I discovered a sure fire way to tell what direction drumming is coming from. I cover a lot of country when Turkey hunting and often I hear gobblers drumming that never gobble. Most of the time it is difficult for me to course exactly what direction the drumming is coming from. I discovered that if I get real still, hold my breath and use all my instincts to determine what direction the drumming sounds like it coming from, then turn 180° around I will be positioned just about perfect.

Sounds about right.

That is a difficult sound to course until it gets within about 50yds from you.

It seems like I can feel it in my chest when theyre close. Had one yesterday that we worked for a record amount of time for both me and my partner-3.5 hours. Dang bird just kept gobbling at us and finally came in when we closed the distance for the 3rd time. Of course it came in behind me and stayed there. Needless to say, i finally got busted trying to sneak a peek. This was after two other close encounters that morning.

Ive probably shot around 23-25 birds and been present or part of twice that. Not an expert by any means, but they can make a guy feel pretty dumb some days! Back at it Thursday-2 tags to fill by the end of May and two buddies have tags as well.

Then you get the phantom drumming. Was that drumming I heard?

It always starts that way. Was that drumming or the jet that’s flying over? I think it’s drumming, now I don’t hear it. Oh wait there it is again.

Last Saturday I was walking a logging road. I swore I could hear a trucks jake brake off in the distance. I walk around a curve in the road and there stands 2 gobblers. Needless to say I came home empty handed. In my defense, my hearing sucks.

lol a least you can hear them, i have a hard time hearing them gobble,

I know a guy who has turkey hunted for years and says he never heard what he thought was drumming

Add me to that list. If I hear their feathers "snap", they are way too close if I don't already have a bead on them.

Had one jump on the log I was leaning against and drum. Talk about jumping out of your skin. He hadn't made a sound and I had no ideal he was around.....

I have turkey hunted for 45 years and can honestly say I never heard it. I have heard the wings dragging and heard him spit but never drum.

I don’t hear drumming…I feel it if that makes sense.

I understand what you're saying. I can hear it, but I feel it in my chest too.

Physically can they drum and spit out of strutting? Only when strutting have I heard them drum and spit.....just got me thinking, I have never heard either of those actions outside when a bird is strutting. I would call it an action associated with strut. Thoughts?

I hear drumming all the time while in the turkey woods. 99% of the time it turns out to be nothing at all. But it helps keep me alert. LOL