. Now up around butler they usually start about 2 weeks before ours. So I would say Camden should be rocking by the 15th. Last year they never did really get started around here, every now and then you would run up in one that would gobble. I don't know what was wrong with them.
Thanks
Went scouting this morning; 2 diff pieces of land; no gobbling yet here (NW Tuscaloosa Co.).
I started to go this morning. I will go a few mornings this week. I think they are going to be just starting around the 15th.
I wanted to ask everyone, what was the gobbling like last year? What county were you hunting? I had around 7800 acres in Washington county, 6-700 in Wayne county mississippi to hunt. This year I only have about 3000 ac. because I got out of one lease. I only missed 2 or 3 mornings, but they never really got to gobbling good. I only had one that gobbled allot. I hunted him 1 day the first week of season. I didn't hunt him again to the last week of season, when I smashed his head. Everyone I talked to said he blew it up every morning they hunted him. It's not public land but the owners let everyone in the community hunt it. So he had allot of pressure put on him. But that's the only one that gobbled good last year. I shot him the April 28 and I got in there at noon that day and he still had 8 hens with him. I was fortunate enough to let 5 ride in the back of the truck last year. But it was the hardest I ever had to hunt in a season.
Eric: Wow, nice job, man - 5 birds last season? Great! I hunted my land here in NW Tuscaloosa Co. & hunted with my buddy up in Fayette Co. on a few different pieces of property. We're weekend warriors; only hunt Sat's & Sun's.
In both counties, they were gobbling *GREAT* last year; in fact, one of the best "gobbling" years I remember (moved back in 2004). Opening day, I called up 3 gobblers in Fayette (they were hammering it the whole time, coming into us), but we totally screwed up the setup; I was trying to get my buddy his 2nd bird, but ... they came straight to me (the caller), and (like an idiot) I had inadvertently blocked myself out of a shot (note: we're going back there again on Mar. 15th). We did go back a 2nd time, they gobbled again (all 3), I had them coming in on a rope, and then THIS TIME we had some field workers that busted 'em right before they came into the woods on our setup (gas line property with wells)!! Argh - foiled again! :(
On my land in Tuscaloosa Co., we had gobbling all over, but we focused on hunting 2 birds that, morning after morning, "hung up" on us. As it turns out, they were on a little knoll/ridge off of a pasture we have, back in the woods about 150 yards (or so). We'd setup on the pasture, trying to bring them in 'cause their hens always roosted over the pasture. I tried everything - light calling, aggressive calling, even bought AND USED a K&H Hale Fire gobble call - and they HAMMER to everything!! But, they never came to us. Finally, we put a THUG STALK on 'em after busting all their hens out of the area, & I popped one of them in the head; unfortunately, it wasn't the dominant bird; he had a jake with him, and that's the one I shot (thru thick brush). I was thankful to get a bird, but obviously wanted to get the big boy.
But, ya, gobbling was good last year. I will say this - it was cold weather the entire time; every single hunt, I wore my camo fleece jacket.
5 birds is probably not to good since I got to hunt just about every day. I took one of those in MS. On some friends land I have to hunt. 4 of those came from bama though. I would put pics on here but I lost that phone I laid it on my front bumper and my wife wanted me to go to town with her. Well thanks to my luck it's somewhere on the road, ditch or someone picked it up. I have the last one of season on this phone. I downloaded the photobucket app now so my pics should be safe. The turkey pictures didn't bother me. I lost all the pics on my phone of my son from about 6 months to 14 months old.
Awwh man, sorry to hear about your phone; that's too bad about losing your son's photos!! :(
But, nice bird! 5 birds (limiting out) is hard; *even* when you hunt every day!! My brother, who's been hunting turkey for probably 25-30 years, has only done it once, and like you, he nearly had to go every day, and he had several *hot spots* to go to (that year). I consider 1 per year, as a weekend warrior, "mission accomplished" - to be completely honest! You only get 12 "attempts" per season (2 days x 6 weeks = 12 days of hunting).
Sometimes, these deg'gum birds just don't do what you want them to do, and it takes several attempts to get the drop on one & bag him -- like my 2 pasture birds last year (I think we hunted them a total of 3-4 times before I hammered one).
Hope we both have good luck this season; I'm about to bust -- ready to get it on! :)
Finally , turkeys are starting to gobble here in Monroe County. Just in time for the youth hunt next weekend. However, not finding any strut marks.
Quote from: J Hook Max on March 01, 2014, 05:49:02 PM
Finally , turkeys are starting to gobble here in Monroe County. Just in time for the youth hunt next weekend. However, not finding any strut marks.
Is youth hunt statewide next weekend?
Quote from: J Hook Max on March 01, 2014, 05:49:02 PM
Finally , turkeys are starting to gobble here in Monroe County. Just in time for the youth hunt next weekend. However, not finding any strut marks.
I will be going in the morning to see if I can hear that first gobble of the year for myself.
Went again this morning; still no gobbling, but a TON of bird activity & "predator" calling (red-tailed hawks, owls, crows). Oh well; I have a trip coming up to SE Alabama & since next weekend is youth hunt weekend, I'm bringing my calls & taking my daughter out for her first turkey hunt. Will have my brother's step-son as the shooter (he's 14). Hopefully we can call one in!
I just got back from listening for the first time of the year. I didn't hear any gobbling this morning. I know there is gobbler's in the area because I saw 2 yesterday evening about 5 crossing leaving the field. Maybe they will start in the next few days.
Maybe so. It's cloudy & dreary up here; not what you would want as an ideal gobbling morning, but - you never know. I know there are birds on my Dad's place; gobbling or not, we've got the drop on 'em; hopefully can call up one for my daughter and/or bro's step-son next weekend.
It was bad foggy this morning.
Fog was bad here in Monroe County. Heard one bird gobble one time.
Well, I've got my 12 y.o. daughter convinced to go hunting w/me on Sunday morning; she's been watching some videos of some hunts, and kinda got excited about it... We'll be in S.E. Alabama, so hoping that we get a good one to come to us so she can bag her first bird! :)
Looks like we will have good weather. I'm taking my 12 year old Granddaughter.
J Hook Max - good luck, man!!
Back at you !
Good luck to both of y'all.
Thx man - hey, when are you gonna get your son out?? He's about ready to go, right??? ;)
I will be in the woods Sat. morning with my 10 year old grandson,in pine hill area.!!
Go get 'em contagious!! :) That's cool!
REALLY happy to see all the grandfather's on here, passing the tradition down; that's awesome!
He is ready, I am going to take him but he will have his plastic gun. I am just going to listen mainly. .
Quote from: ericjames on March 05, 2014, 04:06:43 PM
He is ready, I am going to take him but he will have his plastic gun. I am just going to listen mainly. .
Ha - that's cool!! My brother got my little 3 y.o. nephew a toy shotgun, and he was outside when we were skinning a deer this past season; we had the deer head on the tailgate, & its tongue was hanging out (you know how they do) - and I was telling him, "Man, shoot that thing - he's making fun of you, stickin' his tongue out at'cha!" - so he'd rear back & BLAST IT!!! hahahaha...
They are something else.. My mother got my son one of those truck/ATV sets from bass pro at Christmas. Well the set had a little man and some deer aslo. He had a plastic knife and came up to me one night wanting to skin the deer. I got a picture of it somewhere.
This is where he brought them to me and he state cleaning them. After he got finished cleaning them he took them over to his momma and told her to eat.
Ha ha; that's awesome man!! :)
Anyone in Pickens Co along the Sipsey River?
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Davis, I'm up in Samantha, in NW Tuscaloosa Co; very close to Fayette Co. line. Pickens is to my SW.
Quote from: bamagtrdude on March 06, 2014, 04:44:48 AM
Davis, I'm up in Samantha, in NW Tuscaloosa Co; very close to Fayette Co. line. Pickens is to my SW.
Thanks for the reply. Going to be hunting Pickens on the Sipsey on the 20th - 23rd. Any idea how things are looking over that way?
Quote from: davisd9 on March 06, 2014, 07:36:39 AM
Thanks for the reply. Going to be hunting Pickens on the Sipsey on the 20th - 23rd. Any idea how things are looking over that way?
Well, I saw a pic from Pickens Co. where there was a strutter & a bunch of hens; around here, spotted a bunch, but no gobbling as of yet.
Quote from: bamagtrdude on March 06, 2014, 09:17:01 AM
Quote from: davisd9 on March 06, 2014, 07:36:39 AM
Thanks for the reply. Going to be hunting Pickens on the Sipsey on the 20th - 23rd. Any idea how things are looking over that way?
Well, I saw a pic from Pickens Co. where there was a strutter & a bunch of hens; around here, spotted a bunch, but no gobbling as of yet.
Thanks a million for the information. Looking forward to hunting the grand state of Alabama. Have hunted Mississippi but this is my first trip to Alabama.
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Good luck man!!
Well I didnt hear any gobbling this morning, it started raining pretty good about 10 min. after 6. Maybe tomorrow morning.. Good luck davisd9!
Quote from: bamagtrdude on March 06, 2014, 09:25:22 AM
Good luck man!!
Quote from: ericjames on March 06, 2014, 09:34:24 AM
Well I didnt hear any gobbling this morning, it started raining pretty good about 10 min. after 6. Maybe tomorrow morning.. Good luck davisd9!
Thanks to you both! Hope to get on and see longbeards from you both! Good luck!
Anyone heard any around Clarke County?
Washington county here. I ain't heard any yet!
I was in Baldwin County last weekend listening...didn't hear anything...had some buddies in Clarke and north Mobile that didn't hear any either last weekend
I'll be heading that way 3/21. South of Tuscaloosa. I hope it's not FREEZING like last year. I brought my my spring gear, not my winter gear. Anyway, I hope they cut loose soon. I know they will.
Been out this morning in Monroe County. Cloudy, cold and windy. Heard nothing in an area that I know has several toms.
Hope they tighten up before next weekend.
Nothing but dead silence at in my area of north Alabama today. I covered some ground but never heard anything.
There was 5 that I know of died today. Some of the biggest smiles I seen on kids. One of them got 2 with 1 shot made his day. But I went and didn't hear a gobble one. I watched 2 gobblers pitch out.
I sat on my back porch this morning and heard 3. They gobbled good for about 45 min. and then shut up. I heard one shot across the creek about a mile away. Maybe a youth got him/her one.
Quote from: cahaba on March 08, 2014, 09:34:39 PM
I sat on my back porch this morning and heard 3. They gobbled good for about 45 min. and then shut up. I heard one shot across the creek about a mile away. Maybe a youth got him/her one.
The weather is looking good this week. So it should be a good opener
Yesterday, heard three different gobblers. Weather was perfect. Called in two longbeards for my grand daughter. They came in on our side at about 15 steps. They saw us before she could shoot and flew off. Went back this mornig. Saw and heard no turkeys but did call in a bobcat.
At least you got to hear some and get close.. I bet her heart was pounding.
Yes it was as exciting yesterday as it was dead this morning. Looks like warm weather all this week. Should get the birds talking.
I will be in the woods every morning this week,I hope they have it going on by saturday.
Heard 2 on the roost this morning in Coosa county. One was gobbling on the ground near one of my blinds as I eased out of the woods.
Sounds like you might have everything in place for a good hunt Saturday..
Welp back from youth hunt weekend in SE Alabama; heard 2 gobble this morning on the roost, but they were off our property & none came; saw a coyote & 3 deer, tho... In the same part of the state, apparently they were gobbling real good Saturday morning, but those reports came from guys that couldn't get 'em to come in to their setup... My daughter was a trooper & did real good on her first turkey hunt; very proud of her! Hope to make many more memories in the future...
Well I heard one this morning. Gobbled 4 times that I know of. I didn't hear him until I walked about 100 yards from where I was standing at day light. So he might have gobble a little more than I know about. Then I moved on in and got an location on him. Hope he is still there this weekend.
birds gobbled heavy this weekend in my neck of the woods. closed the deal on a good bird for my little brother Sunday morning near Thomaston Alabama. heard over 50 gobbles between daylight and 8am both mornings...it was a great weekend
SSCsnood - good to hear!
I hope they are doing more in the morning than they did any day this week..
Quote from: ericjames on March 14, 2014, 10:16:22 AM
I hope they are doing more in the morning than they did any day this week..
Yep; I've been listening just about every morning 'til about 7:30am, and ... nothing. & it's been beautiful weather here. Went last night to try & get one to sound off - nothing. So...
Same here.. Now it's flooding so I couldn't go this morning..
Went with a buddy in Fayette Co.; had 5 gobbling, but the boss hen stole 'em away from us. This morning, I went (in Tuscaloosa Co.) after the showers & bumped 2 hens & called 'em back to me down in a draw. No gobbling this morning, tho.
I bet there beaks was froze shut this morning..
Seemed that way... No gobbling here this a.m., 24 degs @ my place.
I didn't even go..I will go in the morning. This is the one I got monday evening.
hey Eric - congrats man - good bird!!!!
Thanks, now I need to find me another one that's gobbling.
You & me both, bud!
I haven't had the chance to go the last several days what are the birds doing in yalls neck of the woods.
They're on the move; quiet in spots, vocal in other spots... A lot more hens to contend with now...