We've all heard the saying, "All is fair in love and war," but do we really believe it? The trouble is, love and war are sometimes hard to distinguish. That's true in the turkey woods. We lure gobblers with promises of love, then we shoot them. Is it love, or is it war?
More hunters should realize the springtime gobbler has both love and war on his mind. He sometimes has to go to war to gain his right to love the hen. When gobblers go war over a hen, the sound they make is called "the fighting purr." It's a loud, aggressive rattling sound that tells every turkey within earshot that a prize fight is going on, and the prize is a sweet little hen. Knowing that secret will bring you more success, so learn the fighting purr.
Everyone understands the "love" part of spring turkey hunting, but those who understand the "war" part will tag more gobblers. Check out my latest column, Love and War (in the Turkey Woods), and when love fails, make war.