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General Discussion => Turkey Hunting Tips ,Strategies & Methods => Topic started by: Eric Gregg on January 09, 2012, 10:55:32 PM

Title: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: Eric Gregg on January 09, 2012, 10:55:32 PM
Here is something that I have not seen mentioned on any of the forum.
I have heard many accounts of gobblers showing up without ever gobbling.
Hunter cold called, nothing responded, they sit tight and all of a sudden a gobbler comes sneaking by.

How many of you guys have had this happen
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: J Gilbert on January 09, 2012, 11:09:41 PM
That's what happened with my double-bearded bird last year.  He and another bird came in silently, had no clue they were there until they were at 20 yards as they came from behind me. Also had it happen the season before with two birds along with a harem of something like 15 hens. 
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: El Pavo Grande on January 09, 2012, 11:17:44 PM
I have had it happen several times over the years, most common in the late morning or afternoons.  Usually when nothing is gobbling, and I have time, I may be sitting on some fresh sign (tracks or scratching, etc.) and being patient.   
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: socalturkeyman on January 09, 2012, 11:26:46 PM
It happened a few time to me on a small 40acre lot of private land. That turkey would always skirt the back road on the neighbors land and it was well inside of shooting range I just couldnt bring myself to shoot into there land since there was alway a group of kid attending the church camp there. He said I could but I just couldnt bring myselff to do it.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: gob09 on January 10, 2012, 06:35:09 AM
it's happened to me and i've spooked them a few times too
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: WildTigerTrout on January 10, 2012, 11:44:25 AM
I killed one gobbler like that. He came in REAL quiet. I heard him walking in the leaves and thought it was a deer.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: SWAMPFOX on January 10, 2012, 12:05:31 PM
has happened to me quite a bit. especially mid season after 10;00
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: Basin_hunter on January 10, 2012, 01:52:44 PM
I killed 1 last year in Kansas mid day that gobbled one time. All I needed was that 1. Lol
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: Footballer on January 10, 2012, 02:30:11 PM
Numerous times. That's why I usually put a decoy out if I'm cold calling. If I'm caught off guard, his attention will usually be on the decoy and not me. Also, this is where a shooting stick comes in handy as you can get by with a lot less movement if your gun is already up and not in your lap.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: GobblerChaser on January 13, 2012, 09:15:00 PM
Happens all the time. I love scoring a sneaker particularly when I know there are gobbling birds in the area. The sneaker is always a bonus bird.

Remember that gobblers do way more drumming than gobbling. Quiet birds are pretty normal.


Safe and Happy Hunting!
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Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: paintbrush on January 14, 2012, 08:42:22 AM
I've had that happen more then a couple of times. Sometimes I nail them  :), sometimes I screw it up!  :(
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: Ruger M77 on January 14, 2012, 11:07:48 PM
One morning i hadn't heard anything so i set up and was just calling now and then for awhile and after awhile fell asleep woke up and theres agobbler and 2 hens standing 20yds in front of me! tried to slowly get my gun up but they picked me off of course and took off i managed 2 cut some pulp wood  :)
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: contagious on January 17, 2012, 05:12:19 PM
QuoteOne morning i hadn't heard anything so i set up and was just calling now and then for awhile and after awhile fell asleep woke up and theres agobbler and 2 hens standing 20yds in front of me! tried to slowly get my gun up but they picked me off of course and took off i managed 2 cut some pulp wood  Smiley

LOL.!!!!!
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: gooblnfever on January 20, 2012, 09:28:09 PM
happened to me a few times
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: maineguide on January 21, 2012, 03:24:38 PM
Yup it happened to me this past spring on opening day and the next day. The first morning I had 5 birds come in and 2 the next day.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: JohnnieB on February 06, 2012, 09:31:44 AM
I have shot a few birds that I never knew were around. The blind has saved my bacon more than once on this.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: FullChoke on February 06, 2012, 10:06:35 AM
I hunt public land birds most of the time, so this happens about once a year for me. Some get a free ride in the back, some go about their merry way.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: SonicBanshee on February 10, 2012, 12:54:08 PM
loose lipped gobblers
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: MY on February 14, 2012, 01:19:04 AM
   Here's something to think about.  A gobbler can walk to the exact tree you've done your calling from even if he's quite a ways away.  I've had it happen to me and been busted enough times that it's imprinted in my brain.  From my experience non-gobbling turkeys are going to take their time getting to you, so if your going to be hunting "cold calling" it might be a good idea to do your calling and then set up within range of but not where you called from while waiting them out.  Give it a while and if nothing happens move on.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: Bamarich on February 15, 2012, 10:19:26 AM
Regular occurence... especially in afternoons.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: mrclif on February 15, 2012, 03:07:32 PM
Real common here in the south where hunting pressure is high, they'll gobble a couple times on tha limb if your luckly hit the ground and spit and drum the rest of the day, which is a call in itself that is heard from a long ways off.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: TRKYHTR on February 15, 2012, 11:51:29 PM
Even when turkeys don't gobble that don't mean they are not answering you when you call. They might not gobble but they can still spit and drum or 3/4 strut in response but we just can't hear it. I don't believe that turkeys can just turn off being a turkey. They only have a small amount of time in a year to breed and during that time that is all they think about. Keep an eye out if you know turkeys are in the area. Sometimes they show up unannounced.

TRKYHTR
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: cahaba on February 16, 2012, 04:01:20 AM
I had 3 birds come to me dead silent last year. I killed one. It happens alot. I like anybody like to hear gobbles but I like tight lipped birds too.
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: DK Allen on February 16, 2012, 02:56:54 PM
Patience is a virtue! Sometimes you never know he is there until he is gone!!
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: GobblinNC on February 24, 2012, 08:06:09 PM
has happened many times to me
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: twinters on February 24, 2012, 09:02:47 PM
happens to me all the time here in Alabama,I was fortunate enough to be taught by a very experienced old timer,when in the turkey woods always expect one to show,even if you don't hear one. like it was said earlier he is probably answering you,and you just don't hear him.if you know turkey's are there stay put,and focused.   I have ran many turkey's off simply because I wasn't paying attention         
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: redleg06 on February 25, 2012, 12:07:37 AM
Quote from: TeocTom on January 09, 2012, 10:55:32 PM
Here is something that I have not seen mentioned on any of the forum.
I have heard many accounts of gobblers showing up without ever gobbling.
Hunter cold called, nothing responded, they sit tight and all of a sudden a gobbler comes sneaking by.

How many of you guys have had this happen

I've had it happen a few times. If it's a slow day and I know a particular area is being used frequently then I dont mind waiting them out for a while if I feel like it gives me the best chance to go home with one. 

Alot of times they will come in and I'll hear them drumming before I ever see them. 
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: hoyt on February 25, 2012, 11:46:35 AM
Happened with this old Osceola, it might have been because I chased him all over the swamps the day before and he gobbled his head off staying just out of shotgun range.

Next morning I went in the same place and set up 4 hen decoys in a dried up cypress pond that had lush, green, grass, coming up and got hid all the way in a big pine tree, blow down, top.

He came in quiet from behind me and saw the decoys then took a long step towards them and I let him have it.

Had 1-5/8" spurs. Killed him in Greenswamp East public land in Fl.


(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/GOBBLERS/bigbird.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/GOBBLERS/bigspur.jpg)
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: NYGobblergetter on February 29, 2012, 10:50:42 AM
most common in the late morning or afternoons.

X2 to this. I have gotten up after 30-45 min and got busted by a silent one a few times. Just goes to show that if you know they are in the area, wait another 15 min
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: NCDEADEYE on March 03, 2012, 12:17:03 PM
Happens here in the Carolinas more often than not. I have come to conclusion they keep quiet to avoid Coyotes...
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: coyotetrpr on March 03, 2012, 12:29:30 PM
Quote from: TeocTom on January 09, 2012, 10:55:32 PM
Here is something that I have not seen mentioned on any of the forum.
I have heard many accounts of gobblers showing up without ever gobbling.
Hunter cold called, nothing responded, they sit tight and all of a sudden a gobbler comes sneaking by.

How many of you guys have had this happen
These are the hunts that I really blunder up. lol :TrainWreck1:
Title: Re: Tight Lipped Gobblers
Post by: jakebird on March 03, 2012, 02:36:35 PM
That's your typical satellite gobbler. Often two yr olds but sometimes older birds, too. Ya just never know exactly how the pecking order will look from year to year. Ive already seen a gang of jakes bully around the longbeards after a boomer hatch, and mature birds lived in fear that spring. The one i managed to kill was a three yr old that came in silent and on high alert while a bunch of jakes tended to some hens in a nearby field. Usually i get a satellite bird sneaking in while im trying to work or outmanuever a henned up boss bird. The satellite gobblers are always nearby, being opportunists. Always hoping to find a willing hen while remaining undetected by the boss's sharp spurs. I for one, love these kind. They save a lot of hunting trips. Ive literally gone from cursing my luck with henned up boss toms one minute, to tying on a tag in the next when a satellite bird snuck in and met my gun. Knowing they are nearby and silent, helps makes me hunt better and sit  still for longer.