This is a question I get ask often by new hunters. My response is ,It all depends . If I know exactly where he is roosted I want to get in there in the pitch dark and quietly get as close as I can to him. Or in other places I want to be 3 or 4 ridges back before I start "hunting" I want to be there in the darkness. But there are other times when its not crowded and I have a place to myself that I will start hunting as soon as I get out of the truck.These days I will stand at the truck ready to go and not start walking till daylight has started to break and the birds are chirping.
Anyone have other opinions or suggestions ?
Maybe call it overdoing it but even when I have a spot to myself I'm in at least an hour before dark. That means in as in set up, normally it's earlier.
When I roost birds I'll often go home get my gear n sleep at least half the night w them. The closer it it to daylight the more apt you are to bust em. Never do I just go in n hope or walk blindly. Truth is n it's only my opinion n perhaps the hardwoods I normally hunt but if the birds are already chirping the gobblers are up. They're in a tree n have a birds eye view of us walking in. That'd be the last time I'd be caught moving around the woods.
Yes if the first set up doesn't work I may run n gun but truthfully it's not my fav option. I should add a flashlight going in is unnatural n even at night will bust em if you get close, I never use one
Oh I should have added that I do NOT use a light and I only run and gun. I walk in and listen for a gobble and head to him. So being "setup" for me is sitting by a tree with gun on my knee
It's by no means picking apart your thread or criticizing anyone's methods. I'm just for the be where the birds are first thing method instead of hitting the woods w intent to find em. Now if preseason scouting allows us the birds are in the area n we have no time to roost the running n gunning in an area is great. I'd just be in a bit earlier n being its a learn to hunt forum just expressing the way I do it. I just feel earlier than birds awake is best in open woods, especially if you gotta get through fields first. Birds will see us coming 300 yards out in that situation
No offense taken. If I have put one to bed I will be as close as I dare before daylight. I always have a good idea where they are from preseason scouting. I dont have many fields where I hunt and you can get pretty dang close to one before he flies down if you know how to move around the woods. Do you always have one roosted or know exactly which bird you are going to hunt every day. ( Not trying to argue I really want to know)
Most times I do try n roost one. Last year I didn't have time but every bird I killed was a first light set up knowing already where those birds were roosting but I coulda been wrong those mornings.
I didn't even move to reposition on em. I'd not label that running n gunning though.
To be fair though I should add roosting birds by the house is almost a nightly thing, when I hunt a place bout a 1/2 hr away in NY its tougher so I'd imagine guys living even farther away would find it hard
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 10:16:51 AM
Maybe call it overdoing it but even when I have a spot to myself I'm in at least an hour before dark. That means in as in set up, normally it's earlier.
When I roost birds I'll often go home get my gear n sleep at least half the night w them. The closer it it to daylight the more apt you are to bust em. Never do I just go in n hope or walk blindly. Truth is n it's only my opinion n perhaps the hardwoods I normally hunt but if the birds are already chirping the gobblers are up. They're in a tree n have a birds eye view of us walking in. That'd be the last time I'd be caught moving around the woods.
Yes if the first set up doesn't work I may run n gun but truthfully it's not my fav option. I should add a flashlight going in is unnatural n even at night will bust em if you get close, I never use one
Interesting i have to know more, so let's say you roost a bird right at dark, so your saying you go back home get your gear and stay most of the night with the birds. So just how long are you sleeping under the tree waiting for these birds to wake up....?
I pre scout several areas. By scouting I mean go out and listen so I know where several are roosting. Combine that with the knowledge I already have of the area and constantly looking at topo maps and Google earth. Those things combined with a knowledge of turkey behavior you can guess where one will be and when he fires off head to him.
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 12, 2017, 12:01:03 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 10:16:51 AM
Maybe call it overdoing it but even when I have a spot to myself I'm in at least an hour before dark. That means in as in set up, normally it's earlier.
When I roost birds I'll often go home get my gear n sleep at least half the night w them. The closer it it to daylight the more apt you are to bust em. Never do I just go in n hope or walk blindly. Truth is n it's only my opinion n perhaps the hardwoods I normally hunt but if the birds are already chirping the gobblers are up. They're in a tree n have a birds eye view of us walking in. That'd be the last time I'd be caught moving around the woods.
Yes if the first set up doesn't work I may run n gun but truthfully it's not my fav option. I should add a flashlight going in is unnatural n even at night will bust em if you get close, I never use one
Interesting i have to know more, so let's say you roost a bird right at dark, so your saying you go back home get your gear and stay most of the night with the birds. So just how long are you sleeping under the tree waiting for these birds to wake up....?
Buddy I live in the town I hunt. If I was to get up it'd prob be 4 hours early anyway, just the way my body works. I'm not saying that's necessary it's just what I do. Since I'm up n minutes from home I just go in that 4 hours early n sleep. Why sit in the truck?
It's seems you're disbelieving. I never sleep straight through any night. And I don't sleep much as most guys. . .
Back to the thread earlier is better imo
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 12:17:41 PM
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 12, 2017, 12:01:03 PM
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 10:16:51 AM
Maybe call it overdoing it but even when I have a spot to myself I'm in at least an hour before dark. That means in as in set up, normally it's earlier.
When I roost birds I'll often go home get my gear n sleep at least half the night w them. The closer it it to daylight the more apt you are to bust em. Never do I just go in n hope or walk blindly. Truth is n it's only my opinion n perhaps the hardwoods I normally hunt but if the birds are already chirping the gobblers are up. They're in a tree n have a birds eye view of us walking in. That'd be the last time I'd be caught moving around the woods.
Yes if the first set up doesn't work I may run n gun but truthfully it's not my fav option. I should add a flashlight going in is unnatural n even at night will bust em if you get close, I never use one
Interesting i have to know more, so let's say you roost a bird right at dark, so your saying you go back home get your gear and stay most of the night with the birds. So just how long are you sleeping under the tree waiting for these birds to wake up....?
Buddy I live in the town I hunt. If I was to get up it'd prob be 4 hours early anyway, just the way my body works. I'm not saying that's necessary it's just what I do. Since I'm up n minutes from home I just go in that 4 hours early n sleep. Why sit in the truck?
It's seems you're disbelieving. I never sleep straight through any night. And I don't sleep much as most guys. . .
Back to the thread earlier is better imo
Not disbelieving , just curious , i'm usually in my hunting spot couple hours before daylight. Days before season opens, i have taken a garden rack and made a path to my hunting spot..lol It's just amazing what we will do to kill a turkey....lot's of fun....
Yes. I am not a young man n still can't sleep late if I'm going tomo. The only dif is now falling asleep became easier
Opening morning or a really hot spot on a Saturday morning on public land, I like to be super early, like an hour or more before daylight. That is only to get to my spot before anyone else does. Otherwise you can start hunting whenever you like. I work two jobs and one of them I get out between 830 and 9am. If I'm not headed into the other job, that's a great time to hit the woods too.
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Quote from: catman529 on March 12, 2017, 02:27:39 PM
Opening morning or a really hot spot on a Saturday morning on public land, I like to be super early, like an hour or more before daylight. That is only to get to my spot before anyone else does. Otherwise you can start hunting whenever you like. I work two jobs and one of them I get out between 830 and 9am. If I'm not headed into the other job, that's a great time to hit the woods too.
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Yes middle of the day is a great time to kill a bird...i've seen you kill birds up in the morning. Most would of already left for home...
If I have a bird roosted, I want to be in the field and set up an hour before shooting time begins. I will not use any light, and I will set up as physically close as possible to the bird without scaring him while he is sleeping and roosted.
I would love to be able to scout more, but my time schedule generally does not allow for such.
That being said, If I do not have a particular bird roosted, I want to be dressed and ready to go by shooting time, and be in a good vantage point by shooting time. I will let the birds gobble on their own and then try to set up on them as close as possible without scaring them.
Depends on the bird and the hunt... I have a spot I call the 10:00 field, it earned that name because it is a notoriously "bad" spot for first light hunts. Birds don't roost right there, do something else until they get there and not in the timber I can hunt... So I get to this spot around 9:00a or so and go. I typically hunt another spot first and this is plan "B"... So for the first set I am in early enough it's hard to see down to my toes :)
MK M GOBL
I go early and get back where I want to be while it is still dark. Turn off all lights when I get close to my hunting area and then wait for daylight. Usually don't have to long to hunt so I gotta kill em quick if I can.
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The places I hunt close to the house are horse farms that I maintain the trails on, so I know my way around in the dark. I was raised in a house where it was better to be an hour early than a minute late. Force of habit puts me near where I'm hunting at least an hour before daybreak. I go earlier of I need to cross open areas.
If I'm hunting other lands, I'll get close to the area I intend to hunt and move according to where the gobbles are coming from or where openings along the logging roads are. I seldom kill birds right off the roost. Most of my biggest gobblers are killed in late morning anyway.
Jim
Quote from: Greg Massey on March 12, 2017, 02:59:28 PM
Quote from: catman529 on March 12, 2017, 02:27:39 PM
Opening morning or a really hot spot on a Saturday morning on public land, I like to be super early, like an hour or more before daylight. That is only to get to my spot before anyone else does. Otherwise you can start hunting whenever you like. I work two jobs and one of them I get out between 830 and 9am. If I'm not headed into the other job, that's a great time to hit the woods too.
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Yes middle of the day is a great time to kill a bird...i've seen you kill birds up in the morning. Most would of already left for home...
yes and last year 3 of my 4 birds were close to sunset.
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Quote from: Greg Massey on March 12, 2017, 02:59:28 PM
Quote from: catman529 on March 12, 2017, 02:27:39 PM
Opening morning or a really hot spot on a Saturday morning on public land, I like to be super early, like an hour or more before daylight. That is only to get to my spot before anyone else does. Otherwise you can start hunting whenever you like. I work two jobs and one of them I get out between 830 and 9am. If I'm not headed into the other job, that's a great time to hit the woods too.
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Yes middle of the day is a great time to kill a bird...i've seen you kill birds up in the morning. Most would of already left for home...
yes and last year 3 of my 4 birds were close to sunset.
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At least an hour before daybreak. I like the woods to settle down a bit.
I typically like to be in and set up at least 30-45 minutes before the birds wake up
In a couple of the areas that I hunt, the turkeys may roost in one of several areas. Rather than try to roost them the evening before or get in too close the next morning, I set up my decoys in the grass field about 400 yards away where they typically head for after fly down, thus avoiding spooking them off their roost while giving me a little more time to get set up should I over-sleep. Be watching, however, because they often come in silent.
FTI...A friend often finds that it's his turn to take the kids to school, meaning that he won't get to the turkey woods before 9 a.m. Obviously the birds have already flown down and are on their way or have arrived at their breeding area, most often an open field of some sort. He stops in a spot where he can listen for gobbles in the distance in order to determine which field they have selected for the morning. He then makes his way toward them, setting up close to them but not such that he can see them or vise versa. He then begins calling with the hope of enticing a subordinate tom his way. Over the years, he has taken more than his share of gobblers using this approach. In addition, on two occasions, I've been in the woods mushroom hunting during the late morning only to hear a gobbler in the distance. This was a week before the turkey season opened. I quickly backed out of the area only to return during the turkey season and bag a nice tom. Since then, I've returned to these two areas which have consistently produced toms.
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 10:16:51 AM
Maybe call it overdoing it but even when I have a spot to myself I'm in at least an hour before dark. That means in as in set up, normally it's earlier.
When I roost birds I'll often go home get my gear n sleep at least half the night w them. The closer it it to daylight the more apt you are to bust em. Never do I just go in n hope or walk blindly. Truth is n it's only my opinion n perhaps the hardwoods I normally hunt but if the birds are already chirping the gobblers are up. They're in a tree n have a birds eye view of us walking in. That'd be the last time I'd be caught moving around the woods.
Yes if the first set up doesn't work I may run n gun but truthfully it's not my fav option. I should add a flashlight going in is unnatural n even at night will bust em if you get close, I never use one
Agreed. If the birds are chirping, you better be set up and ready.
Before first light........
I always have the roost located and at least one regular direction of travel for the birds before I hunt I will be in the woods and set up near the roost at least 15 min. before any light, I used to be there 30 min. before light but it's not necessary if I'm not hunting the roost I'll be there at first light.
For the newbies here, you should notice a constant theme,...the need to be in the woods very early,...well before daylight. Honestly, for me personally, I rarely kill a bird real early in the morning right when they come off the roost. However, the knowledge I gain from being there early is extremely important to my success later in the morning when I usually kill my gobblers.
One of the biggest benefits of being out there early is the fact that you will learn where your gobblers are,...and where they are not. It is a rare location where mature gobblers are not going to gobble some on the roost in the morning before they fly down. They might not gobble a lot,...but if you are hunting where there are male turkeys, you are most likely going to hear some gobbling from them in the first hour of light in the morning.
Even if you do not kill a bird first thing in the morning, the confidence you will gain in knowing that there are gobblers around (from hearing them) will keep you out there after them. Conversely, if you do not hear gobbling in a certain area at first light, that should be your first clue that you need to be looking for a better location to hunt,...if you have that option.
For me, there is nothing more discouraging than being in a silent woods and not having any idea if there are gobblers around or not. If I hear them at first light, I know they are there.
Early bird gets the worm but when your schedule allows. Some swear by sleeping in and hitting the woods when everyone else has called it quits. 9am-12 noon can be a magical time but so can off the roost. I really enjoy watching the day come to life so I'm an early bird gets the "bird" kinda guy.
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Quote from: trkehunr93 on March 28, 2017, 01:23:17 PM
Early bird gets the worm but when your schedule allows. Some swear by sleeping in and hitting the woods when everyone else has called it quits. 9am-12 noon can be a magical time but so can off the roost. I really enjoy watching the day come to life so I'm an early bird gets the "bird" kinda guy.
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I too enjoy hearing the woods wake up. There is nothing like it. Sure most of the birds I strike and call in are later on in the day, but the first hour of daylight is the best
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as early as allowed
After 27 Springs of Spring turkey hunting on very crowded gun club lands and public lands-- I know I can help some novice Spring turkey hunters here. I always make it a point to be the first guy to park . Usually 3.40am will do just that. Now I know this is super early- but I start to see the next Spring turkey hunter pull in around 3.50 usually. More will come right at 4.00am and the majority will be pulling up at 4.30am or so.
I usually have my Mountain bike outside my truck and I am ready to go. If, I have a 2 mile bike ride, I have time to see everyone come in. My advice to novice public land Spring turkey hunters is to pull into your parking area at 3.40am. Odds are- you will be first. Just be ready to also walk in first if you have a long walk. 28th Spring is coming up and like Bowguy, I will be out very early for the New Jersey Opener.
I don't roost birds, never have.I do know the areas where they roost.I know where they come out into the field. I know where they like to hit the crick. I know where they like to loaf. I'm going after a 30 pounder this fall, wish me luck.
I would rather be 2 hours early than 1 minute late.
About 8am works well for me, maybe 9am. I've shot most of my turkeys after 10am even when I started before first light. Prime time for me is 10am--1pm. I've often heard gobblers with hens at first light and stayed in their vicinity until I could tell the hens had gone to attend to nesting, usually around 10--11am and then the gobbler got more vocal. That's a great time to call them in. If I were going to bet $ I could get a turkey that day I'd locate them at or before dawn and then not try to call him in until about 11am. Depends a little on the time of the season but that's worked well for me for 50 years.
Quote from: catman529 on March 28, 2017, 05:03:42 PM
Quote from: trkehunr93 on March 28, 2017, 01:23:17 PM
Early bird gets the worm but when your schedule allows. Some swear by sleeping in and hitting the woods when everyone else has called it quits. 9am-12 noon can be a magical time but so can off the roost. I really enjoy watching the day come to life so I'm an early bird gets the "bird" kinda guy.
I too enjoy hearing the woods wake up. There is nothing like it. Sure most of the birds I strike and call in are later on in the day, but the first hour of daylight is the best
Add me to this list. Being there early is not about killing a turkey, its about walking through the woods under a night sky full of stars,....about waiting for that first morning gobble, and every one after that. Its about sitting down at my chosen set-up tree in the dark taking it all in, and contemplating, with great anticipation, how the morning will unfold,...wondering if I have made the right decision on where to sit,...wondering if that gobbler will come right to me off the roost,...or make me work for him,...or even if, after all is said and done, he will win and I will be walking out of the woods empty-handed,...and anticipating doing it all again the next morning.
Being there at that time, for me, is not an option,...it is an absolute necessity for me and my enjoyment as a spring gobbler hunter.
There's multiple variables. If I don't know where they roost I burn one day and listen to get an idea where they're roosting. Then next time I go in further much earlier. But this is on private land where I don't have to worry about hunters moving in on gobbles.
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I say sleep in eat a big breakfast.... wave at all the other hunters as there tired and gave up and get there about 10:30 am and hunt till 2:30 pm
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Nautical twilight.
Funny Sil!
Quote from: falltoms on September 27, 2017, 07:45:40 PM
I would rather be 2 hours early than 1 minute late.
I read thru the posts I figured somebody would use this quote but it is my motto as well. I very rarely hunt were there are any pastures or fields so I like darkness and plenty of time to get to wear I want to be without a lot of noise. I have several times roosted a gobbler and paced or counted my steps to a down tree creek etc. so I could get back in the dark. Leave the boots at the truck and ease back in the black dark. I don't think 2 hours before daylight is too early many times I've walked past a gobbler on the limb and had him sound off close behind me at daylight.
I have always been the type to get out there 2 or 3 hours before the light comes up, I do not move the best so I want to get in there and then let things settle down before the sun comes up. I used to walk with a cane so that was the other reason I would get there early. I do the same for deer season.
QuoteOpening morning or a really hot spot on a Saturday morning on public land, I like to be super early, like an hour or more before daylight.
An hour or more before daylight is not SUPER EARLY in my opinion. It is the absolute minimum. Do not use flashlights...and if you need light use a red or green muffled light.
[/quote] Do not use flashlights...and if you need light use a red or green muffled light. [/quote]
I agree.
Quote from: 3bailey3 on January 28, 2018, 05:52:36 PM
Funny Sil!
Bailey, there are some sunrise/moonrise tables on the net and I have printed out what I need for the season. One of the options is Nautical Light is one of the options. I find that is plenty good time, unless parking has become a problem. Just giving someone a time for tomorrow doesn't do one much good a month later.
I like an hour before sunrise to let the woods settle back down.
There are a lot of factors. Here in the mtns in Colo the turkeys often chatter in the trees well before daylight and are quiet once it gets close to sunrise. During the day they may be super quiet. They've learned if they make a cluck they end up on a bear, coyote, mtn lion, or bobcat's dinner plate! It's also super tough finding them when there is gobs of country with few turkeys that are quiet....and they are in trees where it's tough to see further than 100 yards. In that situation it's super nice finding them when they are chattered super, super early in the morning.
In Nebraska where I run and gun hunt it is super open country. Although it's fun listening to turkeys early before daylight on the roost and watching them fly down they often scatter and head to the hills after daylight. It's possible to locate them by spotting and stalking them all day long. There is a high enough concentration of birds that it's possible to find them all day long. When it's windy they may head into secluded draws but they still can be found. If I was hunting from decoys in that situation there would likely be one chance to decoy them at first light and again when they return to roost in the evening. In that case it would be essential to have things set up super early in the morning before daylight. 2 senerios for the same location.
The big thing I've found while turkey hunting is to be willing to change and adapt to what the turkeys are doing.
I hunt my own 200 acre farm exclusively now. I usually know where I'm going ahead of time. The best thing I've found is to be in place about 20-30 minutes before the first gobble. If I'm looking to change things up, I may start out a bit later, and head for one of my listening posts so that I'm there right as I'm hearing the first distant gobbles. I generally don't use a locator call, just because I have enough owls, crows and whatever to do the work for me.
Anytime is a good time(open shooting hours). My Grandfather always told me you can't shoot em sitting
In the living room chair. It's great if you can pick and choose. I hunt when time permits. I just love being in the woods!
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 14, 2018, 10:59:37 AM
Quote from: catman529 on March 28, 2017, 05:03:42 PM
Quote from: trkehunr93 on March 28, 2017, 01:23:17 PM
Early bird gets the worm but when your schedule allows. Some swear by sleeping in and hitting the woods when everyone else has called it quits. 9am-12 noon can be a magical time but so can off the roost. I really enjoy watching the day come to life so I'm an early bird gets the "bird" kinda guy.
I too enjoy hearing the woods wake up. There is nothing like it. Sure most of the birds I strike and call in are later on in the day, but the first hour of daylight is the best
. I agree, watching the fields come alive, seeing elk walk by 10 feet away, mountain lions, bears, all of that , and it's all for the spring turkey Hunter, real early in the am.
Add me to this list. Being there early is not about killing a turkey, its about walking through the woods under a night sky full of stars,....about waiting for that first morning gobble, and every one after that. Its about sitting down at my chosen set-up tree in the dark taking it all in, and contemplating, with great anticipation, how the morning will unfold,...wondering if I have made the right decision on where to sit,...wondering if that gobbler will come right to me off the roost,...or make me work for him,...or even if, after all is said and done, he will win and I will be walking out of the woods empty-handed,...and anticipating doing it all again the next morning.
Being there at that time, for me, is not an option,...it is an absolute necessity for me and my enjoyment as a spring gobbler hunter.
Quote from: Bowguy on March 12, 2017, 11:19:48 AM
It's by no means picking apart your thread or criticizing anyone's methods. I'm just for the be where the birds are first thing method instead of hitting the woods w intent to find em. Now if preseason scouting allows us the birds are in the area n we have no time to roost the running n gunning in an area is great. I'd just be in a bit earlier n being its a learn to hunt forum just expressing the way I do it. I just feel earlier than birds awake is best in open woods, especially if you gotta get through fields first. Birds will see us coming 300 yards out in that situation
. Yep, that's right.They can see for a half mile.You have to get in in the dark.