Seem for me to have better look letting woods come alive natural than trying to locate birds. feelings??
I prefer it to happen on it's but tend to get impatient.
When hunting an area where I know the birds will be roosted in a particular area I let things happen as they would if I were not even there. I might do a soft tree call at fly down time, gauge the birds temperature and go from there. If I have no idea where the birds are, there really isn't any choice but to crank on a locator. I have never had any luck with an owl hoot. Occasionally a crow call will work but I like something they don't hear used much - maybe a goose call all, something like that.
i try to let it happen on its own. i find if the birds are vocal on their own it translates into great early action. when they are quiet it is mid-morning till action picks up for me.
I like to let them start up on there own .
I let the woods come alive on it's own. If I don't hear anything say an hour after daylight then I will use a locator call as a last resort.
I try to let them go on their own until I know they should be gobbling and if there not I will start crankin on the crow call.
if i slip before hammering a crow call, i will bust them everytime. My luck walk right under roost tree.
I let nature orchestrate its own symphony.
It's during that period of uncertainty that my soul is rejuvenated by nature and my mind is captivated with the nostalgia of the battle that lies shortly ahead.
Wow! That sounds like something written in a poem or a romantic novel
It depends. Lots of times, I know almost the exact tree they are sitting in when I go after them unless they did some tree hopping, so there's no reason to try and locate them. If I lose sight of them before they roost, I'll usually try a short locating sequence, just to have an idea where to setup.
Geez! I feel like the Lone Ranger here. lol I love to hoot and my goal isn't necessarily to force a shock gobble. I feel like I'm part of the orchestra and I hoot as much to start up the band and get other owls sounding off as anything. Many times it will start a chain reaction and I'll be able to get an idea of where I might head next if I'm not successful at my first spot.
Man, if I could just come up with a way to simulate a clap of thunder I'd be a gazillionaire. Maybe a couple of cymbal's. :you_rock:
I want him to gobble as early as possible. I owl call early and often. That allows me to move in as close as possible before he hits the ground and gets to the hens.
The closer I get, better chance to harvest a bird.
In my case a crow call if I arrive late in the evening where I hunt and I only have two days to score. We have located them in the evening for the morning hunt and then it is silence until they come alive.
If I know where they are, I leave them alone. If I am in a new area or just not sure of there location, I'll give em a hoot or two.
Quote from: WildTigerTrout on February 16, 2012, 10:16:19 PM
I let the woods come alive on it's own. If I don't hear anything say an hour after daylight then I will use a locator call as a last resort.
Same here
I prefer to let the woods wake up on its own. If I'm still waiting to hear a gobble after every other bird is awake I will start hen calling. I very, very rarely use a locator, with the exception of a crow call when I'm trying to slip closer to a turkey already on the ground.
I like to hoot also. Really want to know where that bird is as soon as possible.
hoot
I alwaye let the woods wake up then if I haven't heard anything in a reasonable amount of time I'll then start with a owl hooter......... :funnyturkey:
Out here in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado....usually at night when the birds are firmly roosted...say around 09:00 PM, I go out and howl on my coyote call. Find the roosted birds that way for the next morning. I sometimes use it in the morning too. I have used crow calls in the past during the day with limited success.
Usually just let the turkeys do what they're going to do. I've had very limited success with locator calls.
I am so glad to see this thread. I really think there are a lot of hunters out there that just love being able to make turkeys gobble because "they can". In my opinion, the ONLY reason to use locator calls is if you are covering a large area, or an area that you are not familiar with. I usually know my spots and know the areas they like to roost. So I just set up and wait for them to gobble on their own. If their roost area varies a lot, then using an owl call makes sense.
The only other time I ever use locater calls is after they fly down and the gobbling stops. When I am moving around I use a crow call SPARINGLY to see if I can locate a bird so I don't crest a hill and spook him.
I am amazed how people are so proud of themselves using locators in the dark. I even see that in "professional" videos. The turkeys are gobbling their heads off, they are already set up, etc. and for some reason they start honking on owl hooters to make them gobble. Keep in mind, you could blast away on a tuba and they will gobble their heads off. Then fly the other direction just as soon as the sun comes up.
If I am on unfamiliar ground I will hoot. If on the ol stompin grounds I'll set up based off of knowledge of what the birds GENERALLY do and adjust accordingly.
headbanger
I am amazed how people are so proud of themselves using locators in the dark. Hey, Busta Biggun, I'm not sure what you are trying to say. In the first part of your thread you warrant the use of locators in unfamiliar territory and then you chastise somebody for using them in the dark. There are natural sounds in the woods that make turkeys shock gobble...ie, car doors, gates slamming shut or truck horns. I certainly wouldn't bring a tuba to the woods nor would I keep using a locator after I have located a bird. Hell, using a soft hen yelp or cluck in the morning makes the gobblers gobble. I think this whole thread started out asking who uses locators and who does not. I was just wondering if you would clarify your position..... :help:
Quote from: link=topic=18176.msg201255#msg201255 date=1329497878
If nothing's gobbling, I'll hoot. Or if I am checking different places early, I'll hoot before leaving a spot to go listen somewhere else.
Me too Hawg.
If its an area that I know then let the woods and turkeys do their thing on their own. If I don't know an area or where the birds are roosting then use a locater call.
Quote from: Dinger on February 17, 2012, 11:04:46 AM
I am amazed how people are so proud of themselves using locators in the dark. Hey, Busta Biggun, I'm not sure what you are trying to say. In the first part of your thread you warrant the use of locators in unfamiliar territory and then you chastise somebody for using them in the dark. There are natural sounds in the woods that make turkeys shock gobble...ie, car doors, gates slamming shut or truck horns. I certainly wouldn't bring a tuba to the woods nor would I keep using a locator after I have located a bird. Hell, using a soft hen yelp or cluck in the morning makes the gobblers gobble. I think this whole thread started out asking who uses locators and who does not. I was just wondering if you would clarify your position..... :help:
Hey Dinger I am glad you asked because I didn't mean to be confusing. I stated in my post, but will re-iterate. There are definitely situations, that I described where I find them to be extremely helpful. My comment about using locaters in the dark was indeed confusing. There is nothing wrong with using them in the dark. What I meant was a lot of people head out before sunrise and just start hooting in the dark, every morning, no matter what. I described examples that i have seen numerous times in real life and in videos where the hunters are set up, the birds are gobbling, and they start owl hooting. I think that is completely unnecessary. I am also trying to say that many hunters like to use really loud, un-natural sounding locaters that will make turkeys gobble, but it also makes them not want to come fly to you when the sun comes up. I even used to do it when I first started hunting because I had seen it. I used to owl hoot extremely loud, and a bird or birds would shock gobble, but I shocked way too much and they pitched out even before normal flydown time. I took pride that I could always make a bird gobble when others could not. I couldn't help but notice that I laid it on too thick way too many times. I was hooting was louder than any owl was capable of.
Sorry if I sounded sanctimonious or contradicing myself.
Busta, I had to learn that same lesson. Getting them to gobble is not always best if you spook them or other birds in the process. The same goes for hen calling. The loud stuff may get him to gobble, but may move him the other way.
I like to let the morning unfold on it's own. Even while preseason scouting I usually sit and patiently listen.
I have been listening to turkeys gobbling and heard vehicles screech to a halt, slam the door, hoot or blow a call, and the turkey not gobble. Not even giving much time, they slam the door, and sling gravel going to the next spot. A little while later the turkey resumes gobbling. I think you can learn a lot sometimes, just slowing down a bit and listening.
Hey Busta Biggun, thanks for responding. Let me apologise for sounding like my panties were in a wad. I know exactly what you are saying. Man, I like to hear Turkeys gobble but you have to be smart also. Yeah, I agree....locators have their value....just use them wisely!
I give 'em a nice and loud "WCFY, WCFYA?"
Like others have already said, if you know who you're playing with and where they're located exactly; listening to everyone in the spring woods wake up on their own is awesome.
But, if there's any question as to who and where everyone is, then the earlier I can get em talking and I can take roll call- the better! Then I can figure out a game plan and take 'em to school.
And, if all else fails and the Thunder Chickens are tight-lipped, then at least I can usually strike up a conversation with Mr. Owl. He always seems chatty!
I want to be able to move with the cover of darkness as much as possible so I tend to go to the locator call early If I need to.
I personally dont feel like an owl call does any harm as it's a very natural sound in my area (and most area's Ive ever hunted) and is much less likely to spook a bird then moving around blindly without knowing where he's roosted.
I let nature take its course first, then if nothing happens I will owl a few times.
I like to let it happen on its own if I can. I think in my area in the northeast locator calls are not as effective as they once were, say ten years ago. I still use them when it's called for. It seems to me that when the song birds are going crazy, it's a good day in the turkey woods. Some days are more quiet and less talkative. I've noticed on slow gobbling days the crows are also quiet. You never know when locator calls will be effective, that's why I carry them.
I use the owl call to locate them most of the time and give me the location to set up
Quote from: handcannon on February 17, 2012, 04:30:32 AM
If I know where they are, I leave them alone. If I am in a new area or just not sure of there location, I'll give em a hoot or two.
Smae here!
I prefer to let the woods come alive.
What a great thread. I agree with what others have said and generally prefer to let the woods come alive without forcing it. I sometimes make an exception when hunting public land where I need to set up tight on a bird and I know I have competition in the woods with me.
I have seemed to have my best luck letting the woods come alive. Just curious about everyone else technique.
I usually only crow call well up in the morning