Flock of Toms.

2-15-2012 I was doing some road scouting and I ran into a flock of 15 mature toms. Never have I seen so many toms together. Sat and watched them as they tried to cross the road in front of me for 10 minutes or better. Hope they stay in my area. What a site. Some had Red heads and some did not. Very cool.

When turkeys are not in their breeding season they are in "family groups" which means usually hens and their poults from the spring. The mature toms will group up from all around the area much like a group of batchelor bucks. They will actually rely on each other for survival most of the year. Thats why early in the season you might not think there are any turkeys around because they all might be grouped up at the neighbors property with a good food source. Once spring hits the air and the hormones start acting up they will get their "pecking order" in line. The strongest and mature toms will strut gobble and fight for the best breeding areas and breeding rights to the hens. Which usually means the same strutting areas and fields year after year. The younger "jakes" 1-2 year olds will hang out in groups of up to 4-5 and I have actually seen them bully mature toms and chase them away. A big mature tom that has been pressured and hunted hard will gobble a few times, get his harem of hens and let them come to him. He will not search too much and is tough to kill. But just like every mature animal they will slip up every now and then just depending on their hormone level and mood. I've had one tom I hunted for 3 days straight that would gobble his head off and constantly go the other direction and make me "chase" him. This went on for a few days and he would also roost in different spots which made things more challenging. Finally the last day of my hunt I stalked within a hundred yards of him and had him gobbling good. Another tom gobbled behind me and that was too much for him to take. I saw him running up the hill to come and get his hen. He took a face full of turkey load and ended up being a 26 lber. with a 10" beard. Good times and good luck. Any one else have any questions message me. Gotta love turkey hunting

YA Foundry Rat that would be a compelling arguement. They and 4 more of their buddies are daily visitors now, hope they keep it up for a few more weeks.

I think that's covered under the new "castle law". They were breaking and entering and they were armed. The spurs looked wicked!

Sitting here Sunday morning and there is a gobble close by the house, I mean close, and some banging on a window. These two toms were at the lower level window pecking at it????? wifes cat inside maybe or their reflection. Got these two pics. Maybe should of used the 12 ga. as they were "attempting to break and enter" Ya know self defense.

Toms are starting to mingle with the hens now, soon to take their harem and go their separate ways. There was at least 5 adults toms and several jakes in this flock. Counted 73 or more once they worked off the lawn and across the field.

They'll be bust'n up soon... As a rule Longbeards will winter together