Did someone shoot my gobbler?

[ScottS]

So im inTexas on a draw hunt this weekend on a wma and I prescouted and found a roost along a creek with a gobbler and a group of hens. I go back in there this morning expecting them to be right back where I heard him yesterday. I snuck in sat down and no gobbles at all. Finally the hens started talking and flew down but the gobbler was no where to be found. What do yall think happened to him? I am the only person hunting this pasture but there is private property to the north. See my pics below to get an idea of the area.
The line of trees on the creek is about 1.5 miles with nothing but Sandhills for miles around.

[FL-Boss]

I don't know.. but man you guys in open country have it too easy!  There is only a handful of spots they can roost...

[ScottS]

Yeah I know when I arrived for the hunt I chose this location due to only one spot for the turkeys to roost. I thought it was gonna be easy but I guess not.

[Cutt]

Did you actually see the birds to verify, he was not there? Where he could  have been quiet since he roosted right with them? Or did he roost a bit away from the hens were he saw or heard your entry, and the hens didn't?

[ScottS]

I saw the hens flydown and feed down the creek. A thunderstorm was rolling in and I figured for sure he would shock gobble at the thunder but nothing.

[jblackburn]

Rios do travel a long way during the course of a day, he could have been shot or he was not in the mood to gobble (rare for Rios, but it does happen!), or he found another place to sleep.  Don't give up yet, he may come back, or if he is dead, the hens may find themselves another boyfriend to bring back to the roost.

[101st501]

head scratcher

[jepcho]

It was me, I shot your bird... 
Actually I've never even been to Texas.  But yeah, he could still be in there, if not I have found that a group of hens like that usually wont be without a tom for long.  They have a way of attracting them.  Good luck and hope you find one

[ScottS]

Rios do travel a long way during the course of a day, he could have been shot or he was not in the mood to gobble (rare for Rios, but it does happen!), or he found another place to sleep.  Don't give up yet, he may come back, or if he is dead, the hens may find themselves another boyfriend to bring back to the roost.

On my map it is showing a creek to the east, south, and west of where I'm hunting with the closest one being about 3 miles. Do you think the rios would travel that far in a day? I've never hunted this type terrain so it just boggles my mind to where they would go after flydown if they leave the creek.

[spaightlabs]

Not at all uncommon for a Tom to roost away from hens/solo.  I've seen that any number of times in KS/NE.

[jblackburn]

Rios do travel a long way during the course of a day, he could have been shot or he was not in the mood to gobble (rare for Rios, but it does happen!), or he found another place to sleep.  Don't give up yet, he may come back, or if he is dead, the hens may find themselves another boyfriend to bring back to the roost.

On my map it is showing a creek to the east, south, and west of where I'm hunting with the closest one being about 3 miles. Do you think the rios would travel that far in a day? I've never hunted this type terrain so it just boggles my mind to where they would go after flydown if they leave the creek.

Absolutely.  I just got back from a trip to OK and on the private land I had access to there were zero birds roosted anywhere on the place and I'm not sure where the closest roosting areas are.  We would start seeing and hearing birds after about 9:30.  Open country rios travel

[ScottS]

Not at all uncommon for a Tom to roost away from hens/solo.  I've seen that any number of times in KS/NE.

Would he not gobble at all when he is roosted away from the hens. Where I'm hunting I would be able to hear him gobble anywhere along the creek. The hens were making all kinds of racket and nothing. I have a feeling someone sneaked in there and shot him.

[spaightlabs]

He could have roosted a couple miles away.  We have followed birds 5 miles into the prairie to see where they were going.

[ScottS]

I had no idea they would wander that far in a days time.