Thought I would throw this out to the board & see what strategies and/or tips you would share to encourage folks to hunt *past* the first couple hours of the day for turkey... Seems as though many hunters I encounter "give up" after about 9am or so, if they haven't heard one gobble...
For the sakes of this discussion, let's assume that you've already done your scouting & know that turkeys are already "in your area"; maybe you don't have them exactly pinpointed, but you've seen tracks/feathers/poop/birds on the piece of land you're hunting.
What have you found works the best to make one gobble, on up in the morning and/or afternoon?
Cut on a mouth call, but I usually just ease around and try to get a visual. I think everyone should give up at 9.
This ^^
I have also used a owl call or owl call by mouth during the day to get one to shock gobble.
Give up at 9 a.m.?????? what
Quote from: guesswho on March 10, 2014, 03:13:15 PM
I think everyone should give up at 9.
:z-winnersmiley:
I only get to hunt after 9 every day, until 12 noon, but I get to hunt every day.
Cutting and yelping on a box call or mouth call for me. Crow call will sometimes get one fired up. Most of the time slipping around taking my time in an area I know there are turkeys has proven itself over the years. Alot of times one might gobble 10 - 15 minutes after your last call, and that might be the only gobble you hear. 80% of the turkeys I kill now are usually from a couple of gobbles or none.
I use a gobbler call works great for that. But I also hunt big chunks of private land so I dont have to worry about calling in other hunters.
ive found sometimes getting real aggressive real excited calling helps. also gobbling every now and then itll get one fired up. a crow call will sometimes get one fired up. but from what ive seen and experienced those birds that gobble during the middle of the day for the most part they wont gobble as much just don't over call like normal and be patient I have killed a lot of birds middle of the day.
Thx for the replies; seems like we've got a few guys that stop @ 9am, and I can't say that I have not done that -- BUT, I've found a lot of success past 9am by using a box call (more than any other call in my bag)... I like a double-sided box b/c usually one side is high-pitched & great for cuts, and the other side is a bit more mellow; I'll wear out the high-pitched side post-9am & get one to gobble, and then use the other side to tell him, "there's more than one hen over here"... Seems to have worked well for me over the years...
I do use a mouth call a lot; but, a box call is priceless past 9am.
Usually slip along logging roads. Using a plaited woodpecker trying to shock gobble a bird. And work from there. :gobble:
I normally use a crow call later in the day. I have used an owl hoot. In fact , I killed a gobbler last year about 10:00 AM that I located by owling. When crow calling doesn't work , I go to cutting with a turkey call.
One tip if you are going to use your turkey call. Before calling , make sure you could quickly have a place to sit down (Where you are hid and can see clearly also ) should a turkey gobble back close by. Ignore this advice and you will find out the hard way. This has happened to me enough to know.
I have never had much luck with a crow call. I like to do some sneaking around or maybe go back to where they were gobbling that morning and put up a decoy and do some soft calling. That has worked for more than once
:TooFunny: I'm with guesswho on this one!
Ive shot more turkeys after 9 than i have before 9. I usually hit the crow call or cutt on a mouth call. If im on private land i may even send out a gobble from the shaker to see if anything responds.
Late in the morning I like to call from a high ridge where the sound will carry a good distance and get one to shock gobble to a "boat paddle" box call.
9? 8 is better!
I find more birds with binocs, then try to move into the zone of danger on foot. Box call from there, and so on...
mudhen
You might think I am crazy, but going to the top of the ridge where I don't think there are birds that is straight across form the ridge I believe there are birds and calling with a crystal very loud with 4-7 yelps (that's a lot I know). For some reason, Gobblers love to respond to calls at that slow time when the sound is coming from a distance with minimal interference (my calling isn't that bad ;D), Only do this once, twice at the max to pinpoint. Then hike your little tush back across that ridge and sneak with in 200 yards and call soft once, then hustle another 50-100 yds (pending foliage) closer, even if they don't respond and sit and wait 10min then call. Then you have a good chance you will be dancing! It really works when the ridge you are calling from is higher then the one they are on.
EXTREME CAUTION: only if you are in great shape do this technique, lets minimize the heart attacks to hunt another day.
Quote from: twyoung0 on March 12, 2014, 09:30:12 AM
You might think I am crazy, but going to the top of the ridge where I don't think there are birds that is straight across form the ridge I believe there are birds and calling with a crystal very loud with 4-7 yelps (that's a lot I know)....
+1 on this; I do this a lot, too.
Another thing...You don't have to have a gobblin trukey to kill one. Find a good place with lot's of scratchins and call every 15 to 20 min. I called up 3 year before last doing this. I like to use the gobbler lounger as sits can be long.
Quote from: cahaba on March 13, 2014, 03:33:19 PM
Another thing...You don't have to have a gobblin trukey to kill one. Find a good place with lot's of scratchins and call every 15 to 20 min. I called up 3 year before last doing this. I like to use the gobbler lounger as sits can be long.
Yes sir!
I rarely hunt with a gun anymore but even bowhunting lugging all my gear around I like to walk ridge tops and cut aggressively on a mouth call or box call, call, move 50 yards call and so on, most times you need to be close to get one to fire but I have great luck with this after 10am.
My last gun kill was the exact scenario, struck one around 11 in a deep hollow below me, I kept walking and calling right past him and set up on a point of the ridge they like to roost, killed him in less than 5 minutes at 5 yards, he came up a steep bank where I could not see him until he was on me!
I cover as much ground as I possibly can. I am not one to be very patient turkey hunting as I love the excitement of getting one fired up. Hunt the roost till 8, glass fields until 9-9:30 and then start walking until you strike one. Hunting in NY, we only have until noon. Give them sounds that they don't typically hear, break the yelp up or cut in the middle of a yelp. That usually gets them going.
Me and a buddy have had great luck getting them to shock gobble with a goose call when nothing else will work
I sure wish everyone quit hunting at 9. I'd kill a heck of a lot more birds if they did!
I'm with the "I've killed way more birds after 9 than before" crowd.
Run and Gun. Call loud and too often. When you get tired, walk and gun, and call loud and often.
cutting... really tho right bird right time
Loud aggressive calling can make them shock gobble....but with every Tom Dick and Harry doing it it quickly looses it's effectiveness especially on public land.
If I'm walking I prefer a loud well spaced two note (where are you ?) cluck on a trumpet call...
If a gobbler answers that he most likely will keep gobbling giving you the time needed to get in position to call him.
Quote from: L.F. Cox on March 19, 2014, 10:19:30 AM
Loud aggressive calling can make them shock gobble....but with every Tom Dick and Harry doing it it quickly looses it's effectiveness especially on public land.
If I'm walking I prefer a loud well spaced two note (where are you ?) cluck on a trumpet call...
If a gobbler answers that he most likely will keep gobbling giving you the time needed to get in position to call him.
Thanks L.F.; I'll give that a try. Appreciate your feedback.
Mid morning is my favorite time to hunt. You may not here as many gobblers but if you do get on one your chances are pretty good he will be a workable bird. I don't have much luck with a crow call where I live so I mostly do a lot of aggressive cutting and cover a lot of ground. If that doesn't work I will just set up on an old logging road or in a creek/river bottom field, patience is the name of the game then. The best scenario is for an early afternoon thunderstorm to pop up. Ain't nothing like some thunder to get a gobbler to let you know where he is. :OGani: