As we move into mid-April, spring gobbler seasons are open in more than half of the states across the country. And in many of those states, gobblers are getting increasingly henned-up. But that doesn't mean you can't hang your tag on one.
Last month, we kicked off our 2025 Strut Reporters coverage by breaking down the five key phases of the turkey breeding season and asking 15 experts from across the country to pick the key dates when turkey hunting will be at its best in your neck of the woods. We’ve covered the pre-breeding and early-breeding phases, and now it’s time to tackle what most hunters consider the toughest part of the season: peak breeding.
When we asked one of our experts to offer a tip for the peak-breeding phase, he said “Go fishing.” But the truth, of course, is that you can score when most toms are paired up, and we’ve got plenty of tips and tactics to help you do just that. Some of you (like me) are still waiting for your spring opener. That’s okay. All the information below will apply when your season opens and your birds hit the peak-breeding phase. The key is knowing what to look for. So, let’s start with a breakdown of the peak-breeding phase.
Strut Phase: Peak Breeding
Peak breeding is just what it sounds like. It’s the period when the greatest number of hens are ready to breed, and therefore (with toms always being ready and willing) the period when the most breeding takes place. As a result, you can expect most dominant gobblers to be paired up, often for the better part of the day. Odds are you’ll hear limited gobbling on the morning roost and only sporadic gobbling once birds are on the ground. All in all, it's a lot like the lockdown phase of the whitetail rut in that the hunting is tough but there are opportunities. Two-year-old toms that don't have hens can be both vocal and responsive, and while it can take some patience and refined tactics, you certainly can kill a boss gobbler now, too.
How to Hunt the Henned-Up Toms
At times during the peak-breeding phase, it can seem like the birds have all gone underground or moved to another county. Or you can find toms easily enough, but they're henned-up and unresponsive. That's the bad news. The good news is that if you stick it out, you'll find that there are also specific times (and places) when toms are vulnerable and you can take advantage with a handful of tactics. Here are five that can work now.
1. Get Super-Tight to a Roosted Tom
Dominant gobblers roosted with hens are apt to sound off only a few times on the limb, maybe a few times more when they first hit the ground, and then shut up. The classic roost hunt—where you set up 75 to 100 yards off the roost tree and call the tom in—is a low-odds play now because he's probably not leaving his real hens to come check you out. If you want to kill a gobbler off the roost now, you need him to pretty much fly down into gun range. It's a risky play, but it can work. Get in super-early—an hour or more before dawn—and slip right under the roost. If you stay low and go slow, you'll be surprised how close you can get under the cover of total darkness. Don't call until your gobbler hits the ground. You may not have to call at all. But if he doesn't fly down into gun range, mimic the lead hen in an attempt to call her past you, dragging the tom with her.
2. Back Off the Roost
Another way to deal with toms roosted with hens is to hang back a ways and wait for the birds to hit the ground. There's always a period after fly down when the birds are gathering together before heading off in one direction or another. Listen closely for the hens calling and, if necessary, try to pull an occasional gobble out of the tom to keep tabs. Once you have a good feel for what direction they are going off the roost, quickly circle around to get in front of them. With a little luck, this will put you close enough inside their bubble that a tom will come give you a look. This tactic works best in hilly or rolling terrain where it's easy to make a move, or moves, without getting busted.
3. Ambush a Boss Gobbler
One of the highest-odds plays for a dominant gobbler now is to simply park yourself in a spot where you know a henned-up tom likes to strut or where hens will go to feed or dust, as the toms will follow. The key to this tactic is diligent scouting. The more time you spend driving around or otherwise glassing and marking birds throughout the day, noting when they hit certain fields or ridges or transition areas, the better. Then just plant yourself in a good spot with plenty of time to spare and wait it out. A blind is a good idea, as it will keep you hidden and comfy while you wait.
4. Reap a Henned-Up Tom
Fanning and reaping are most effective during the early season, when toms are less preoccupied with breeding and more aggressive about fighting. But that doesn't mean you can't find a gobbler willing to mix it up now. If you can spot a gobbler (or two) that's actively strutting for a group on hens, you're odds of slipping close with a fan or getting him to come to a reaping decoy are at least decent.
5. Find the Hot Bird
Just because most dominant gobblers are henned-up for much of the day now doesn't mean you can't find a lonely tom gobbling his head off and ready to run to you. As hens start nesting, even dominant gobblers will find themselves alone for stretches and you may well find a 2-year-old bird that's left out of the action and looking for company. If you have a good amount of ground to hunt, this is not a bad time to run and gun. You may have to do a lot more running before you find that hot bird, but when you do, it'll be worth it.
5 Expert Tips for Hunting the Peak Breeding Phase
1. Brett Ladeau, Northeast
For the peak-breeding time, I usually look for feeding areas and/or dusting areas. I like targeting the hens, because when they show up they're likely to have a tom with them. I'll do that, or I'll be extremely mobile, covering as much ground as possible, trying to strike a subordinate tom that’s looking for a hen.
2. Will Brantley, Mid-South
This is by far the toughest portion of the season, but you can still be successful. Don't expect much gobbling, but hens will be hitting fields to bug during the warmest, sunniest parts of the day. The gobblers will follow them wherever they go. Cellular trail cameras are great for scouting several fields at once, but driving around and glassing is more fun. When I find a strutter, I look for a good ambush point, set up in the shade the next day, and shoot him when he walks in. Sometimes, no calling is needed. It's not the most enjoyable way to kill a gobbler, but it can be one of the most effective, and it's how I've killed several of my biggest birds that just wouldn't play the game otherwise.
3. Brian Lovett, Upper Midwest
You're apt to find lots of henned-up gobblers now, but as with any phase of the breeding season, you'll also find some longbeards by themselves and still pretty receptive to calling. You can't go wrong by roosting a bird in the evening and then getting tight to him the next morning. Even if he's with hens, you're solidly in the game. If I strike out at flydown and turkeys shut up, I typically refer back to my scouting and set up at a place where birds like to travel, feed, or loaf. Depending on the foliage and terrain, I might walk and call later in the morning or switch to another likely setup and cold-call again. And I'll hunt as long as I can, even into the afternoon wherever it's legal.
4. Jace Bauserman, Rocky Mountain West
I don't recommend it on public land, but on private land, my peak-breeding strategy is to strap a bow-mounted strutter decoy on my bow and go looking for a fight.
5. Steve Stoltz, Midwest
Hunt the hens—not literally, of course—but the better you know the hen patterns in your area the better you will do with henned-up gobblers. Set up in areas that hens like to frequent, and you can be successful. Also, setting up and bind calling throughout your hunting area can work if a satellite bird hears your calling. Gobblers may come in silent, so act as if there is a bird answering every time you call. This way you will be prepared when one shows up. Listening closely for spitting and drumming can be a key to success now, too.
