Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Spitting and drumming

Do birds always do it when they're strutting and how close do you have to be to hear it?

I ask because I recently watched a bird strut for over an hour at 80 yards and never heard spitting or drumming.

In my experiences, every bird is different. I have killed some that were in full strut and drumming, I have killed some that were not strutting, but were drumming. I have killed some that were strutting but not drumming. Some of the birds had a really loud drum that I could hear from 60-100ish yards away and others had a really soft drum that I could barely hear even when they were inside of 40 yards. I think each bird and possibly each situation is unique. No science here, just observations.

I can hear spitting, can't hear drumming. Pisses me off

I've had them at 10 steps doing it and buddies with me talking about how intense the drumming was

I just can't hear it

Most do it at some point when they are strutting, but not the entire time they are strutting. They don't have to spit and drum to strut is what I'm saying I guess.

I hear the "spit" a lot more than I hear the drum. My first ever encounter with a gobbler was with a silent bird after it had rained the night before. I was sitting against a white oak and a hen was roosted not 50 yards from me. I was cutting up with her and all of a sudden I hear and feel the weirdest sensation. It was like a subwoofer was on the lowest volume playing a constant bass note. He was behind me within 10 yards. I don't hear then drumming very often.

I can hear the spit from over 100 yards(on several occasions) but have only heard drumming 5-6 times. But the ones I did hear were shaking the ground. I think some are just louder than others

If I can hear the drumming I know he is within range. I can't hear it past about 40yds.

If my deaf ass hears one drum it's in killing range!

Thats exactly what I hear. The pressure..of like a sub woofer. The first time..I was annoyed...what the heck was going on with my ears...then I saw him.

Now I try to zero in on it. When I feel/hear that they are killin close...

Ive heard it at 80-100 yards. 2 years ago I was walking back to the truck on an old logging road. Stopped for a min for whatever reason, and thought I heard drumming. It got a little louder so I sat down and called a little. He was just over a little rise to my right, he walked to 8-10 steps and got dead.
My dad, however, cant hear it at all.

When I was a kid I asked my dad why I can hear that ghetto bastards radio from here? Nearest shack was miles away. He just said son take your safety off now! I wish I could hear that one more time like that day.

I'm sick of hearin it lately cause it's driving me nuts...past two hunts I've heard it for 2 hours each time and no birds were killed (one was cause I missed tho)

Once I finally heard it the first time I can hear it at 60-80 yards now. I got on a bird last year that was 60+ yards away and drummed so hard it was hurting my head. When you can feel them drumming it's awesome.

Hell I hear drumming so well that sometimes I think I hear it For hours at a time when there ain't a bird around. I've heard it many times and that was the only give away that a bird was within a mile of me. The first bird I killed this year never gobbled but came in drumming from who knows where, he was at 40 yards when he drummed first.

I can hear the spitting. I need my son with me for him to ask me if I hear the drumming just so I can say no.

If I can hear the drumming he's usually close enough to kill. Occasionally on still quiet mornings I can hear it from 100 yards or more, but typically inside 50. I heard it more in TX last week than anywhere else I've ever been, and it was intense.

I can hear it very well, I would guess at 100 yards at least in the woods.

Yep me too

I don't hear it very well.

I'm this way as well, sometimes further if he's in a pasture or clearcut.