Bob Grewell takes advantage of the turkey’s distracted nature during spring rut.

If there’s a major difference between spring and fall turkey hunting, it’s the fact that spring gobblers have one focus: hens. Just as in deer hunting, turkey reproduction can improve hunting results because turkeys are rut-sensitive, too.

Time is right when light is bright

Is there an exact time when the turkey rut is in full swing? Biologists believe there are natural forces that trigger the beginning and intensity of breeding activities, for example, photoperiodism (longer days and increasing daylight) may be a primary catalyst. The gradual increase of daylight during longer spring days appears to stimulate turkey reproduction, which intensifies testosterone. This timeframe also accelerates hen breeding. Increasing turkey activities and more frequent appearances are signs the turkey rut is escalating.

Gobblers are pre-programmed to pursue hens. Not much else within the daily structure of their lives during the spring matters more than reproduction. This is how nature functions during the wild turkey’s annual mating behavior.

Single-minded Toms easier to take

Without a doubt, turkey breeding is an ideal time to locate and hunt toms preoccupied with reproduction. Don’t be reluctant to hunt every day of legal season because gobblers will keep searching for hens until the hens no longer respond. Gobblers are usually more interested in hens than their own safety, providing hunters with more opportunities.

It’s important to understand that the personality of gobblers during the breeding phase is diversified between vocalizations and strutting. They implode their body’s “strut” to become attractive to hens. Males emit a variety of subtle vocals, but “gobbling” is the most obvious. Although it is used to attract hens, a tom’s dominant gobbling will attract other males, too. This is possibly because other males are looking for hens, or because the other tom becomes aware that a gobbler is tending hens and the interloper is looking to steal one.

Gobbling it up

When toms are internally inspired with breeding intentions, gobbling will explode at any time, sometimes for no reason at all. Gobbling is the main indicator of spring turkey breeding intentions. Toms occasionally gobble during the fall and winter, as well. But, right before and during their spring breeding, intense gobbling helps them communicate with hens. Their enchanting gobbles enable hunters to locate and hunt mate-minded gobblers.

The frequency and pitch of gobbling can vary. Typically, an older tom will have a deep, gravely gobble. A mature tom takes the podium to shut out jakes and rival toms. Jakes (young toms) usually have weak and broken gobbles. Jakes’ vocals never seem to be as powerful as a mature tom’s. Yes, there are many sounds and sights that spark a gobble. But, above all else, the prospects of yelping of hens will drive a gobbler insane. Like a whitetail buck pursuing estrus does during the rut, gobblers often forgo caution and make mistakes if they are focused on hens.

The frequency and tone of any tom’s gobbling ensures it can be heard from greater distances across the natural acoustics of their environments. Throughout most habitat, sound transmissions can be maximized when toms gobble from elevated perches.

During dawn’s wake-up, gobblers yell their brains out, especially if hens aren’t nearby. If hens are roosted close to a gobbler, toms might not gobble at all. Because turkeys are very social birds, vocalizations are vital to their survival. Once a gobbler and hen bond into their breeding cycle, gobbling isn’t necessary. They use subtle purrs, clucks and miscellaneous mellow sounds. Then, they begin their physical moves. After a gobbler mounts a hen, the encounter is short-lived. Although, after he treads (mounts) her, he might not be done yet. A tom might continue to breed a hen several times. This takes much energy, especially if a gobbler services several hens. Therefore, it’s common for toms to lose weight during multiple breeding sessions.

Strutting their stuff

For hunters, the gobbler strut is the most obvious sign toms are breeding. A tom’s strutting (inflated physical features) is played-out as a display to hens that a tom is ready to mate. A gobbler’s strut is often erratic and he might look as if he’s ready to stumble. But, he controls his strutting very well. Typically, he will take two or three quick steps, spread his wings, and circle his hen partner. Often he leaves drag-mark impressions in the dirt with the tips of his outer primary wing tip feathers.

During this process, toms usually emit low-pitched sounds humans describe as “drumming.” This evocative vibration appears to cause his body to vibrate. He acts as if he is mesmerized with his mating desires and is often oblivious to the rest of the world. This humming sound pulsates and varies in intensity. It is meant for close-range communication.

A gobbler’s drumming sounds are often difficult to pinpoint. Even when you’re trying to coax a tom into shooting range and he circles you while drumming, he can be difficult to pinpoint. Gobblers normally begin and end their strutting postures with their tail feathers fanned. A resilient gobbler can strut for hours.

Never forget the “rut” is likened as the annual period of sexual reproduction. Therefore, rut certainly applies to turkeys. Toms and hens are each affected by reproduction, impacted by an inner-body implosion of hormones, which modifies their habits and escalates their drive to reproduce. While whitetail bucks have their rut in mid-October through December, turkeys have theirs in early February, even into June, depending on their geographic location. Certainly, if ever there is a time when gobblers are most vulnerable, it’s during the frenzy of breeding, thus providing hunters with a window of opportunity during what we can call the wild turkey rut.

You’ll find lots of helpful information to prepare you for spring turkey hunting in the April issue of MidWest Outdoors, available the first week of April at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.