By Jim Low
The Missouri Department of Conservation and the National Wild Turkey Federation once again are looking for early-rising volunteers to continue a five-year study of turkey gobbling habits. Besides the pleasure of hearing lusty mating calls of male wild turkeys twice a week, participants can hope  to win a shotgun or a lifetime hunting permit in return for their contributions to science.
The work is part of a study aimed at discovering when the peak periods of gobbling activity occur. With this information, the Conservation Department will be better equipped to set the dates of spring turkey hunting season to coincide with the period when gobblers are most receptive to calling.
Volunteers count the number of gobbles and the number of gobbling birds they hear during a 20-minute period before sunrise at least twice weekly between  March 14 and May 8. “Gobbleteers” choose their listening locations. The study runs through 2011.
To join the gobbleteer study, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/13771, or send an e-mail with a subject line of “Gobbleteer” to Jamey.Decoske@mdc.mo.gov. You will receive a reply with information about setting up a gobbleteer account.
Last year’s gobbleteers don’t need to do anything. They automatically will receive information about this years’ reporting procedures via e-mail.
Tom turkeys are most vocal just before hens become receptive to mating and just after hens begin incubating their eggs. This creates two peaks in gobbling.  Volunteer reports will help biologists determine whether the current timing of spring turkey season meets the goal of putting hunters in the woods during the second peak in gobbling.
The study also seeks to discover any relationships between gobbling and other factors, such as weather and spring leaf-out. Each year’s study results are  published on the Turkey Federation’s Missouri Chapter website.