Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Headed down in a couple weeks to try and give a couple black wings a hard time.  Will be hunting private land.

So, I cut my teeth on Easterns.  Have managed to kill Merriam's, Rios and Gould's.  To you guys who've killed 'em all..........does anything stick out as being different about the Osceolas ??

If you hear a gobble that sounds a couple hundred yards away,  he's probably within 40.

Be patient, think silent (they tend to come in this way) and know they are stubborn.  Toughest bird IMO to kill out of our 4 species.  Good luck and HAVE FUN!  I Love early March hunting in FLA!

I'm gonna be a bit late to the game.  Not starting til the 26th.  Planning to hunt 4 days.

I agree that if you hear a gobble, he's much closer than you think, so get ready. They also in my experience tend to gobble less once on the ground.It's rare to hear a gobble in the afternoon or at fly up. How skittish they are depends on their pressure like every subspecies. I don't think think they're any harder to kill than the Easterns here in SC and I've hunted central FL every Spring since 1996.

Don't be afraid to be a little more aggressive with your calling. If you can call in an Eastern, you'll have no problem with an Osceola. They seem to be much more receptacle to calling.

With further thought, it probably goes without saying, but waterproof boots are a must and definitely don't forget a Thermacell.

Pretty much what the others said. Once on the ground the gobbling is pretty erratic. More likely they'll be silent. Keep your eyes open because all of a sudden they're right there 10 yards in front of you. THERMOCELL! Bring an extra THERMOCELL. They are bad this year. Bubba

Appreciate all the insight, so far. 

I have a Thermacell on the way.  The refills came today. 

One year when the bugs were really bad I bought a can of spray fogger. Once I got to my spot I was setting up I'd fog all around. Then go and set decoys or whatever while I waited for it to clear but Thermocell is still a must have. Turn it on as soon as you get out of the truck unless you're walking 2 miles in. Even then I have buddies that turn it on no matter how far they're walking. Lol Bubba

Don't worry to much about gators, the pythons have eaten most of them. 

As with most places, setup is key.   Depending where you are hunting in the state you may be faced with wide open pasture land, or stuff so thick and wet you wouldn't think a turkey could walk/wade through it.         

Quote from: guesswho on March 06, 2021, 05:36:42 PM
Don't worry to much about gators, the pythons have eaten most of them. 

As with most places, setup is key.   Depending where you are hunting in the state you may be faced with wide open pasture land, or stuff so thick and wet you wouldn't think a turkey could walk/wade through it.       

Gators don't bother me.  Hoping to see some pythons.  Would freaking LOVE to have a couple hides !!!!  No doubt a well-executed load of Hevi 7's would be as effective on legless reptiles as it is on turkeybirds.

I think the first place I'm hunting is foodplots and roads.  Looks like (from Google maps satellite) the second place I'm going is big pasture land.  Not much of a decoy guy.  But the second place may be cut out for that.

Repeat - the last few years the gobbling after fly down has been minimal.  Be patient.  We run several cameras and see lots of mid morning movement.

Avoid people ..or anywhere you suspect they will be ....and I mean be MILES away ..the turkeys are no problem....its the people that will mess you up %100 of the time

If he answers, he knows where you are.
DONT OVER CALL.
LOL


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Quote from: guesswho on March 06, 2021, 05:36:42 PM
Depending where you are hunting in the state you may be faced with wide open pasture land, or stuff so thick and wet you wouldn't think a turkey could walk/wade through it.       

Spot on. I've seen Osceolas wade through water up to their chest, and disappear into thick stuff that you scratch your head figuring out how they did it. They don't hang up at fences and water like Easterns do.

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 06:19:42 PM
Food plots and roads..... Not much of a decoy guy.

Osceolas, at least to my experience, don't gobble as much as other subspecies, especially once they're on the ground. If you don't get on them right off the roost, I've done a lot of sitting and calling over decoys. I've found that running and gunning doesn't work as well on Osceolas, due to their lack of gobbling. When trying, I got busted more often than not when toms came in silent.
Food plots and road intersections are ideal locations for decoy use.
Best of luck on your hunt!!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Hunt in Florida

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Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 06, 2021, 08:35:41 PM
Avoid people ..or anywhere you suspect they will be ....and I mean be MILES away ..the turkeys are no problem....its the people that will mess you up %100 of the time

Both places are private ground, so..........  Hoping pressure to be minimal.

Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 06, 2021, 09:11:44 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 06:19:42 PM
Food plots and roads..... Not much of a decoy guy.

Osceolas, at least to my experience, don't gobble as much as other subspecies, especially once they're on the ground. If you don't get on them right off the roost, I've done a lot of sitting and calling over decoys. I've found that running and gunning doesn't work as well on Osceolas, due to their lack of gobbling. When trying, I got busted more often than not when toms came in silent.
Food plots and road intersections are ideal locations for decoy use.
Best of luck on your hunt!!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Will keep all this in mind.  Thank you, sir.

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 09:29:45 PM

Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 06, 2021, 09:11:44 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 06:19:42 PM
Food plots and roads..... Not much of a decoy guy.

Osceolas, at least to my experience, don't gobble as much as other subspecies, especially once they're on the ground. If you don't get on them right off the roost, I've done a lot of sitting and calling over decoys. I've found that running and gunning doesn't work as well on Osceolas, due to their lack of gobbling. When trying, I got busted more often than not when toms came in silent.
Food plots and road intersections are ideal locations for decoy use.
Best of luck on your hunt!!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Will keep all this in mind.  Thank you, sir.

If it's open pastures then moving slowly around the edges and glassing can work, but the gobbling on most days is minimal once they're on the ground. You'll get some mornings when they'll gobble a bit, but those are few. I agree with intersections and blind calling. They will come in silent real quick so build a good blind for a late sit.


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Quote from: SD_smith on March 06, 2021, 10:10:31 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 09:29:45 PM

Quote from: RutnNStrutn on March 06, 2021, 09:11:44 PM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 06, 2021, 06:19:42 PM
Food plots and roads..... Not much of a decoy guy.

Osceolas, at least to my experience, don't gobble as much as other subspecies, especially once they're on the ground. If you don't get on them right off the roost, I've done a lot of sitting and calling over decoys. I've found that running and gunning doesn't work as well on Osceolas, due to their lack of gobbling. When trying, I got busted more often than not when toms came in silent.
Food plots and road intersections are ideal locations for decoy use.
Best of luck on your hunt!!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Will keep all this in mind.  Thank you, sir.

If it's open pastures then moving slowly around the edges and glassing can work, but the gobbling on most days is minimal once they're on the ground. You'll get some mornings when they'll gobble a bit, but those are few. I agree with intersections and blind calling. They will come in silent real quick so build a good blind for a late sit.


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:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2021, 11:28:02 PM
Headed down in a couple weeks to try and give a couple black wings a hard time.  Will be hunting private land.

So, I cut my teeth on Easterns.  Have managed to kill Merriam's, Rios and Gould's.  To you guys who've killed 'em all..........does anything stick out as being different about the Osceolas ??

I only ever harvested one Osceola. The one thing I learned was they are very aggressive to other Tom's. The Full Strut Gobbler decoy from Primos, I think it's called "Bubba" gets his attention real quick. It actually pulled the Tom I got away from a hen. He came about 125 yards to fight. He got TKO'd. Best of luck my friend....

Quote from: Tom007 on March 07, 2021, 07:32:43 AM

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 05, 2021, 11:28:02 PM
Headed down in a couple weeks to try and give a couple black wings a hard time.  Will be hunting private land.

So, I cut my teeth on Easterns.  Have managed to kill Merriam's, Rios and Gould's.  To you guys who've killed 'em all..........does anything stick out as being different about the Osceolas ??

I only ever harvested one Osceola. The one thing I learned was they are very aggressive to other Tom's. The Full Strut Gobbler decoy from Primos, I think it's called "Bubba" gets his attention real quick. It actually pulled the Tom I got away from a hen. He came about 125 yards to fight. He got TKO'd. Best of luck my friend....

Good to know.

I may have a trick like that up my sleeve I could pull out.   ;)

But most of all have fun and enjoy yourself. Take in the whole experience. Bubba

Quote from: ChiefBubba on March 07, 2021, 07:40:25 AM
But most of all have fun and enjoy yourself. Take in the whole experience. Bubba

Amen, x2

Quote from: ChiefBubba on March 07, 2021, 07:40:25 AM
But most of all have fun and enjoy yourself. Take in the whole experience. Bubba

                                     ^^^^^^^^^

THIS is ALWAYS numero uno for me when I hit the turkey woods.

At this point in my life........my turkey hunting life............the experience, the scenery, the local culture, the ride there........is ALL the point.  I love "looking at different trees" when I hunt.  The Osceola is likely the last new sub-species I'll ever chase as I don't know how badly I crave an Oscellated hunt.  Looking forward to hunting old blackwing in some palms and palmettos.

I am a mountain hunter. I have been to Florida twice and hunted. Both times I was there, I experienced something different than what has been describe in this post. I can hear a turkey in Florida for what seems miles. The water carries the sound so well. Think of it like this, your in a boat on a pond and the guys 400 yards away in another boat are having a conversation, and you can hear every word. If in a pasture I suppose it would be different, but seeing how water covers 50% of the ground there its something to think about.

I have had trouble with locking down the locations of turkeys while gobbling in the swamps as well. It seems to me the sound is everywhere around you making it hard to locate. If you get a roosted turkey sounding off, take a couple extra minutes/gobbles to pinpoint him. In WV I can usually pin one down with two to three gobbles, not so for me in Florida.

Be prepared to get wet, have extra boots. Maybe even take a boot dryer with you for back at the camp.

God luck with your trip! I will be there the 20th for the first gobble.

Quote from: WV Flopper on March 07, 2021, 08:55:08 AM
I am a mountain hunter. I have been to Florida twice and hunted. Both times I was there, I experienced something different than what has been describe in this post. I can hear a turkey in Florida for what seems miles. The water carries the sound so well. Think of it like this, your in a boat on a pond and the guys 400 yards away in another boat are having a conversation, and you can hear every word. If in a pasture I suppose it would be different, but seeing how water covers 50% of the ground there its something to think about.

I have had trouble with locking down the locations of turkeys while gobbling in the swamps as well. It seems to me the sound is everywhere around you making it hard to locate. If you get a roosted turkey sounding off, take a couple extra minutes/gobbles to pinpoint him. In WV I can usually pin one down with two to three gobbles, not so for me in Florida.

Be prepared to get wet, have extra boots. Maybe even take a boot dryer with you for back at the camp.

God luck with your trip! I will be there the 20th for the first gobble.

For me it's this way down here. I can usually tell when they get near and can tell when further off. Now that I'm older I may have a problem with direction but can still pretty much hear them far off.
Most of my hunting is done on a property that the birds don't roost on and just about all of my gobbling is heard off in the distance. Bubba

Set up under a wild citrus (maybe orange, maybe grapefruit) and that way you got a good breakfast whether you kill or you don't.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210307/553d30483a95f2551f9644dd2d6ce033.jpg)


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Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on March 07, 2021, 11:15:46 AM
Set up under a wild citrus (maybe orange, maybe grapefruit) and that way you got a good breakfast whether you kill or you don't.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210307/553d30483a95f2551f9644dd2d6ce033.jpg)

I like it !!!!

:you_rock:

You guys are tougher than me if you can eat wild citrus and enjoy it. Tried it from 2 different trees I found. The oranges were beyond sour. Pretty cool to find a tree in the wild producing fruit though.

Quote from: PalmettoRon on March 07, 2021, 11:25:36 AM
You guys are tougher than me if you can eat wild citrus and enjoy it. Tried it from 2 different trees I found. The oranges were beyond sour. Pretty cool to find a tree in the wild producing fruit though.

That's really surprising to me. Those grapefruit like the one pictured were incredibly sweet. I usually hate grapefruit. Then I got under some wild Hamlin trees and lord them things was the best oranges I've ever eat. The man who owned the place ate them like apples, peel and all.


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Quote from: PalmettoRon on March 07, 2021, 11:25:36 AM
You guys are tougher than me if you can eat wild citrus and enjoy it. Tried it from 2 different trees I found. The oranges were beyond sour. Pretty cool to find a tree in the wild producing fruit though.

Me too every one I've ever tried was sour as sour could be! Bubba

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on March 07, 2021, 11:31:39 AM

Quote from: PalmettoRon on March 07, 2021, 11:25:36 AM
You guys are tougher than me if you can eat wild citrus and enjoy it. Tried it from 2 different trees I found. The oranges were beyond sour. Pretty cool to find a tree in the wild producing fruit though.

That's really surprising to me. Those grapefruit like the one pictured were incredibly sweet. I usually hate grapefruit. Then I got under some wild Hamlin trees and lord them things was the best oranges I've ever eat. The man who owned the place ate them like apples, peel and all.


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You can pretty well tell if its going to be sweet or sour by the thickness of the peel.   If its a thick peel its probably going to be as sour as lemons.  If its a really thin peel then you have something sweet and edible.   

Quote from: fallhnt on March 06, 2021, 09:13:32 PM
Hunt in Florida

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Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

Quote from: guesswho on March 07, 2021, 01:05:00 PM

Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on March 07, 2021, 11:31:39 AM

Quote from: PalmettoRon on March 07, 2021, 11:25:36 AM
You guys are tougher than me if you can eat wild citrus and enjoy it. Tried it from 2 different trees I found. The oranges were beyond sour. Pretty cool to find a tree in the wild producing fruit though.

That's really surprising to me. Those grapefruit like the one pictured were incredibly sweet. I usually hate grapefruit. Then I got under some wild Hamlin trees and lord them things was the best oranges I've ever eat. The man who owned the place ate them like apples, peel and all.


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You can pretty well tell if its going to be sweet or sour by the thickness of the peel.   If its a thick peel its probably going to be as sour as lemons.  If its a really thin peel then you have something sweet and edible.

That is true!! Thick peels are always sour in my experience. In fact, most wild citrus is sour. I used to be on a lease though that in yesteryear was a working orange grove. Man, I'm telling you the citrus in that place was awesome!!!!!!! I used to snack on it while hunting, and always brought along a bag to take some home with me. And the smell of the citrus blossoms in the spring!!! Took a lot of gobblers out of there too!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

So while you are in Florida.  Remember everything here will bite.sting,or eat you.  Everything has giant teeth.  Alligators and snakes are everywhere, whether its dry ground or wet ground.  Snakes love to get in palmetto bushes. You have an opportunity to see everything in the zoo.  Deer, turkey, lots of cool looking birds. Bears, bobcats, coyotes. And panthers.   If you kill early, go fishing.  We have giant bass, good blue gill, and all the tilapia you can handle.  Then the saltwater fish are even more fun.   DO NOT put your hand in any fishes mouth except a bass.  On Osceola turkey, well I have no advice. Plan on driving to that end of the state in a year or 2.  Enjoy your stay in Florida. 

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

Quote from: roberthyman14 on March 07, 2021, 02:17:38 PM
So while you are in Florida.  Remember everything here will bite.sting,or eat you.  Everything has giant teeth.  Alligators and snakes are everywhere, whether its dry ground or wet ground.  Snakes love to get in palmetto bushes. You have an opportunity to see everything in the zoo.  Deer, turkey, lots of cool looking birds. Bears, bobcats, coyotes. And panthers.   If you kill early, go fishing.  We have giant bass, good blue gill, and all the tilapia you can handle.  Then the saltwater fish are even more fun.   DO NOT put your hand in any fishes mouth except a bass.  On Osceola turkey, well I have no advice. Plan on driving to that end of the state in a year or 2.  Enjoy your stay in Florida. 

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

Thanks for the warnings !!!

I've got snake boots already.  So good there.

I hunt with a shooting stick.........which will double as a palmetto bush whacker when I gotta sit down.  Probably won't have time for fishing this trip.  But next time around, I hope it's not such a whirlwind trip.  Stop and smell more roses.........

What are more prevalent ??  Rattlers or moccasins ??  Assuming the coral snakes are a non-issue........

Quote from: Yoder409 on March 07, 2021, 08:51:29 PM

Quote from: roberthyman14 on March 07, 2021, 02:17:38 PM
So while you are in Florida.  Remember everything here will bite.sting,or eat you.  Everything has giant teeth.  Alligators and snakes are everywhere, whether its dry ground or wet ground.  Snakes love to get in palmetto bushes. You have an opportunity to see everything in the zoo.  Deer, turkey, lots of cool looking birds. Bears, bobcats, coyotes. And panthers.   If you kill early, go fishing.  We have giant bass, good blue gill, and all the tilapia you can handle.  Then the saltwater fish are even more fun.   DO NOT put your hand in any fishes mouth except a bass.  On Osceola turkey, well I have no advice. Plan on driving to that end of the state in a year or 2.  Enjoy your stay in Florida. 

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

Thanks for the warnings !!!

I've got snake boots already.  So good there.

I hunt with a shooting stick.........which will double as a palmetto bush whacker when I gotta sit down.  Probably won't have time for fishing this trip.  But next time around, I hope it's not such a whirlwind trip.  Stop and smell more roses.........

What are more prevalent ??  Rattlers or moccasins ??  Assuming the coral snakes are a non-issue........

Moccasins for sure.  But there are plenty of rattlers.  That being said, good chance you might not see eithier 1.  My biggest worry is mornings sitting down in the dark, diamondbacks and timbers are kinda wanting yo be left alone.  Those little pygmy rattlers definitely have little man syndrome.  Don't be affraid but don't be unaware. 

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

This was about 10 am at the end of the season. She was crossing a main dirt rd.   Never rattled, just wanted to be left alone. Ever after I started throwing pine cones at her to get her coiled up and singing.   I let her live.  She's old and probably never see a human again.  Moccasins must die, every last one of them.  (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210308/8a44d08b7e7f9253255160bd88d22f32.jpg)

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Calls

you should have no issues on private land. ive always heard they are harder to call, but I have personally had no issue calling them. If you've hunted a pressured eastern turkey in heavy hills, then this shouldn't be an issue for you.

Over the years I've hunted 4 of the sub species (no Mexico for me) and every spring for about the last 10 years, I've been traveling from Pa to Fla to hunt with a buddy at his place. Actually, I'm there now, waiting for the 20th, like a kid waitin for Christmas!

What I notice most (as others have mentioned) is they just don't seem to gobble as much after fly down.

Also, I usually like to be aggressive with both my hunting and my calling, but down there I really dial it back. Mid morning is good and we often call in just as many or more birds later in the morning, as we do right off of the roost. We have a couple set ups like you described, one being along a power line and the other at an intersection of a couple woods roads leading between food plots. If we don't do anything early, we just move to those locations, set out a couple of decoys, kick back and just do some soft calling.

Bottom line is they're turkeys...be patient, enjoy it and I'm sure that you will have a great hunt!

Quote from: randy6471 on March 08, 2021, 05:41:36 PM
Over the years I've hunted 4 of the sub species (no Mexico for me) and every spring for about the last 10 years, I've been traveling from Pa to Fla to hunt with a buddy at his place. Actually, I'm there now, waiting for the 20th, like a kid waitin for Christmas!

What I notice most (as others have mentioned) is they just don't seem to gobble as much after fly down.

Also, I usually like to be aggressive with both my hunting and my calling, but down there I really dial it back. Mid morning is good and we often call in just as many or more birds later in the morning, as we do right off of the roost. We have a couple set ups like you described, one being along a power line and the other at an intersection of a couple woods roads leading between food plots. If we don't do anything early, we just move to those locations, set out a couple of decoys, kick back and just do some soft calling.

Bottom line is they're turkeys...be patient, enjoy it and I'm sure that you will have a great hunt!

Good advice.........all of you.  Thanks !!!

I'm guessing the perceived lack of gobbling on the ground could be from centuries of dodging predators in super-tight, brushy conditions.

Quote from: roberthyman14 on March 07, 2021, 02:17:38 PM
So while you are in Florida.  Remember everything here will bite.sting,or eat you.  Everything has giant teeth.  Alligators and snakes are everywhere, whether its dry ground or wet ground.  Snakes love to get in palmetto bushes. You have an opportunity to see everything in the zoo.  Deer, turkey, lots of cool looking birds. Bears, bobcats, coyotes. And panthers.   If you kill early, go fishing.  We have giant bass, good blue gill, and all the tilapia you can handle.  Then the saltwater fish are even more fun.   DO NOT put your hand in any fishes mouth except a bass.  On Osceola turkey, well I have no advice. Plan on driving to that end of the state in a year or 2.  Enjoy your stay in Florida. 

Prostaff member for Old Crow Custom Cal



  you forgot to mention Bigfoot , Scorpions , Fire Ants , lightning . Red Bugs and Quicksand..

Have a napkin w you to wipe the drool off your face when you see the spurs these birds get!

Quote from: dzsmith on March 08, 2021, 01:13:31 AM
you should have no issues on private land. ive always heard they are harder to call, but I have personally had no issue calling them. If you've hunted a pressured eastern turkey in heavy hills, then this shouldn't be an issue for you.

My limited experience too. I hunted Osceola's for 45 minutes once.....

Had a mentor tell me one time long ago that the ones he got to hunt were the easiest of all he'd hunted.

I think it's situational. Depending on timing and location, you could be hunting early season, pressured birds.

I've been hunting Ms with my kids this week. No gobbles. Birds are there, but it's public land and .... pressured... and today is only the 2nd day of the season.