I was doing some thinking about one of the properties I hunt the other day and it brought up a question. I know of a field where the turkeys fly down to and feed in the morning on a daily bases and I pretty well know where they roost. The only problem is to get to the field in which they fly down to to set up on them, the way the property is set up, it's probably going to mean having to walk fairly close to where they are roosted. By fairly close I mean probably in the neighborhood of about 100 yards away from them. My question is do you think I have a legitimate chances of getting in undetected? Keep in mind about the only thing between me and the turkeys will be a open field. If I belly crawled in about an hour before first light do you think that would work? The only other option would be to walk a lot longer way in that would require about a half a mile walk in in total darkness that is still not very far away from where they are rooted but not as close as the other way and it worries me that I'll make to much commotion walking in that distance. Thanks for any advice anyone can give.
If you are going in an hour before first light, belly crawling wouldn't be necessary. You ought to be fine at 100 yds away......we've done it out in the wide open west in OK several times.
An hour before daylight should be fine!
100 yrds is plenty safe. I have had to walk within 20 yrds just remember to be very early and try not to stop near them a full stop sometimes will get them nervous.
slow & easy without a light should be fine for 100 yds, just remember to walk slow and give yourself plenty of time for everything to settle back down
Last weekend we were in about 1 hour before it got light. We were set up 30 yards from a Jake roosted and my son had put the decoy out and it was 10 yards from the tree. I have actually walked right under the tree before. If you are early enough your fine. There are deer and other critters that walk around at night. They don't bother the turkeys. If for some reason they start to put you just bend over, like a cow and moo a few times. Don't laugh I have used this several times and it worked every time.
TRKYHTR
100 yards
if the grounds quiet, not loud and crunchy. and i put them to bed the night before ill get to about fifty, no closer... after that the slate usually does the job
I've found that if you get too close in normal woods, you run the risk of him spotting you in the 20 mins or so before he flys down... especially if you can't resist the temptation to call. Personally I like to be around 100 yds.
slow & easy without a light should be fine for 100 yds, just remember to walk slow and give yourself plenty of time for everything to settle down
Agreed. I would already have a tree picked out and cleaned around so once you set up there is no major commotion.
Justin
I have heard one or two guys on hear say they have actually setup ( not intentionally) under the exact tree they were roosted in. The morning gobble or flydown scared the daylights out of them
You probably have some pretty good foliage in Kentucky, so you should be fine at 100 yards. Like everyone said, slow and easy without a light. I was going to a bird in Florida last week right at daybreak and other gobbled. I looked up and he was 60 yards away up in a the tree. Facing the other way, but should have seen us from a long way off.
I personally like to always set up around 100 yards. Every step you can get towards him is one less he'll have to take to get to you.
No such thing as too close, but I try to get 50-100my yards from a roosted bird if possible. I've gone in quiet and sat down right against the tree the bird was in accidrntly. Just didn't call till he pitched and I still killed him. I know of several people that have done the same thing. You just have to be early, quiet, and no light.
I've never moo'd before haha but I regularly implore the tactic of getting really close in the "comfort zone". whats another 30min lost of sleep I wasn't sleeping anyways. Get in really early and slip in quiet while the birds are still sleeping (heads tucked down) I will get in 30min before first gobble if I have to but nothing like being right in the bed room waiting for them to hit the ground in range. if its a known roost sight I will slip in during the afternoon and clear and rake a path in right to a tree I want to sit at and maybe pull a few branches infront for a make shift blind.
Quote from: TRKYHTR on April 07, 2012, 12:05:00 AM
Last weekend we were in about 1 hour before it got light. We were set up 30 yards from a Jake roosted and my son had put the decoy out and it was 10 yards from the tree. I have actually walked right under the tree before. If you are early enough your fine. There are deer and other critters that walk around at night. They don't bother the turkeys. If for some reason they start to put you just bend over, like a cow and moo a few times. Don't laugh I have used this several times and it worked every time.
TRKYHTR
As close as dare to get, it would not bother me too have them light down in the 40 yd range . :z-guntootsmiley:
the bird i missed a few weeks back was close on the roost. i knew which tree he was in. 60 yards from where i set up that morning, i had cleaned out a spot at the tree i set up at. i have a total of three tress cleaned out within 50 yards of the roost tree. the one on the ridge above him i come around the ridge an climb up to it its not about 100 yards to get to the tree. the other2 spotsare at the bottom of the ridge. i use an old road bed to get to them. i come wthin 30 yards of the roost tree. i use a green light with it cupped in my hand to see where to walk, ths way there is little light that is seen. i try to be there at least 40 minutes from any light. he hasnt been there the last week i hunted him. and aint heard the birds gobbling across the road either.
scott
Alright, thanks everybody. I'll try to slip in on him opening morning and with a little luck, hopefully I'll be posting up some pictures on here come Saturday.
Just go slow and don't use a light. I've done it several times w/o a hitchN but it must be done early and quietly w/o a light. Last year I slowly walked right underneath approx 25 birds to get to a different area. Told dad where to get on those birds bout 150 yds from the roost and he blasted a couple shortly after flydown. Deer walk by them all the time and I don't believe they could tell the difference in darkness.
I have spotted a pile of birds on the limb before light and ended up slipping in and killing many of those after flydown.
I like getting in close,especially if their is hen's roostin nearby.I like 30-50 yards from the roost tree, PROVIDING there is good leaf cover from the canopy of the trees.Only bad thing is sometimes they fly down into your lap, and your shot pattern is no better than a single projectile, and misses happen, especially with a super tight choke.Play it by ear, and Dont be afraid to make mistakes and BUMP Birds, thats how you learn.God knows I have bumped a lot, pushing my luck, but,,, when you get it right,, there is no finer Rush!
Good Luck,,,Be safe!
When you hear his wingbeats and about give yourself a heart attack, you got too close ;D
Quote from: budtripp on April 08, 2012, 11:01:31 PM
When you hear his wingbeats and about give yourself a heart attack, you got too close ;D
I was just getting ready to post this. I would also add that I would rather be 1 step to far than 1 step to close. That said I am always pushing the envelope.
TRKYHTR
Lots of animals walk around in the dark, in turkey woods. I think as long as you take your time and dont sound like a herd of elephants, you should be fine if you get there while it's still pitch black outside. Obviously dont use any flashlights in that kind of situation.
I think just being quiet and taking it slow is more important than them actually seeing you if it's pitch black. It sounds goofy but you can tell when an animal is walking verses a human because animals rarely just walk and walk without stopping. Most walk a little bit and then stop to eat, look around etc. Try to ease a long like a deer or cow might.
some of my most stressful times (in a good way) have been when i am set up so close to a gobbler I can't move and you watch him spin around on the limb wondering will he pitch down at you or away from you. It's happened when I've set up not knowing he was right there or I was making my way to spot and suddenly see a gobbler on the limb and dropped to the tree immediatlely.
it's awesome when you wonder if you bothered him or not and then he all of sudden struts on the limb and lets out his firt morning gobble and you know you're good.
I've also grunted and walked like a deer slipping away from the birds when I realize I've walked right under them.
I remember my first year hunting I slipped into a spot I heard birds gobbling the night before. I realized he was right above me when a j-turd landed on the brim of my cap lol. that birds buddy in the next tree landed 7 paces in fropnt of me and I learned how easy it is to miss at close range. d'oh!