By T.R. Michels, Trinity Mountain Outdoors

Okay, okay, I realize that the term ?rut? does
not apply to turkey breeding behavior, but I
thought it way a good way of getting your
attention. Over the years as a guide and writer
I've learned that one of the best ways to hunt any
animal is to use the right tactics at the right
time. In order to do that we have to understand how
the animal is acting at the time that we hunt it.

What causes peak breeding?
Peak breeding in many game animals is
triggered by the amount of sunlight (photoperiod),
which affects seasonal temperatures, which in turn
affects the seasonal growth of plants, which
affects how much food is available, which affects
the survivability of the young of the animals. To
make it simple; if it is too cold, to wet, or too
dry, there may not be enough food for the young
animals to eat (or their mothers to provide food,
such as milk), so that the young can survive. With
turkeys (which breed in the spring and have a short
time between breeding and live young on the ground)
this means that the young need to hatch when there
is new (spring) green growth and lots of insects
to eat.

Breeding Phases
When we are talking about hunting during the
breeding season, we first need to realize that most
animals go through several different phase during
their breeding season. These different phases can
probably best be described as the: 1. pre-breeding,
2. primary breeding, 3. post primary breeding, 4.
supplemental/late breeding and 5. post breeding
phases. When hunters (who rely on particular
breeding behaviors to hunt animals) are after
animals which use calls as a major part of their
breeding behavior (as in elk and turkeys) we also
need to realize that the calls used by the males of
the species to attract females often have
semi-regular peaks during the breeding phase; and
that these calling peaks usually coincide with one
or more of the above mentioned breeding phases.

Peak Gobbling
Tom turkeys use gobbling as a means of
attracting hens during the breeding season. And
since the toms are often ready to look for and
attract hens before (or when) the hens are not
ready (or willing) to breed, there may be one or
more gobbling peaks during the turkey breeding
season. Since toms gobble to attract hens, but
often reduce gobbling when hens are ready/willing
to breed, these gobbling peaks generally occur
prior to and after peak breeding. In other words
peak turkey gobbling usually occurs just prior to
and just after peak breeding, and since there is
often a second breeding phase, there is often a
peak in gobbling activity after the supplemental or
?late? breeding phase.

Why use calls to hunt turkeys?
Since it is often easy to locate tom turkeys
when they are actively gobbling, and since toms are
often fairly willing to respond to both tom and
hens calls during the same time frame as they are
actively gobbling, hunters often choose to hunt
during these gobbling peaks, and they often use
calls to figure out where the toms are at, and use
calls to get the toms to come in close for a shot.
We can use locator calls (like owl hoots, and
woodpecker, peacock and coyote calls), and hen
calls and gobbles to locate toms; and we can use
hen calls to bring the toms in close enough to
hunt.

Can we predict peak breeding and gobbling?
Somewhere in my job description as a game
researcher, and as an outdoor writer and speaker,
it states that I should do some research on when
peak breeding of the game occurs, and try to figure
out ways to predict when peak breeding and calling
occurs. I?ve spent four years researching turkeys
to figure out the different phases of the breeding
season.

When is Peak Gobbling in each State?
And, realizing that turkeys in different areas
breed at different times, because spring arrives at
different times in different areas, I contacted the
turkey researcher or biologist from as many states
as I could, and asked them when peak gobbling
usually occurred in their states. To find out when
peak gobbling usually occurs in your state, log on
to www.TRMichels.com, and click on ?Peak Turkey
Gobbling Dates? on the home page, or in the index.
This may help you choose the best times to hunt, or
know how to expect the turkeys to act during the
dates you hunt, which in turn can help you choose
the best tactics to use during your hunt.

Which Tactics to use during each Breeding Phase?
Somewhere in my job description as an
outfitter and guide it states that I should figure
out the best techniques to use hunt turkeys during
the different breeding phases. After several years
researching turkeys, and several years hunting
turkeys, I?ve devised several hunting techniques
for each particular breeding phase. You can view
these by logging on to www.TRMichels.com and
clicking on the ?Turkey Activity Graphs?, ?T.R.?s
Tips: Turkey Hunting? on the home page, and by
reading the ?Turkey Articles? in Trinity Mountain
Outdoor News.

If you have questions about turkey hunting,
feel free to log on to the ?T.R.?s Tips Talk Forum
/ Message Board? and ask away; either I or someone
else will get back to you as soon as we can. There
is a lot more information on turkey biology and
behavior, and on turkey hunting tactics and
techniques, in my Turkey Addict?s Manual.

Be safe and have a good time turkey hunting.

To contact T.R. Michels, or to view a catalog of
his books, and other hunting products, log on to
www.TRMichels.com.

T.R. Michels'
Trinity Mountain Outdoors
PO Box 284, 317 High Avenue
Wanamingo, MN 55983