In the past, I have watched turkey flocks day in and out for several weeks in a row. Many guys scout way to early and there maybe some birds in those areas, but the biology and sociology of turkeys affects where birds will be.
Here is how I have viewed the transitional stages of turkeys..
Once the pecking order has been established in these wintering flocks many of the males will then compete for hens. The spring breakup will continue for weeks. Toms are busy breeding and trying to keep track of hens and other toms trying to steal hens. We have so many hens nowadays It is highly likely most toms will have a girlfriend or two. The hens once bred will start to get nesting sites ready and many already have established nesting areas that they will go to every year. This in itself tends to spread out the local population and many toms will follow. During this period you will see toms and hens on the roost, they hit the ground around 5: 45 am and will breed and feed for 1-3 hours...then the hens will start heading to nesting areas to preen and get nest ready for laying...most of these hens are sick of being pestered by the toms, because they think like most guys...well she gave it to me yesterday maybe I'll get lucky today!..(I have seen slutty hens too, that tend to like it, that is another issue...damn hens) So if you are hunting during this period you will see lone hens around 10-3 o'clock. Now remember there are lots of hens so if she isn't putting out those toms are looking and chasing...This is the reason why I kill 90% of my gobblers while most hunters are eating lunch.
..Once the hens are done getting the nest ready they head back to roost to be with the flock. And it starts all over the next day. Once the hen starts laying eggs she will lay and one egg per day until she's done. If a hen has 12 eggs in her nest it took her 12 days to lay them. During the laying period you will see lone hens in the afternoons and they will go back to roost. Once the hen is done with the laying she will start incubating...So how do you as hunters know this is happening during season? Many hens when incubating will get up to eat and *censored* once/twice a day. An incubating hen will Golf ball size droppings. Once these hens start incubating the roost becomes emptier an emptier. There will still be immature hens that will be on the roost. THis is a fun time to hunt usually first two weeks of May...because when the roost is empty what you will see are toms looking and searching and traveling looking for anything to hump. Kinda like the first days of spring break! LOL
I once jumped a hen off of a nest in the Kelly Hill area on May 1st..she had 14 eggs...that meant she started laying on Opening Day. Which is normally the case that most hens are bred before opening day..This is also ehy they don't have turkey seasons to early.
I know that even if I have done my homework and know where they will be..It is hard to figure how far some of these turkeys will go from wintering areas to what they call home or where they will raise their young. I know this varies a lot but it What I see is Merriams like to accomplish this in elevation, where Rios will tend to go higher if it is there but they will go further distance wise. Again it also is relative to habitat and how much it will support. Up north in Stevens county...Snowberry (buck brush, where the ticks live LOL)) in the understory is the most common species. Many Merriam hens will start nesting with when the snowberry starts leafing out (turning green). So that is one indicator I use as to what stage the turkeys maybe at.
So in essance I like to scout the week before I go...I also have hunted several areas and I know for the most part where birds may be. I still like roosting the bird or putting them to bed...It adds to the hunt but when you know the birds will be there...you don't have to go in and blow the owl call or bugger it up. I like listening vs. calling...get up high in the evenings and just wait..If I want I coyote howl, etc..but there is some element of surprise to that.
The one good thing about scouting early is learning the habits of the turkeys at different times of the day. I have scouted some flocks that might loaf around a pasture for 5 hours before going to water or to scratch.
The biggest problem to scouting early is that if the turkeys move onto private land and off of the area you secured permission for , you maybe calling at ghosts come opening day.
One tip if you are hunting an area that is new is talk with the landowner and ask him what the birds do...do they travel which direction, where do the gobble in May?, etc...
Some guys hunt the same spot every year ,because they know what the birds do...
Early scouting does get you keyed up that is for sure. If I go any earlier than a week before I can't sleep, I dream about them and then Opening day comes and I look like I just saw RAMBO for the first time...I kill the first damn tom I see and then I get it out of my system...I like the hunt the kill is almost anticlimactic.
The other thing we do in our camp is enjoy the bird...We don't flock shoot or kill more than one tom a day...even though you can. I love enjoying the hunt and the moment/accomplishment. I also can say that I enjoy the gobble the most. IT makes me feel alive.
I should write a book...LOL sorry guys for the long reply...
