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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: letsgohunting on March 21, 2014, 04:26:54 PM

Title: leaf scratching
Post by: letsgohunting on March 21, 2014, 04:26:54 PM
How far away do yall think turkeys can hear a hunter scratching leafs in the woods
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: TauntoHawk on March 21, 2014, 04:33:08 PM
depends how loud the leaves are and how agressive you get in them. Generally its a they are just out of range or in range but somethings in the way and i just need to give them the confidence to come a few yds closer
Title: leaf scratching
Post by: trkehunr93 on March 21, 2014, 04:55:20 PM
If I'm within 50-75 yards of a gobbler it has been a deadly tactic to seal the deal.  First time I did it I was amazed at the reaction I got.


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Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: chatterbox on March 21, 2014, 05:28:45 PM
I called in a band of jakes from over 100 yards away with nothing more than scratching in the leaves.
Deadliest call in the spring woods, IMO.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: tomstopper on March 21, 2014, 06:36:55 PM
I would guess 50-75 yards.... It can be deadly.....
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: 30_06 on March 21, 2014, 06:46:06 PM
I'm not sure. I can tell you I have scratched at turkeys that were 50 yards away and they paid no attention at all. Scratched at others that were even farther and they came right in. Maybe depends on the terrain?
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: El Pavo Grande on March 21, 2014, 10:52:19 PM
Not sure, but a pretty long ways when dry.  I scratch in the leaves a lot.  Sometimes it may be the only call I make, especially on hard hunted ones.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: DirtNap647 on March 22, 2014, 06:01:15 AM
100 yds and in im trying it
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: ridgerunner on March 22, 2014, 07:33:46 AM
Well they say a Wild Turkey can hear a mouse squeak at 200 yards. I know they have excellent hearing, better than most people would think.

I'd say on a calm morning they could hear it from over 100 yards away and if the biologist are correct about their hearing 200 yards.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: owlhoot on March 22, 2014, 07:42:58 AM
While your scratching, pick up the bugs and loudly crunch them between your teeth, that will bring em in. :OGani: :TooFunny:

Sorry couldn't help it.  :morning: :morning:

Scratching ha worked for me too 75 yards they heard it.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: Gooserbat on March 22, 2014, 10:21:25 AM
I have used a forked stick to really get aggressive when a bird is a little farther away. 

You know like you're under the corn feeder  :popcorn:
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: Vabirddog on March 22, 2014, 11:39:20 AM
A lot further than you think, same for wing sounds especially if you're already calling from that location.   Always amazed at what they hear and will respond to once contact is started.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: VA_Birdhunter on March 22, 2014, 09:32:19 PM
Pretty far....plus its the best FREE tactic there is...in my opinion!  It can be deadly!! Has worked many times for me.  I can remember the first time I ever seen my dad do this when I was young just getting into turkey hunting I thought he was crazy...I sure didn't anymore after I watched that turkey flopping at 25 yrds!! 

God Bless
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: fsu33952 on March 23, 2014, 10:19:28 PM
Last Spring we were getting set up on a gobbler and a different gobbler flew to us. The only thing I can figure is that he heard us walking and flew toward the sound looking for us. I have called them in scratching lots of times in both the fall and spring. They can hear it a long way off. From my experience they generally come in slipping and looking. I can't really remember one ever coming to scratching and be gobbling. As for their hearing I am convinced they can either hear better than a human or they can hear some weird turkey frequency that we can't hear. Kind of like those silent dog whistles. Reason I say this is because I had hen sitting in a tree about thirty yards from me tree yelping and I could barely hear it and there was a gobbler about 200 or more yards away that gobbled at her every time. He would cut her off. She finally flew out to him and he quit gobbling. I am convinced that lots of turkeys we hear early are actually gobbling at things we can't hear. I have a friend that said he was hearing turkeys gobble at nothing. He was gobbling at or for those half doesn't hens standing around putting in the trees all around him.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: highwaygun on March 23, 2014, 10:30:54 PM
Quote from: chatterbox on March 21, 2014, 05:28:45 PM
I called in a band of jakes from over 100 yards away with nothing more than scratching in the leaves.
Deadliest call in the spring woods, IMO.
SHHHHHHHHH dont let the word out. dont you know you gotta have an expensive custom call to kill a longbeard. lol
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: busta biggun on March 23, 2014, 11:28:40 PM
At least 100 yards. Probably quite a bit more. I figured this out years ago. I would sit on one spot and call every 15 minutes or so for over an hour. I would stand up and start walking and I heard a gobble. This happened multiple times before I figured out he was gobbling at the rustling leave sounds. Ended up being the best tactic I have ever used, particularly for birds that aren't responding to calls. Any time I walk in the timber I break up my cadence and shuffle in more of a hen scratching cadence. Works extremely well and I know I have had birds gobble at it from over 100 yards away and come straight in without a call!!
Title: leaf scratching
Post by: 2much2loud on March 24, 2014, 06:36:34 AM

Quote from: VA_Birdhunter on March 22, 2014, 09:32:19 PM
Pretty far....plus its the best FREE tactic there is...in my opinion! 

I bet somebody will try to market a leaf scratcher ..... I wonder what the price will be....of coarse you will be able to get custom ones with exotics woods and such
Title: leaf scratching
Post by: 2much2loud on March 24, 2014, 06:39:07 AM

Quote from: 2much2loud on March 24, 2014, 06:36:34 AM

Quote from: VA_Birdhunter on March 22, 2014, 09:32:19 PM
Pretty far....plus its the best FREE tactic there is...in my opinion! 

I bet somebody will try to market a leaf scratcher ..... I wonder what the price will be....of coarse you will be able to get custom ones with exotics woods and such
I bet Purple Heart would make the most realistic turkey scratching sound
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: Frank G on March 24, 2014, 10:34:16 AM
Quote from: busta biggun on March 23, 2014, 11:28:40 PM
At least 100 yards. Probably quite a bit more. I figured this out years ago. I would sit on one spot and call every 15 minutes or so for over an hour. I would stand up and start walking and I heard a gobble. This happened multiple times before I figured out he was gobbling at the rustling leave sounds. Ended up being the best tactic I have ever used, particularly for birds that aren't responding to calls. Any time I walk in the timber I break up my cadence and shuffle in more of a hen scratching cadence. Works extremely well and I know I have had birds gobble at it from over 100 yards away and come straight in without a call!!
:icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: Exactly what I do, even mimic hens when stalking for deer. It does work.  :icon_thumright:  :happy0064:
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: WildTigerTrout on March 25, 2014, 10:43:28 AM
Leaf scratching is a deadly tactic. The biggest gobbler I ever killed fell for it. He was out about 100 yards thru the woods. I purred really low on my mouth call and scratched the leaves. He died several minutes later at 25 yards looking for his girlfriend! This was on heavily hunted and pressured Pennsylvania state forest land.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: surehuntsalot on March 25, 2014, 08:33:20 PM
if a bird goes silent after flying down,this is the call you make,he can't stand it
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: trackerbucky on March 26, 2014, 04:21:19 PM
Is there a cadence you use to the scratching?
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: Vabirddog on March 26, 2014, 05:28:14 PM
Quote from: trackerbucky on March 26, 2014, 04:21:19 PM
Is there a cadence you use to the scratching?

Yes. Scratch....Scratch Scratch....Scratch.

Hen pulls with one leg, twice with the other, then once more with the first. slight pause before second and 4th pull.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: guesswho on March 26, 2014, 05:32:59 PM
Quote from: Vabirddog on March 26, 2014, 05:28:14 PM
Quote from: trackerbucky on March 26, 2014, 04:21:19 PM
Is there a cadence you use to the scratching?

Yes. Scratch....Scratch Scratch....Scratch.

Hen pulls with one leg, twice with the other, then once more with the first. slight pause before second and 4th pull.
What if it's two or more turkeys?   Scratch Scratch....Scratch Scratch Scratch Scratch....Scratch Scratch?
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: Vabirddog on March 26, 2014, 06:15:10 PM
Quote from: guesswho on March 26, 2014, 05:32:59 PM
Quote from: Vabirddog on March 26, 2014, 05:28:14 PM
Quote from: trackerbucky on March 26, 2014, 04:21:19 PM
Is there a cadence you use to the scratching?

Yes. Scratch....Scratch Scratch....Scratch.

Hen pulls with one leg, twice with the other, then once more with the first. slight pause before second and 4th pull.
What if it's two or more turkeys?   Scratch Scratch....Scratch Scratch Scratch Scratch....Scratch Scratch?

No they take turns, saw it on Disney.
Title: Re: leaf scratching
Post by: guesswho on March 26, 2014, 06:40:51 PM
 :laugh: