turkey question

[KNOXY]

New Turkey hunter. Was hunting friday morning. On the west side, really rainy.  Got into my spot about 5am around 7am I heard what I thought were turkeys flying down from their roost. The sound sounded like a dribbling basketball (kind like a Whoom whoom whoom followed by low base thud.ddddddd sound.) went on every 5 to 10 min for about an hour.  Sat for 5 hours they never came into that spot.  Didn't know if they were flying down from roost or drying their wings off from the rain, or if it was a Tom Drumming.  any thoughts you might have on what you think the sound was and tatics if it was a tom drumming I tried some quiet purrs but no success. also the Tom's were not gobbling.  I know I'm in the right spot have some real big toms on my trail cam.  Thanks for the help.

[turkeyfeather]

I think you have it right. Sounds like them flying down and drumming. How to get them in after that is the million dollar question. I had that same exact problem this morning. If you figure it out please let me know.

[tlbradford]

I disagree.  Sounds like you were by a ruffed grouse.  Check out "drumming ruffed grouse" on youtube and see if that's what you were hearing.

[KNOXY]

TL bradford thanks......boy I feel like a knuckle head  I was getting all jacked up thinking a bunch of birds were flying down.... wrong kind of bird   well I still keep sitting, hopefully this blind Sow will find an acorn. Thanks

[Machias]

Don't feel bad, my first spring hunting turkeys I kept hearing these small engine dirtbikes starting up and putting along and then shutting down.      These guys must be hunting because they don't ride very far before shutting down.  It was grouse.   

[tlbradford]

Yeah, the good news is that sound will be ingrained forever.  A turkey drum is more like a big base speaker vibration that last a couple of seconds.  Good luck shooting a big one.

[PA BEN]

Toms make a spit sound then drum. The spit sound is the sound w/they flick there wings across the ground when there in strut.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah no doubt a GROUSE !! turkeys will not just keep flying down for an hour... this time of year when your turkey hunting the grouse are drumming all day !!

[Heartsblood]

Don't forget where ya heard them grouse either...
Come hunting season you'll have a fair amount of luck finding grouse in that area as Ruffy's aren't that travel happy supposedly - if it's good habitat, that's where they want to be. I dunno if you hunt grouse or not but they are excellent table fare and a good challenge (usually) if ya haven't gone after 'em yet. Make a mental note of it or mark it in your journal.

My first year turkey hunting, I thought that sound was my heart beat - scared the hell out of me it speeding up like that! Jaysis...

[goducks]

three years ago we were set up above a field and had this grouse drumming about 10 feet away from us. I love nature. couldn't get the tom to leave his lady though