I've been frustrated this last week (the first week of PA season) in that I've had success in getting several birds going mid-morning, and then in to about 70yds, but both had hens and I was unable to do anything with them or their group from there. They eventually lost interest and slipped away. I hear of other people "calling them away from their hens", but I'm never sure that can be done routinely and, if so, how do they do it?? In these situations where the outcome isn't a dead bird and I'm not sure what else I could have done, I always find myself thinking "if so&so were there, what would they have done?" So, my question to you veteren turkey hunters, is what do you do and how do you call if you encounter a gobbler with a hen (s) that he won't leave? Sometimes it seems the hens like to cut and carry on, and other times they're just quiet. Thanks for any suggestions!!
Dont count on calling them away from hens....
Your best bet is going to be to either hang with them and follow in behind them when they leave or get in front of them. The hens will usually leave them at some point and if you stay within a reasonable distance, you'll be back in the game when they get lonely again.
I agree with redleg, try to figure what direction the flock is feeding and figure out where they might be headed to. Then you can get in front of them before you even make your first call.
As far as dealing with hens, I have had WAY more sucess calling softly and scratching in the leaves then I ever have by being aggresive. It has been my experience that if you yelp SOFTLY, cluck, and scratch in the leaves every once in a while, the flock will usually come over to check you out. The main thing is you must be patient when using this technique, rarely is anything going to happen fast. They will usually slowly feed your direction. Also, make sure you are well hid. You may have a half dozen or more hens come by you before the tom ever gets close enough.
Went back into this area....big public tract in PA....early this a.m. A few owl hoots got one of those gobblers fired up early.....set up about 100yds out....a few tree clucks and he was on the ground headed to me like on a string. Greeted him with a load of HeviShot. 3 yr old with just under 10" beard and 1.0" spurs....alot easier than trying to work him mid-morning!! Thanks for the suggestions anyway.
Congrats and :welcomeOG:
Awesome man! Every day is different, some days they just want to die.
Congrats, and some good info in those posts
Try to call to the dominate hen.... (aggressive cutting) either she will get mad at you "another hen" and come charging at you or she take her crew and head off to another area... if the second is the case.... try to go around and cut them off....
Quote from: magnus on May 07, 2012, 06:26:14 PM
Went back into this area....big public tract in PA....early this a.m. A few owl hoots got one of those gobblers fired up early.....set up about 100yds out....a few tree clucks and he was on the ground headed to me like on a string. Greeted him with a load of HeviShot. 3 yr old with just under 10" beard and 1.0" spurs....alot easier than trying to work him mid-morning!! Thanks for the suggestions anyway.
Congrats!
It sounds like you found him alone in the tree.....
alone being the key word. It doesnt matter what time of day it is, it's much easier to kill them when they dont got hens with them because they're much more motivated to come to you. The midday suggestion comes in because, a lot of days, they will have hens with them when they fly down and midmorning is the first time you get a chance to work him when he's "alone".
Thanks Redleg. I actually went back into this area yesterday morning.....problem is that its 1-hr/10-min drive, and then 30-min mostly uphill hike to get to where the turkeys roost....so makes for a 3:00am start. Anyway, I worked 3 different gobblers between about 6:30 - 9:30. Nothing in the trees or first light. All 3 gobblers had hens and in 2 of the 3 I was able to get one of their hens in to point blank...but the gobblers all hung back, never giving me a clean shot. Fun, but frustrating. Hope they'll start to ditch their hens earlier soon! Here in PA, our season ends at Noon for first 2 weeks and then all day after that. The all-day hunting starts on Monday, so that may help. Anyway, it sure makes you appreciate the quick on-the-string hunts, because these super early hunts with no turkey is getting old.....and stressing my job and family life!! Good luck to all.
I have had good luck by mimicking what the hens are doing and cutting them off. If they yelp, before they are even finished I start yelping. It seems you tick them off this way and they come in to teach you a lesson and tom follows. It's not always effective, but it's another trick in your bag.