Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Spring Hunts

Getting ready to put in app and I see for spring turkey there are 2 hunts, an early hunt lasts 6 days and a second hunt that's 20 days. Why 2 hunts? Is one better than other? Are turkeys mating during the entire time for both hunts?

it might help if you told us where you are talking about

Yes this^^^^^^^^^^^^

I would go for the longer hunt.

The trend has been to schedule seasons to start before peak breeding so hunters hear more gobbling. Later hunts may be during peak breeding or after. These things vary by location. And seasons have been changing as states try to act like they're doing something about population decline.

If the first season is before peak breeding and I were inexperienced I'd go for the first one. You're more likely to hear gobbling and luck into a young one that wants to commit suicide.

Spring turkey seasons are traditionally set after the peak breeding season....That way all the hens are hopefully bred before the season opens.

That's what they have said, but it isn't what was done. That lull in gobbling a little way into season is when peak breeding is happening.

In the past few years some states are changing to what they claimed to have been doing. Some are moving season starts to the middle of peak breeding while claiming it is after. They clearly hope the lack of gobbling will lead to fewer kills.

The first hunt gets 7 days, then the second hunt gets 7 day, then both hunts start again until the end. Usually the first hunt is best as its closest to the "rut" but the entire spring turkey season is in the breading time frame. Just the farther you get in the year the higher the chance the toms are with hens and less receptive to coming to calls.