I've noticed a couple drumming threads on here recently, so I wanted to add some info to those discussions. I know its a rather long answer to one of the previous questions, but I like to talk about turkeys..........my wife believes I have a disorder of some sort. Has anyone had any different experience with drumming than myself?
I’m not familiar with the sounds grouse make, except for what I’ve heard online or television, but I’ve heard turkeys drumming enough that I can pick the sound out without any difficulty anymore. However, I had to learn what the sound was. The first time I heard it hunting Easterns in IL, over 20 years ago, I had already shot the tom before it registered with me that the low base vrooooooooooooooooom sound I had been listening to as he strutted into gun range was coming from the turkey.
Both birds that we worked Saturday in MT did a lot of drumming. Both birds were without hens and were drumming as they strutted in an attempt to attract the hen they thought was close by. The drumming sound is made as they strut. They don’t always make the sound, so when they are strutting, you may hear the sound and you may not. However, you can bet if you’re hearing a turkey drum, they are strutting. I’ve heard them as far away as 100 yards, but usually you can expect that they are closer than that. The spit portion of a spit and drum sounds like "pft", but they are that much closer if you're hearing that portion. It’s definitely not a time to do any moving. Sometimes they are with hens, sometimes they are displaying in an area hoping to attract unseen hens or you, and sometimes they do it as they strut all the way into the call. You may even hear them drumming in the morning while they strutt on the limb they’re roosted on.
I’ve killed lone birds that strutted and drummed all the way to the call. I’ve also had “henned-up” birds strut and drum all the way to the call with hens in the lead, with hens following, and (not too often) after leaving the hens. The calling circumstances varied from screaming rude yelps and cuts to soft purrs and almost inaudible yelps. Leaving the hens is less likely, but it’s not a “never” situation the same as a hung up bird is not “always” with hens.
Remember this while turkey hunting………there are no absolutes on how or when a bird is willing to respond. There are a few general rules……maybe. The only absolute is you can’t kill him lying in bed or sitting on the couch. On any given day a bird that has refused to come in for days on end will run to the call like he’s never heard a sweeter sound.
The drumming sound is difficult to capture on audio/video recordings. Here is a video I found using Google that does a decent job of recording the audio. The drumming starts at about 1:45. I didn't watch all of the video so I'm not vouching for any of its content other than the drumming.
Steve Grace 1st Turkey Kill- Cherokee Sports Turkey Hunt
