Gobbling

[Greg Massey]

Do you think gobblers communicate to each other by gobbling and are not necessarily always trying to attract hen's?  So what other ways does a gobbler communicate ?   

[ChesterCopperpot]

Most assuredly they gobble to communicate to one another. That's why it's such a deadly tactic late season when the boys start getting back together. I gobbled two in late last year on a Halloran box. They wouldn't respond to hen calling because the hens weren't calling. The hens were on the nest. But the gobblers and jakes were still talking to one another.


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[davisd9]

Yes, gobbling is for territory, letting a buddy know where you are, calling to a hen to let her know the your location, fighting, etc. 

[trkehunr93]

Listen to Dr. Michael Chamberlain, he explains the exploded lek that turkeys use for breeding purposes.  When you hear multiple gobblers on a 200-300 acre property for ex. gobbling from multiple locations in that area your witnessing an exploded lek and those gobblers are communicating to each other that this is my spot and I'm still in the game.  There also letting the hens know, hey baby, I'm right here!  Here's a link from the NWTF-

https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/article/what-is-exploded-lek

[rakkin6]

I am sure it works, but super iffy about using it where I hunt since it is public land. Currently no private land to hunt on. Kind of makes me nervous.

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[Tom007]

Do you think gobblers communicate to each other by gobbling and are not necessarily always trying to attract hen's?  So what other ways does a gobbler communicate ?

I think Strutting lets the flock know he's ready, dominant, and ready to rumble. I also think that the color in their head and neck that changes with mood is a communication technique? Just a thought...

[albrubacker]

Listen to Dr. Michael Chamberlain, he explains the exploded lek that turkeys use for breeding purposes.  When you hear multiple gobblers on a 200-300 acre property for ex. gobbling from multiple locations in that area your witnessing an exploded lek and those gobblers are communicating to each other that this is my spot and I'm still in the game.  There also letting the hens know, hey baby, I'm right here!  Here's a link from the NWTF-

https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/article/what-is-exploded-lek

That was a good article. Thanks!

[PalmettoRon]

Definitely feel it's a form of communication. I too have used it late in the season several times to call up gobblers that were getting back into bachelor groups. Called up 3 longbeards out west once and have called in singles and doubles late in the south. They likewise gobble in the fall on occasion when hens are no where nearby nor are the hens even interested.

[fallhnt]

They gobble in fall. With hens roosted near,without hens roosted near,in the tree,on the ground along with spitting and drumming. So I say communication.

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[Flgobbler]

Listen to Dr. Michael Chamberlain, he explains the exploded lek that turkeys use for breeding purposes.  When you hear multiple gobblers on a 200-300 acre property for ex. gobbling from multiple locations in that area your witnessing an exploded lek and those gobblers are communicating to each other that this is my spot and I'm still in the game.  There also letting the hens know, hey baby, I'm right here!  Here's a link from the NWTF-

https://www.nwtf.org/hunt/article/what-is-exploded-lek

Interesting article, thanks!

[FullChoke]

Late in the season one year, after the bachelor groups had formed, I called a giant gobbler on heavily hunted public land back to me by imitating a Spit/Drum with my mouth mixed with hen yelps. The group had ignored the yelping, but the idea that an interloper was courting one of the giants girlfriends was too much for him. I have also heard a gobbler yelping in the woods. I assume that it serves the same purpose to gobblers as it does for hens.

[Ranger]

All of the above. Funny you mentioned gobbler yelps Full Choke...my experience has shown that when one gobbles and then at a certain distance stops and only yelps, it isn't his first Spring breeding hens

[FullChoke]

All of the above. Funny you mentioned gobbler yelps Full Choke...my experience has shown that when one gobbles and then at a certain distance stops and only yelps, it isn't his first Spring breeding hens

This particular bird came past me yelping and gobbling through the woods. It sounded like a yard dog yapping at a neighboring farm house. I wound up calling his hen back up to me and killing him. He was a good 3 year old. As you said, he had bred hens before and planned on repeating himself that morning.

[Dtrkyman]

I call it an eff u contest.  Like getting in between that argument!

[quavers59]

   I believe  they Gobble to let me know they have arrived on my Lawn and looking for Breakfast. That happened  this morning and out,I  went with Black Oil Sunflower Seeds.