I have buddies who every time I say " hey you wanna hunt in the morn" say things like... Its gonna be to windy ..or man this cold front is gonna shut em down so ill wait.. or they saying it might rain. i really should go to work ect.. but they will talk turkey with me .. Now Im no expert and dont claim to be anything here.. I just love to hunt turkeys and I end up wIth a limit most every year ... my secret you ask?
ROLL OUT OF BED AND GET OUT THERE!!!!!
Ok there it is fight me :funnyturkey:
27 degrees yesterday morning and 29 this morning. My boy took a nice gobbler yesterday and I took one this morning. Bout had to drag out the deer season clothes. I almost talked myself out of getting out of bed that early today, but sure glad I didn't!!!!
#1 Turkey tip: you can't harvest one from the couch, gotta be in it to win it.....
The turkeys are out there no matter what(ie. rain, wind, cold etc.). IMO the key to success is persistence, dedication and patience. You can't get one from the couch. I agree with strum 100% however time in the woods and matching wits with a smart gobbler is more important to me at this point than the kill. I love the game!
I was always taught to hunt like your being hunted.
Hunt where there are turkeys!!!!
Quote from: wareagle22 on April 24, 2021, 01:52:05 AM
Hunt where there are turkeys!!!!
^^^^^^This right here!
Doesn't matter what the weather is, if there's no turkeys around......took me awhile to figure that out lol.
Quote from: Chordeiles on April 24, 2021, 04:08:35 AM
Quote from: wareagle22 on April 24, 2021, 01:52:05 AM
Hunt where there are turkeys!!!!
^^^^^^This right here!
Doesn't matter what the weather is, if there's no turkeys around......took me awhile to figure that out lol.
Yep been there too. Sometimes though you got to take a chance. I may invest one morn to a questionable spot but ill not keep going back if I find its a dud.
Quote from: strum on April 23, 2021, 06:28:08 PM
I have buddies who every time I say " hey you wanna hunt in the morn" say things like... Its gonna be to windy ..or man this cold front is gonna shut em down so ill wait.. or they saying it might rain. i really should go to work ect.. but they will talk turkey with me .. Now Im no expert and dont claim to be anything here.. I just love to hunt turkeys and I end up wIth a limit most every year ... my secret you ask?
ROLL OUT OF BED AND GET OUT THERE!!!!!
Yep,...all other things being equal, perseverance and persistence are probably what matters the most. Learn where the turkeys are. Learn how to call. Learn the required woods skills.
After that, stay out there after 'em,...even when you are discouraged, frustrated, and think there is no hope!
Quote from: Chordeiles on April 24, 2021, 04:08:35 AM
Quote from: wareagle22 on April 24, 2021, 01:52:05 AM
Hunt where there are turkeys!!!!
^^^^^^This right here!
Doesn't matter what the weather is, if there's no turkeys around......took me awhile to figure that out lol.
^^^^^^^ This
And no matter what call you have ($$$), if they aren't there, they wont play.
:OGani:
Be confident In what you are doing! If your going to call to him, call to him. Don't think about it you'll tense up. Your calling will not be like your practice. You'll grasp the striker/ paddle tighter losing vibration. You'll press your tongue harder against the call. It won't sound right. You can do it. You've done it plenty of times practicing. Be confident.
Hunt like your being hunted is a good one mentioned earlier. Always be ready. Keep movements to a minimum. Think about how fast your legs are moving when going through the woods. Keep them slow.
Your #1 tool is your ears. Use them. Listen to the woods around you. Squirrels barking, crows squawking, leaves rustling can be clues that a bird is near. Pay attention. Most often it's not the case but some of time it is and you'll be ready. Listen for that contact cluck. Turkeys use it when they think another turkey is near. It's only one cluck. If your not paying attention you'll miss it and most likely spook the bird.
Put the dang phone down! Word games while turkey hunting????? I'm not even going there!
Get as close as possible, call softly.
IT'S A GAME, GET OFF THE BENCH AND GET IN THE GAME AND BE PATIENT.
I can count the number of days I didn't hunt on one hand this season. When I talk to others that don't hunt or hunt when it's convenient they say they don't have time or this and that. They try to make me feel like I don't have my priorities in order. If you like to do something you're passionate about you will find a way to make it happen and get your other obligations done too. That's how I look at it. I got up at 4:00 AM most mornings this year to hunt. I did oversleep one morning but I went hunting for an hour anyway. On weekdays I hunt until I need to leave to be at work on time which is 8:00 AM. I don't like taking annual leave to hunt because I like to use my annual leave for vacations with the family. If I don't kill a bird by 7:00 or 7:30 AM I don't kill one, but I know if I'm hunting I have a chance to and if I'm hunting I'm enjoying myself. My hunting spots are all within 30 minutes of where I live and I only hunt places within 15 minutes or less to work during the week and reserve the other places for the weekend. I go to church every Sunday and teach a men's Sunday School class at 10:00 AM. I killed my nicest gobbler last Sunday and still had time to get home, put the whole bird in a fridge I have in the garage just for that circumstance, take a shower, get dressed and was at church by 9:45 AM. I don't choose between doing what I love and keeping other commitments, I figure out how to do both and make it work. Turkey season only lasts a little over a month total between NC and VA, so it's not like I have to burn the candle at both ends all year. Not everyone has jobs or family obligations to make both work all the time, but if there are opportunities that can be made you need to look for them, if you really enjoy doing them. All that being said I see the end of turkey season as bittersweet. Sure I'm gonna miss turkey hunting for a year, but by the end of the season I'm tired and I typically lose about 10-15 lbs, but it will be good to relax some until next time. I'm kinda glad I don't limit out early and I filled my last tag yesterday which was the last day of the Virginia season. I imagine if I did tag out early I may try and find someone to take hunting, which I do anyway even if I'm not tagged out, or I may go out and try to get them in close enough to shoot with my camera phone at 30 yards or less. In my opinion, you find a way to do what you love or you must not love it enough.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Meleagris gallopavo on May 16, 2021, 04:10:50 PM
I can count the number of days I didn't hunt on one hand this season. When I talk to others that don't hunt or hunt when it's convenient they say they don't have time or this and that. They try to make me feel like I don't have my priorities in order. If you like to do something you're passionate about you will find a way to make it happen and get your other obligations done too. That's how I look at it. I got up at 4:00 AM most mornings this year to hunt. I did oversleep one morning but I went hunting for an hour anyway. On weekdays I hunt until I need to leave to be at work on time which is 8:00 AM. I don't like taking annual leave to hunt because I like to use my annual leave for vacations with the family. If I don't kill a bird by 7:00 or 7:30 AM I don't kill one, but I know if I'm hunting I have a chance to and if I'm hunting I'm enjoying myself. My hunting spots are all within 30 minutes of where I live and I only hunt places within 15 minutes or less to work during the week and reserve the other places for the weekend. I go to church every Sunday and teach a men's Sunday School class at 10:00 AM. I killed my nicest gobbler last Sunday and still had time to get home, put the whole bird in a fridge I have in the garage just for that circumstance, take a shower, get dressed and was at church by 9:45 AM. I don't choose between doing what I love and keeping other commitments, I figure out how to do both and make it work. Turkey season only lasts a little over a month total between NC and VA, so it's not like I have to burn the candle at both ends all year. Not everyone has jobs or family obligations to make both work all the time, but if there are opportunities that can be made you need to look for them, if you really enjoy doing them. All that being said I see the end of turkey season as bittersweet. Sure I'm gonna miss turkey hunting for a year, but by the end of the season I'm tired and I typically lose about 10-15 lbs, but it will be good to relax some until next time. I'm kinda glad I don't limit out early and I filled my last tag yesterday which was the last day of the Virginia season. I imagine if I did tag out early I may try and find someone to take hunting, which I do anyway even if I'm not tagged out, or I may go out and try to get them in close enough to shoot with my camera phone at 30 yards or less. In my opinion, you find a way to do what you love or you must not love it enough.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Great post. I always think of the #1 reason why I SHOULD go, I might harvest a beautiful gobbler....
Get in his "bubble" before sitting down and calling to him. Do what everything in your power NOT to spoke him.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Quote from: Gentry on May 18, 2021, 03:58:53 PM
Get in his "bubble" before sitting down and calling to him. Do what everything in your power NOT to spoke him.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
^^^This, and get on or above his level.
Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
The bed always seems warmest when it's time to get up and go hunting; however, as several have noted, you've got to get out there in order to be successful. While you may not be able to set up as close to the gobbler as you'd like, decoys set up in a highly visible location will often pull in a tom from far away, given enough time. I've even set decoys above tall vegetation so as to increase their visibility! This past spring I pulled in a gobbler from across a creek and nearly out of hearing using gobbles and hen yelps, but it took him nearly two hours to close the distance. Remember...the gobbler has to win every time, but you only have to win once. Persistence will often result in success.
Don't over cook him!
(https://i.imgur.com/Pwd81te.jpg)
Learn to shoot with your off hand!
Quote from: Dtrkyman on January 04, 2022, 12:02:59 PM
Learn to shoot with your off hand!
10-4 on this.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After the last few seasons, I think the no.2 tip would be if a gobbler answers you no matter where you hear him go ahead a turn around. Hes coming in from behind
The best thing I ever learned is "Turkey Biology" I put this into every hunt, and some may call me persistent.
MK M GOBL
"Patience" kills more Tom's than anything in your vest........
Quote from: Tom007 on January 05, 2022, 07:10:08 AM
"Patience" kills more Tom's than anything in your vest........
Agreed, sometimes sitting tight can be rewarded.
Quote from: Dtrkyman on January 04, 2022, 12:02:59 PM
Learn to shoot with your off hand!
If you don't learn you will wish you had if you turkey hunt enough.
Pretty good answers. One thing I might add imo is nights it thunders crazy usually seem to have really responsive, well gobbling birds the next day. I'd never miss one if that situation occurs. Nothing is 100% but that's somewhat consistent it seems
starting spring turkey hunting in 1974 and I can honestly say that I think I learn something new with every encounter. the best spring gobblers I've ever killed were on bad days. the first was in 4"s of snow and upper 20's and the second was in 40+mph winds. like most everyone has already said...you can't kill them at home.
where you set-up is important so you need to know the area and, sit still and don't be afraid to call. every bird is different and how loud, how soft or how often you call is a learning curve with every time. hey' the more you go the more you'll learn.
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 07, 2022, 04:38:41 AM
Quote from: Dtrkyman on January 04, 2022, 12:02:59 PM
Learn to shoot with your off hand!
If you don't learn you will wish you had if you turkey hunt enough.
Don't need to get a pacemaker or you could be like me; a right handler with a dominate left eye. Sitting to a gobbler leads to some interesting situations when one can only shoot from one shoulder. And don't think the gobbler doesn't know it.
When running and gunning, always have a place picked out to set up before making a call. I have been on top of silent gobblers and when I called they answered leaving me scrambling for a spot to get set up. Cost me a couple nice ones until I learned this.
"I ain't heard a thing"
or
Only introduce those who are worthy. With all the loss of public hunting opportunity in recent years due to demand exceeding supply, this is becoming more important than ever.
Best advice that I have heard from some guys that have been doing this way longer than I've been around is when you're thinking about getting up from a set up on a bird, is to wait at least another 15-30 minutes. Learned that lesson the hard way a few times
Tom Kelly use to say if you make a mistake on a bird you can't bring it back, and you know it the second you do. That is very true, so best not to make that first mistake because you probably won't get another chance.
My turkey hunting life it full of those "cant get em back" mistakes. But they made the "I done its" all the more sweeter
Preach the three P's to anyone who will listen, then ignore them yourself.
Carry more calls than you need.
"Listen to the woods around you"
Best turkey tip ever?
Find a place with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself. ;D
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 30, 2022, 11:20:20 AM
Best turkey tip ever?
Find a place with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself. ;D
GobbleNut, few of them places left and when you find one don't tell even your wife....she will tell her turkey hunting husband.
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 30, 2022, 01:23:30 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 30, 2022, 11:20:20 AM
Best turkey tip ever?
Find a place with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself. ;D
GobbleNut, few of them places left and when you find one don't tell even your wife....she will tell her turkey hunting husband.
She will tell her best friend whose husband is a turkey hunter.
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 30, 2022, 02:10:49 PM
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 30, 2022, 01:23:30 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 30, 2022, 11:20:20 AM
Best turkey tip ever?
Find a place with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself. ;D
GobbleNut, few of them places left and when you find one don't tell even your wife....she will tell her turkey hunting husband.
She will tell her best friend whose husband is a turkey hunter.
Second best turkey tip ever: IF you find that spot with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself, never ever tell anybody else about it! :toothy9:
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 02, 2022, 11:32:03 PM
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 30, 2022, 02:10:49 PM
Quote from: Uncle Tom on January 30, 2022, 01:23:30 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 30, 2022, 11:20:20 AM
Best turkey tip ever?
Find a place with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself. ;D
GobbleNut, few of them places left and when you find one don't tell even your wife....she will tell her turkey hunting husband.
She will tell her best friend whose husband is a turkey hunter.
Second best turkey tip ever: IF you find that spot with lots of turkeys and no other hunters besides yourself, never ever tell anybody else about it! :toothy9:
Wait just a sec.......I thought you were supposed to blow it up on you tube and the Facebook. How else am I to know if they like me or not? :jackson:
Quote from: spiggy2 on January 17, 2022, 09:29:16 PM
Best advice that I have heard from some guys that have been doing this way longer than I've been around is when you're thinking about getting up from a set up on a bird, is to wait at least another 15-30 minutes. Learned that lesson the hard way a few times
It was about 10 a.m., I had already taken my customary nap in my turkey lounger, and was thinking about pulling my decoys. Deciding to give it just another 30 minutes, I settled into enjoying the nice spring morning. It was probably 10 minutes later that a gobbler sounded off not 20 feet behind the giant cottonwood against which I was seated. It seemed like several minutes passed before he cautiously stepped past me. I froze, waiting for some brush to shield the movement of my shotgun. When he silently moved forward, my 870 dropped him in his tracks at less than 10 yards!
Patience.
This one is a hard one for me. I feel like I have to be aggressive and move a lot, especially on public land. I need to "make something happen". I've been most successful honestly, when I set up in a good area with my gobbler lounger and just give it time.
Best tip? Hunt where there are lots of turkeys and no other hunters LOL.
When your early morning coffee kicks in..........make sure you've got TP and a grippin' tree.
:help:
Enjoy yourself and have fun. Always hunt safely but dont take yourself too seriously (see Yoder's post above!) For most of us, this isn't work after all, it's a leisure activity and a true blessing. And try to be good to each other, we hunters need to stick together now more than ever.
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 15, 2022, 11:58:26 PM
When your early morning coffee kicks in..........make sure you've got TP and a grippin' tree.
:help:
I like to ad to this if I may. If your on an extended trip its baby wipes instead of Tp. I'm usually looking for shower every 3rd day. Baby wipes take a lot of burn away in meantime.
Little late to the party on this one... can't sleep so I'm scrolling through OG at 2Am with turkey on the brain...
Haven't seen this one mentioned yet, and it's probably a little ways down the list of importance depending on who you ask. But as with anything, don't believe everything you read some guy post on Facebook to be truth.
Quote from: TurkeyReaper69 on March 13, 2022, 03:42:53 AM
Little late to the party on this one... can't sleep so I'm scrolling through OG at 2Am with turkey on the brain...
Haven't seen this one mentioned yet, and it's probably a little ways down the list of importance depending on who you ask. But as with anything, don't believe everything you read some guy post on Facebook to be truth.
I think my approach is better. Dont use Facebook. Ever.
Quote from: Paulmyr on March 01, 2022, 10:19:11 AM
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 15, 2022, 11:58:26 PM
When your early morning coffee kicks in..........make sure you've got TP and a grippin' tree.
:help:
I like to ad to this if I may. If your on an extended trip its baby wipes instead of Tp. I'm usually looking for shower every 3rd day. Baby wipes take a lot of burn away in meantime.
Sage advice. Yep.
I actually carry wet wipes RATHER than TP even when hunting my home turf. #1...... Just a lot more comfy and hygienic. And, #2 (all puns intended)........ A flat travel pack of wet wipes fits in my belt pack a lot handier than wadded up TP.
Quote from: Yoder409 on March 13, 2022, 08:34:54 AM
Quote from: Paulmyr on March 01, 2022, 10:19:11 AM
Quote from: Yoder409 on February 15, 2022, 11:58:26 PM
When your early morning coffee kicks in..........make sure you've got TP and a grippin' tree.
:help:
I like to ad to this if I may. If your on an extended trip its baby wipes instead of Tp. I'm usually looking for shower every 3rd day. Baby wipes take a lot of burn away in meantime.
Sage advice. Yep.
I actually carry wet wipes RATHER than TP even when hunting my home turf. #1...... Just a lot more comfy and hygienic. And, #2 (all puns intended)........ A flat travel pack of wet wipes fits in my belt pack a lot handier than wadded up TP.
Baby wipes for the win.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Never did understand TP. If you got crap on your hands would you take a dry piece of TP and try to clean your hands=heck no!!!! Same applies to the rest of your body.
Always poop near a running stream.
Quote from: maddog3355 on March 13, 2022, 05:00:25 PM
Never did understand TP. If you got crap on your hands would you take a dry piece of TP and try to clean your hands=heck no!!!! Same applies to the rest of your body.
I believe the concept is that it tides you over till you next bathe.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: AppalachianHollers on March 13, 2022, 11:10:07 PM
Quote from: maddog3355 on March 13, 2022, 05:00:25 PM
Never did understand TP. If you got crap on your hands would you take a dry piece of TP and try to clean your hands=heck no!!!! Same applies to the rest of your body.
I believe the concept is that it tides you over till you next bathe.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In Alabama you use 2 red corn cobs and then a white one to check if clean
Wait until the bird is in good range... And shoot it in the head. Works 100% of the time.
My #1. Get as close as possible without calling and without messing everything up. I've had so much success just getting close to the bird before I start calling. When I do call, I am very subtle and work my way up in volume/aggression.
Quote from: strum on March 16, 2022, 04:59:48 PM
Quote from: AppalachianHollers on March 13, 2022, 11:10:07 PM
Quote from: maddog3355 on March 13, 2022, 05:00:25 PM
Never did understand TP. If you got crap on your hands would you take a dry piece of TP and try to clean your hands=heck no!!!! Same applies to the rest of your body.
I believe the concept is that it tides you over till you next bathe.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In Alabama you use 2 red corn cobs and then a white one to check if clean
So, THAT'S why all yinz Alabamians walk like John Wayne after he just got shot in the leg............. !!!!
:TooFunny:
Kinda like fishing. My grandpappy always told me 'You're not going to catch any fish unless you have your line in the water'.
Turkey hunt with your ears not your feet. Slow down and listen more.
I hunt turkeys on public land in TN. I do use decoys mainly in big fields and can't tell you how many times I've looked out over the fields, with binoculars, and couldn't see any birds at all. Then, out of seemingly nowhere, there's a hen or a jake or a tom suddenly there in sight. Now these public land birds get hunted hard early in the season and many mornings don't yelp or gobble much or at all. My #1 tip came from an old time turkey hunter who advised me to treat it more like deer hunting. Scout and find where the birds are at, put out your decoy, and stay put for a few hours. Listen to what the turkeys do noise wise and do like wise. If they call a lot, you can call a lot. If they are quiet, call very little. I took his advice and my success rate went way up.
I'll also say that most of the time these birds don't gobble and strut coming in to the decoys. They usually just stroll over silent and when they get in range I'll tip their hat. If a jake or tom is moving in my direction, I just stay silent since he's doing what I want him to do. It works for me and I hope this helps some of you enjoy some success.
Scout more.
I have a lot of permissions around my house for many different species. I hunt very little and work a lot of overtime.
I watch the farms and woodlots for a month and half before season, before work, while on patrol and also on the way home I will do a loop. Same goes for waterfowl, if they are not using an area, I won't go. But when the geese are hitting a fresh cut field, we are there, when the mallards are dumping into a flooded area of corn we hit it. Doe hunting is easy as they can be seen entering and exiting fields, just gotta be there on right wind. The more mature bucks are more difficult and boots on the ground, camera footage, and less pressured areas hold better deer.
Far from being a good hunter, just have to be where the game is.
Best Turkey Tip:
1. Hunt where there are turkeys... A surprising number of people get locked in on a particular area, despite what scouting has shown them with regard to turkey numbers and hunting pressure.
2. Once you find that spot, don't tell ANYONE about it.
Thanks for all the tips guys, as a new turkey hunter I really appreciate it. So much to think about!
Be a student of the game never stop learning. The biggest mistake people and is lack of patients, I've been guilty more then I'd care to admit.
you call. he answers. he knows the tree you're on... stop calling...
Quote from: redleg06 on May 06, 2022, 09:54:23 AM
Best Turkey Tip:
1. Hunt where there are turkeys... A surprising number of people get locked in on a particular area, despite what scouting has shown them with regard to turkey numbers and hunting pressure.
2. Once you find that spot, don't tell ANYONE about it.
This pretty much hits it. I think most consistently successful turkey hunters would agree.
Now...if you're a consistently successful turkey hunter post your coordinates and we'll see how you make out in the future LOL. Loose lips sink ships.
Actually go and sometimes you need to move and sometimes you need to sit tight. Which I still haven't figured that one out.
Shade and cover are your friends. You could be wearing the newest, most realistic camo ever made, but if you're in direct sunlight, you'll look like a lighthouse to turkeys. Take advantage of downed trees, stumps, rocks, & evergreen bushes to help hide yourself. Keep your movements slow, deliberate, and to a minimum. Act like the dominant predator you are.
Jim
Great advice! You can't beat time in the woods.
Sent from my moto e5 play using Tapatalk
Always carry toilet paper, or something similar.
As novel as it sounds, it can change the trajectory of your whole day
You cant scout too much
Then hunt every time you can no matter the weather
"Shoot 'Em In The Face" I first encountered that expression on here and was a little offended. I recon I mellowed a little since then. LOL My number 1 is be aware of your body movement
When it is time to move on....get all your gear together, packed up, and situated to walk away.....but before stepping away ALWAYS, STOP, TURN AROUND, AND LOOK CAREFULLY at where you were set up.
Look for calls, strikers, cell phone, or any gear that you may have not picked up and are about to leave behind. This is especially critical if you have harvested a bird or had some intensive action or excitement at the set up because gear can get scattered in these instances.
I have lost strikers, camo gloves, and a compass my Dad gave me when I first started hunting with him around 1964, and all because I did not carefully survey my set up site before walking away. And of course, you don't want to leave any trash like sandwich bags, cracker wrappers, and such.
Just Saying !
GunRunner
:turkey:
Don't forget it's supposed to be fun!! You're doing this because you enjoy it, don't put so much pressure on it that you start to hate it!!
Quote from: Farmboy27 on May 02, 2023, 08:47:27 PM
Don't forget it's supposed to be fun!! You're doing this because you enjoy it, don't put so much pressure on it that you start to hate it!!
This is the best ever and fits any thing you enjoy ...
Turkey Season is a short season, go as much as you can...
When you fail, (and you will fail) learn from it. Adjust, adapt and do what works for you.
Well guys I didn't post my last harvest but I'm tagged out n Ga. I want to tell yall I used my own advise on this one.
The bed felt so good I had to beat my self out of it.
There was this certain place that more times than not I would walk in and end up right under the flock. Been busted there 3-4 times.
I finally found a way in from the opposite side that I didn't know about.
Also since it had rained I was able to come in very quiet on the wet leaves. Sure nuff I was 80 yards from the first gobbler.
Took me untill 9:30 to work him in to a good 35 yard shot.
Had I sleep in I would have missed out.
So I still say the best tip is get out of bed!!!
Getting out of bed is usually the hardest 1st step .
Quote from: longbow59 on May 15, 2021, 07:01:51 PM
Get as close as possible, call softly.
I think this is pretty bad advice for someone looking for tips.
They (read me) have not learned to judge gobbles distance yet and will spook every bird without ever knowing it.
Even today I just know when it's clear or I can hear that last part, it's time to sit if they are on the ground.
Then there foliage to consider and wind.
I don't know how many turkeys I busted trying to get as close as possible, but I bet it was 10 or 20.
Quote from: Lcmacd 58 on May 08, 2023, 11:12:30 AM
Getting out of bed is usually the hardest 1st step .
Due to a number of reason, I only hunted one (large) area this season... I rarely kill early morning birds there.
Never got there before 9 am this year... Maybe help with the kids at the house first, get a couple things done, and head out for a "day hunt."
I missed the "woods waking up" in the morning... And the gobbling on the roost... I did NOT miss waking up at 3:30 am, and stumbling through the woods in the dark.
"TIME" to hunt consistent days in a row and turkeys in your area..
1) Better swallow you a 50 gallon drum full of patience!
2) Learn the terrain and work on woodsman ship
Be able to find consistant days to hunt
Thick pine trees when it's cold and windy.
Otherwise, a good decoy helps.
(https://i.imgur.com/TqrS2gX.jpg)
Don't get antsy and over call when they are being quiet, call about every fifteen minutes to half an hour then stay quiet.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on January 14, 2024, 08:07:39 PM
Don't get antsy and over call when they are being quiet, call about every fifteen minutes to half an hour then stay quiet.
What this man said.
Have lots or TIME and consistent days to hunt and birds in the area to hunt...you certainly don't need a vest stuffed full of calls either.
Quote from: Sir-diealot on January 14, 2024, 08:07:39 PM
Don't get antsy and over call when they are being quiet, call about every fifteen minutes to half an hour then stay quiet.
Agreed. If one suddenly goes silent, I shut up, get the gun up, and assume he's on his way. Sometimes it's a few minutes, sometimes an hour, but he's coming
Can't remember if I made an entry to this subject but I hope I added this. Once you are set up in the right spot and make a call do not move anything but your eyes until he shows up. I've had many to sneak in and all that is visible is about 4 inches of neck and his noggin as he is looking for any movement that ain't right.