Originally Posted By: AU coonhunter
I hunted 6 different private properties in Madison and Limestone counties. I heard or saw birds on each property, but only saw/heard gobblers on three of them (one place I went with a friend and heard 1 gobbler). The other 3 were full of hens and/or jakes. I hunted 18-20 times (a few afternoon hunts), and gobblers just weren't around. Two weeks before our season started there were 9 gobblers and 45 or so hens, but once they busted up they headed for parts unknown. I saw two gobblers on this place the opening week and missed one on another place opening day. I kept hoping some of the other gobblers would filter back in, but they never did. I have a suspicion that these guys may have been my biggest problem, 17 of them lol.





I think your problem was my problem also. On the properties I hunted I saw groups of 4, 3, and 2 jakes... and ran across countless number of jake tracks on well pads. I may have run across a few jakes last year, but if I did it was an isolated bird and not anywhere close the number I saw this year. Couple those two things together... a lot of jakes and not many two-year olds and the result is probably poor gobbling.