Mississippi’s spring turkey season has entered its second week and things are off to a slow start. A few gobblers have been reported as harvested, but turkey hunters should look ahead because the best time to hunt is quickly approaching.
It’s been a relatively typical turkey season, with turkey hunting action not intensifying too quickly. We have been fortunate enough to experience a couple of cool and crisp, high-pressure mornings, which resulted in good gobbling activity. However, winds have been blowing almost daily since the season opened, hindering many hunters.
The good news is that several good weather days are in the forecast, but so are some rainy days. So, if you like still mornings or rainy evenings, both are in the short-term weather patterns.
Gobbling expected
Being a near-typical Mississippi turkey season so far, the peak of gobbling activity is yet to be. Historically, that falls around April 5 and hunters can expect the same for this season. Look for the second week of April for that special time when you will get the best responses from gobblers.
What are the gobblers doing now?
The consensus among hunters appears to be that gobbling is heard on the roost, and after the fly-down, gobbling activity decreases dramatically or ceases altogether. After fly-down, gobblers are quickly assembling with hens and following closely behind them, they are not gobbling as much.
Groups of gobblers haven’t diminished. While the more mature toms are separating and establishing territories, some gobblers are still bunched up. If hunters see or hear groups of two or three gobblers together, it is likely that they are two-year-olds or jakes.
Change is coming!
Mature toms are roosting near or with hens, making early morning kills a little more difficult. This will change around the end of the first week of April as hens start to nest and progressively spend more time away from toms.
Tactics and strategies
Continue doing what you are doing and spend as much time as possible in the pre-dawn woods. Patience is key at this time of the season and will pay off. If a gobbler answers you, stay put. The lack of gobbling doesn’t mean he’s gone; he may come in quietly. Be still and look for them in all directions. Staying put is more productive this time of the year versus running and gunning. The turkey woods are just starting to ‘green up,’ and turkeys can spot movement at long distances right now.
Make your plans
The peak of turkey season is just a couple of weeks away, and it may be time to plan a vacation or take advantage of ‘sick’ days. Review the weather forecasts for your area and select the days with the best predicted cool and high-pressure conditions.
This year, turkey hunters should plan on good turkey hunting throughout the entire season, all the way up to the last week.
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