Before the opener you go out to your honey hole and call to the birds.. They answer and maybe even start to come in.. You get the heck out of dodge with them having no chance of seeing you.. You might do this once, twice or a couple more times..
Have you hurt your chances on opening day?
Why in the world would you want to do that. Just take a camera or video or just a pair of bins so you can scout a little. The more you know about your birds the better chance of tricking them when it's time. I have a buddy that always calls to the turkeys he is going to hunt and I yell at him every time, he just can't help himself. He still kills turkeys. Go figure.
TRKYHTR
Nope. Just don't let them see you.
I don't do it. Don't need to smarten 'em up any more than they already are.
it's tough enough to call these pressured, henned up birds in during the
season without calling to them before it opens here in pa.i went out to
listen for birds 5 years ago over to my uncles farm,came up the hill and
there was a truck half way up it with 2 guys dressed in full camo and rubber
boots on.turns out it was a neighbor and his son,i stopped to ask them
why they were dressed in full camo just to listen for birds and the father said
we are going to go out and call some birds in.needless to say i can not type
the words on this forum to what i said to them both.and i stood right there till
they left.thanks shootum for getting the blood pressure going just thinking
about that!
dont wanta make em 'CALLSHY' :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
Big nono... But I like people who do... :wav:
If you haven't bumped them, then no.
However, by calling to a bird, you could encounter a situation during preseason where that bird begins to work the call and you don't manage to escape without bumping him.
I guess my question is, why would someone do that knowing that they were taking the chance of compromising future opportunities just by solliciting the bird with the call in the first place?
I've come to believe that calls should only go to the woods when there's killing to be done.
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 10, 2011, 11:58:14 PM
Before the opener you go out to your honey hole and call to the birds.. They answer and maybe even start to come in.. You get the heck out of dodge with them having no chance of seeing you.. You might do this once, twice or a couple more times..
Have you hurt your chances on opening day?
Trouble maker! :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I seen a kid standing on the front porch of a house across the road of the property I hunt, calling birds while waiting on the school bus. I never seen any birds in that area again the rest of the season. So I dont think it helps your changes, at least it didnt help me in that area with youngin callin to the birds.
IMO That is a BIG NO NO. You are educating those birds. Just watch and pattern those birds . Dont call to them until you are ready to drop the hammer on them.
:newmascot:
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
It probably isn't a good idea. I would however use an owl or crow call.Why I dont like it is. I was hunting the 1st hunt on a power line ,all set up,birds (hens)were yelping all over the place. Gotta be a gobbler in the bunch.Im getting excited.Then I see movement. A grown man with his little boy in tow beating on a box call ,looking for me.He did not have a gun.Probably scouting for the second hunt. He points in my direction as if to say " I think that bird is over there. " I hollered "hunter here" He waved and was gone. SO WAS I !
Anytime I am out on the farm, I try to enter and exit without been seen or heard, however learning from your mistakes and successes is how you learn. I would venture to say the guy that did do that might learn something a "play it safe" person like me wouldn't.
I'll bite.
If you sound like a turkey, what would be the difference between you calling and getting out of dodge versus a live hen that calls and gets out of dodge? Do real hens make gobblers "call shy"?
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
I know people that have done it and it didn't seem to hurt a thing BUT you won't catch me doing it.
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
I'm pretty sure I missed the same bird twice, yes twice, last season. He actually came in gobbling more the 2nd time I missed him than he did the 1st time :) .
Quote from: JBIRD22 on February 11, 2011, 10:27:38 AM
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
I'm pretty sure I missed the same bird twice, yes twice, last season. He actually came in gobbling more the 2nd time I missed him than he did the 1st time :) .
Nah couldnt have.. He would have learned from the first experience and at your first call would have been across the property line
I don't but . to each his own . :character0029:
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:29:40 AM
Quote from: JBIRD22 on February 11, 2011, 10:27:38 AM
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
I'm pretty sure I missed the same bird twice, yes twice, last season. He actually came in gobbling more the 2nd time I missed him than he did the 1st time :) .
Nah couldnt have.. He would have learned from the first experience and at your first call would have been across the property line
Pretty sure it was the same one only because that is the only turkey I heard gobble in this area all season. I missed him on 3/29 and then again on 4/11. Me and my cousin got on him on 4/10 and he was roosted within 50 yds of the tree he was roosted in on 3/29. A few jakes ended up ruining our hunt that day so I came back on 4/11 and ended up missing again. He was roosted bout 300 yds away from where he was the day before. This was in the heart of a pretty big track of public land so thankfully there were no property lines close by. I hope he is still around this season because I would LOVE to finally settle the score with him!!!
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I only take an owl and crow call when scouting. I don't need the temptation of having a call close by.
No way
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:29:40 AM
Quote from: JBIRD22 on February 11, 2011, 10:27:38 AM
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
I'm pretty sure I missed the same bird twice, yes twice, last season. He actually came in gobbling more the 2nd time I missed him than he did the 1st time :) .
Nah couldnt have.. He would have learned from the first experience and at your first call would have been across the property line
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2367515373_515ff7a325.jpg)
Thats a big negatory,well maybe on the neighbors property :goofball:
Probably does not cause a problem with the turkeys but I am not going to do it. I will go and listen in silence. getting too much of a commotion started up might give away your spot to someone else listening.
Don't Do It!
IMHO you would hurt your chances. Even if you get out of there, they come looking and find no hen. Then when they hear your call during the season, would they recognize it? Perhaps. Most people I know never to call prior to the season, and I believe that is a sound philosophy. Although I see nothing wrong with shock calls, like crow, owl, etc.
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 10:21:03 AM
Even during season, If I go work a bird one day and do not score, I never hunt him again.. He is Educated :-[
Actually he is dead, I killed him last year ! :TooFunny:
Heck fire yes, boyz,...I call them thar garblers up all the durn time afir the season commences! They ain't no sich a thang as call shy, boyz. Jist git on out thar and call 'em all up. If you's any gud at'all wich yur callin', it won't mak one durn bit 'o diffrence whence the season comes along. Lordamercy, sometimes, I gots to call 'em all up a buncha times afir the season biggins jist so's I kin make it a fair game fir'em whence the season finely commences. Otherwiz, I wud end up killin' every durn garbler in the county, boyz. Yep, ah'm a humbel feller, but I gots to tell all'a'ya thet ah'm probly the best durn tarkey huntr in theze partz, if'n not the entir durn wurld,....an thet's jist tha plane'ol truth 'bout tha mater. I dunt wanna make nun a'yall feel too bad, but if'n all'a'ya cud call like me, yu wudn't wurry 'bout callin' to'em any durn time ya' wanna. Mah onli problum is keepin' tha big red S on ma' chest covered up whin them garblers is gittin' in reel close!...But I git'r'dun anywho..... :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 11, 2011, 12:52:41 PM
Heck fire yes, boyz,...I call them thar garblers up all the durn time afir the season commences! They ain't no sich a thang as call shy, boyz. Jist git on out thar and call 'em all up. If you's any gud at'all wich yur callin', it won't mak one durn bit 'o diffrence whence the season comes along. Lordamercy, sometimes, I gots to call 'em all up a buncha times afir the season biggins jist so's I kin make it a fair game fir'em whence the season finely commences. Otherwiz, I wud end up killin' every durn garbler in the county, boyz. Yep, ah'm a humbel feller, but I gots to tell all'a'ya thet ah'm probly the best durn tarkey huntr in theze partz, if'n not the entir durn wurld,....an thet's jist tha plane'ol truth 'bout tha mater. I dunt wanna make nun a'yall feel too bad, but if'n all'a'ya cud call like me, yu wudn't wurry 'bout callin' to'em any durn time ya' wanna. Mah onli problum is keepin' tha big red S on ma' chest covered up whin them garblers is gittin' in reel close!...But I git'r'dun anywho.....
:newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
Your cute when your mad :z-loveshower: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
"You're cute when you're mad" :z-loveshower: :TooFunny: :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
:thanks: Thanks....I do my best. However, I prefer to refer to my state of mind as "mild annoyment manifesting itself in an response of condescension".
Good to see that it worked! :happy0064: ;D :happy0064:
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 11, 2011, 12:52:41 PM
Heck fire yes, boyz,...I call them thar garblers up all the durn time afir the season commences! They ain't no sich a thang as call shy, boyz. Jist git on out thar and call 'em all up. If you's any gud at'all wich yur callin', it won't mak one durn bit 'o diffrence whence the season comes along. Lordamercy, sometimes, I gots to call 'em all up a buncha times afir the season biggins jist so's I kin make it a fair game fir'em whence the season finely commences. Otherwiz, I wud end up killin' every durn garbler in the county, boyz. Yep, ah'm a humbel feller, but I gots to tell all'a'ya thet ah'm probly the best durn tarkey huntr in theze partz, if'n not the entir durn wurld,....an thet's jist tha plane'ol truth 'bout tha mater. I dunt wanna make nun a'yall feel too bad, but if'n all'a'ya cud call like me, yu wudn't wurry 'bout callin' to'em any durn time ya' wanna. Mah onli problum is keepin' tha big red S on ma' chest covered up whin them garblers is gittin' in reel close!...But I git'r'dun anywho.....
:newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot: :newmascot:
GOBBLENUT Looking forward to seeing & hearing you in Nashville @ the GRAND NATIONALS next week !! :newmascot:
I do not do that. Now the day before season, in the evening, I will call some to prepare for the next morning hoping they remember me opening morning. It has worked for me some.
No turkey calls 30 days before season opens, locater calls only, it's the law in KY.
Actually it reads from March 1 to opening of season.
the only birds i call to is my pen birds. they tell me what i want to know most of the time. as far as calling early where i hunt . i never have. but i'm sure that Gobblers hear hen talk all the time and in a lot of cases the hen is gone when they get there. but i still would not do it or recommend doing any calling in the woods unless you are planning to kill the bird
Quote from: spurman on February 11, 2011, 03:31:51 PM
No turkey calls 30 days before season opens, locater calls only, it's the law in KY
SPURMAN
Thats a real good law !! :newmascot:
I would ask that any hunters who hunt near me try some pre season calling :happy0064:
i dont it but not to the point where they are coming in
Heck fire yes, boyz,...I call them thar garblers up all the durn time afir the season commences! They ain't no sich a thang as call shy, boyz. Jist git on out thar and call 'em all up. If you's any gud at'all wich yur callin', it won't mak one durn bit 'o diffrence whence the season comes along. Lordamercy, sometimes, I gots to call 'em all up a buncha times afir the season biggins jist so's I kin make it a fair game fir'em whence the season finely commences. Otherwiz, I wud end up killin' every durn garbler in the county, boyz. Yep, ah'm a humbel feller, but I gots to tell all'a'ya thet ah'm probly the best durn tarkey huntr in theze partz, if'n not the entir durn wurld,....an thet's jist tha plane'ol truth 'bout tha mater. I dunt wanna make nun a'yall feel too bad, but if'n all'a'ya cud call like me, yu wudn't wurry 'bout callin' to'em any durn time ya' wanna. Mah onli problum is keepin' tha big red S on ma' chest covered up whin them garblers is gittin' in reel close!...But I git'r'dun anywho.....
GOBBLENUT Looking forward to seeing & hearing you in Nashville @ the GRAND NATIONALS next week !!
Durnit, VA,...I ain't gonna be abel to mak'it up yonder to thet thar cornvection. I got sum big plans to do me some preseesin callin' ta' make it so's I dunt end up killin' more'n my shar onced the seesin commenses. Did I tel'ya thet ah'm also tha best durn shot in tha entyr NewNinted States 'o Merica?
Aniways, if'n I was ta' hed up yonder ta git in thet thar contes', I wud mos liklely humilitate them fansy dansy city boy callers thet compet thar. Me 'n ma sawgras reed 'n ma russynail and scrichy bord wud spank'em lik unwuntidstepchiles,...Ide opin up a canowhupazz lik them boyz ain't nevr seed afir! Thet's tha gosbel trooth, 'n y'a kin tel'm gobblenut sayd so!
Quote from: spurman on February 11, 2011, 03:31:51 PM
No turkey calls 30 days before season opens, locater calls only, it's the law in KY.
Actually it reads from March 1 to opening of season.
I believe IL's laws are very similar to this.
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on February 11, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
the only calling I do is my owl and crow calls to help with scouting!
Quote from: turkey slayer on February 11, 2011, 04:52:50 PM
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on February 11, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
the only calling I do is my owl and crow calls to help with scouting!
What happens when the tune in to your crow and owl calls and wont respond during season ;D
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 11, 2011, 05:05:04 PM
Quote from: turkey slayer on February 11, 2011, 04:52:50 PM
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on February 11, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
the only calling I do is my owl and crow calls to help with scouting!
What happens when the tune in to your crow and owl calls and wont respond during season ;D
Them birds become locator call shy. :D
Not in a million years would I go out before the season and call to the birds!
They get smart real fast!
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 10, 2011, 11:58:14 PM
Before the opener you go out to your honey hole and call to the birds.. They answer and maybe even start to come in.. You get the heck out of dodge with them having no chance of seeing you.. You might do this once, twice or a couple more times..
Have you hurt your chances on opening day?
I don't have too many honey holes.
Where as I usually call one or 2 up before season every year just because I can't help it. I be dang if I'm doing where I hunt ;D
I don't like that idea. I don't have enough birds to take a chain on getting busted. That is why I got scouting in full camo just in case.
I would do it on your land but not mine that I am going to hunt
Not on private land...but on public land, you better believe that 50 yahoos have already been in the woods and called and shocked birds to no end
I remember my FIL and myself were setup in a blind observing a field we hunt. No calls, just binocs. We had a hen walk right in front of the blind, yelping her head off, and walk off. About 20 min later, a big gobbler came out right to the middle of the field and strutted and gobbled for 15 min, looking for that hen. He finally lost interest, and walked off.
So, had that been us, he wouldn't have been any wiser, but I still think all you need is a chair, some camo and some binocs. The turkeys will gobble anyway. Why screw up your chances?
I have done it before and had birds respond but I have heard them gobble first. Didn't have no effect on them. If you only call once or twice, I don't think it has any affect on the what so ever but don't set there and try and work the bird like you do when your actually hunting them. I don't even take a locator anymore. I just go and listen a couple weekends before the season opens up and I am out of there before flydown time.
i never take a call to the woods until i am ready to hunt.why let a gobbler hear a hen and come to it when you can't kill it?they are wary enough to specific calls,why risk a hang up or putting caution in the area?
I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT BELIEVE IN PRE SEASON CALLING. ANY WAY THAT YOU MIGHT TIP THEM OFF IS NEVER GOOD. IM A BIG FAN OF PRE SEASON SCOUTING AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF US MYSELF INCLUDE, GET LAZY ABOUT OUR SCOUTING BECAUSE WE CAN JUST RUN TO A GOBBLING BIRD AND CALL IT IN WITH SOME REGULARITY. SCOUT MORE AND CALL LESS. GOOD LUCK!
I dont do it cause it doesn't help me any. Since there is no such thing as call shy what effect does it have on them ifin they dont bust you? If they think its a hen that is calling and walkin away he might run over you when the season comes in ,of course all things in moderation.
No way am I going to educate the birds i'm hunting. Why take the chance. You maynot be the only one doing it, or you might bump one coming to you who knows. Not worth it.
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on February 11, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
Unless you are on a hunting club where others cant hunt well and you are really selfish and know the land better than anyone else!
Some of the best turkey killers in the country run a call before season
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 21, 2011, 12:00:10 AM
Some of the best turkey killers in the country run a call before season
Seriously, I think the point to be made here is for those average guys that aren't the "best turkey killers". If the newbies or less experienced here think they can go out before the season and call in birds in the areas they hunt, we are doing them an injustice by not telling them the truth,.... that they are, in all likelyhood, hurting their chances of calling in those birds later during the season.
The "best turkey killers" are often those guys that have dedicated themselves to becoming the best callers they can be, and spend lots of time finding birds to hunt, and hunting lots of days in a lot of different places. They are the exception, not the rule.
We, as a group, need to try to help those people that come on here by giving them good advice. To tell them, or let them think, that it is okay to go out and call their birds before the season is doing them a disservice.
Quote from: GobbleNut on February 21, 2011, 10:24:56 AM
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 21, 2011, 12:00:10 AM
Some of the best turkey killers in the country run a call before season
Seriously, I think the point to be made here is for those average guys that aren't the "best turkey killers". If the newbies or less experienced here think they can go out before the season and call in birds in the areas they hunt, we are doing them an injustice by not telling them the truth,.... that they are, in all likelyhood, hurting their chances of calling in those birds later during the season.
The "best turkey killers" are often those guys that have dedicated themselves to becoming the best callers they can be, and spend lots of time finding birds to hunt, and hunting lots of days in a lot of different places. They are the exception, not the rule.
We, as a group, need to try to help those people that come on here by giving them good advice. To tell them, or let them think, that it is okay to go out and call their birds before the season is doing them a disservice.
Im sorry but I have no problem with it
I have done it before and will do it again. Why?? Because I like to see them and hear them gobble!
If you work a gobbler one day and don't kill him, do you give up on that bird and never hunt him again?? Not me! I have missed a bird one day and have gone back the next morning and killed the same bird. How educated was that bird?
What I think it comes down to is the individual's comfort level in being amongst turkeys. I ain't scared. ;)
I also think it's a good idea for hunters to get out into the woods to practice their calling before the season. It's not the same as calling from the comfort of home or in your truck. You get a much better feel for how loud or soft your calling should be and how realistic the sound of your calling is when you aren't in a comfortable position. You don't have to do it where you hunt, but get outdoors somewhere and practice.
I dont do it. I think thats the problem with public land birds......to much people pressure these days. Leave them be until opening day. Turkeys are creatures of habit....they will be in the same spots year after year until habitat change or people pressure change them.
If I had my way, possessing calls on public land before season would be a ticket. Grab binos and walk silently. Get up early and they will gobble on their own....you dont need to make them do it.
I dont call to my birds before the season, I will take a locator call in the evening and stand on my porch and hoot a couple times. A couple hillsides away I hear them gobble and the next morning I go setup about 100 yards away :icon_thumright:
Quote from: TrackeySauresRex on February 11, 2011, 09:44:33 AM
Turkey hunter's 1st Commandment, Thou shall not call turkey's before the season. :D
:TooFunny: :you_rock:
Quote from: vaturkey on February 11, 2011, 09:43:03 AM
IMO That is a BIG NO NO. You are educating those birds. Just watch and pattern those birds . Dont call to them until you are ready to drop the hammer on them.
:newmascot:
X2
I woudn't do it!!!! On the other hand it has a lot to do with the turkey. I have killed them that have been shot at and hit some [too far] the same season. Others that have been shot at or seen somebody shut up at the first call. You aare taking chances every time you hunt. :fud:
I don't think it hurts in the least to call turkeys whenever you want. I've gone out and called in birds for a guy and he ended up missing. We got on the same group of toms later that day and they came right in for another look, none the wiser I might add. I have no idea what goes on in a turkey brain, nor will I ever assert that I do. All I know is sometimes we make these birds out to be much harder to kill than they really are.
Quote from: FttFttVroom! on February 26, 2011, 11:28:15 AM
I have no idea what goes on in a turkey brain, nor will I ever assert that I do. All I know is sometimes we make these birds out to be much harder to kill than they really are.
:agreed:
You have not hurt your chances as far as the birds are concerned. But those 3 other guys that were out scouting for birds and heard them fire off when you called, well you havn't hurt their chances either. ;)
I NEVER call at any time before opening day
I never do that. not a good idea in my opinion. I just stay home and call in the house to the wife.
She loves it LOL !!!!