Things I need to work on

[zelmo1]

I try to improve with every season I turkey hunt. This off season I am going to work on my gobbler sounds. I also want to hunt the dominant birds in an area. All the birds I harvested were the strutters in the situation I was presented and all had 1" plus spurs. But I dont think they were the " boss" in their areas. Just mature birds. Baby steps, lol. Z

[NYturkey]

I work on my calling year around and this off season I am putting together a new gun.


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[Tom007]

I try to improve with every season I turkey hunt. This off season I am going to work on my gobbler sounds. I also want to hunt the dominant birds in an area. All the birds I harvested were the strutters in the situation I was presented and all had 1" plus spurs. But I dont think they were the " boss" in their areas. Just mature birds. Baby steps, lol. Z

I have been researching and gathering info on Gobbler vocalization. I invested in a "Gobbler Box" call and have been learning gobbler and Jake sounds on it. I feel learning to call in Tom's with Jake and Gobbler sounds will enhance my abilities to call in more turkeys and give me a better chance in luring them away from their hens in certain situations.

[eggshell]

After 53 years and being 69 years old I am working on not forgetting what I already learned. Your never too old to learn but just keeping and applying what you already know is important. I am learning my physical abilities will limit my hunting and cost me opportunities. The biggest thing I am learning is, "it just doesn't matter anymore". I am going to work on just enjoying the time in the woods, and accepting that I really don't have to kill gobblers to be successful.

Oh Zelmo, I have come completely to the opposite side of the spectrum. I no longer target the dominate gobblers in an area. I think it's important to leave them for breeding. I had one such bird this year I know has been the boss in a certain woods for 3 years and I intentionally avoided him. He had hens with him almost constantly. Now don't get me wrong, if he presents a shot I will take him, but I don't go with the intention of killing him specifically. A satellite two year old is just fine. 

[Happy]

I agree with eggshell on the dominate gobblers being a vital part of flock structure. I personally wouldn't target them until the end of the season. As far as improvements go, physical fitness is tops for me. It's probably one of the less fun things and therefore the least popular, but it makes a huge difference. There are always equipment tweaks I make every year, but it ain't gonna be anything drastic.

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[LMO]

Great insight eggshell Thanks

[zelmo1]

I understand the breeding cycle needs that dominant bird. My wife and I took all 3 year olds this year. We are lucky to have arguably the best "spot" I have ever seen or imagined. There are 10-15 longbeards in this concentrated area and we are the only ones that have legal permission to hunt it. It's amazing what a little friendly behavior will bring. But we haven't harvested any of the real dinosaurs there. I think, that's usually my downfall, that there are 4/5 year old birds there that are pretty wiley. The 3/4 year olds pretty much run the breeding in this area. We have noticed the 2 year olds( subdominant ) birds never have any hens and they come in rather shyly. Not looking to disrupt the cycle in this awesome spot. I don't think, again not my strong suit, that taking one dinosaur from this area will be the downfall. It may be mute, they are quite crafty, lol. Z

[KYTurkey07]

I like to turn to good old turkey hunting books. I like to read the stories and I might pickup on a tip or two. I try to improve my calling year round. I would like to get a little more out of my long box, like softer talk, so I'll be working on that call. I also want to master the purs and clucks on my pushpin, I think they could be deadly.

[Gooserbat]

My doctor says there's to much Sam and I need to shed 60# of him.  I think that is the main thing I need to do before next year.

[Yoder409]

My doctor says there's to much Sam and I need to shed 60# of him.  I think that is the main thing I need to do before next year.

I'm with YOU !!!

I'm down about 10#.  But another 50# would make my knees and lower back a lot happier, I think.

Other than that..... I'm going to work on my restraint....   Try not to fill all my tags before the end of the first week.    

[Muzzy61]

Working on Cardio this off season.

[compton30]

#1 goal for me every off season is going and looking at the public ground that I have only ever investigated through aerial maps. Throw the dogs in the truck and put the weight vest on while I walk and we're getting all sorts of things done lol

[High plains drifter]

Scout,talk to ranchers, buy stuff,get my gear in order,practice calling.

[Tail Feathers]

We all weight our guns and vest and count ounces.  If I lost 25 lbs those long spring hikes would be quite a bit easier on the legs and knees.  I think I will make the effort this summer.  And practice my calling of course.

[Treerooster]

I try to improve with every season I turkey hunt. This off season I am going to work on my gobbler sounds. I also want to hunt the dominant birds in an area. All the birds I harvested were the strutters in the situation I was presented and all had 1" plus spurs. But I dont think they were the " boss" in their areas. Just mature birds. Baby steps, lol. Z

I have been researching and gathering info on Gobbler vocalization. I invested in a "Gobbler Box" call and have been learning gobbler and Jake sounds on it. I feel learning to call in Tom's with Jake and Gobbler sounds will enhance my abilities to call in more turkeys and give me a better chance in luring them away from their hens in certain situations.

I don't think there is a need for a special box call to make gobbler sounds, including the gobble (no rubber bands necessary). I have always liked less "tools" or calls needed to make the sounds I want. Makes for lees fidgeting around and less time between calls when needed.

Most box calls come with 2 tones (one on each side), one lower then the other. The lower side I use for gobbler yelps & clucks. So you can go from hen sounds to gobbler sound with little movement and less time between calls.

Here is a link (hope it works) to a video of David Halloran gobbling on a box call. He goes through several calls and the gobble is at about 1:50 on the video. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=david+halloran+gobbling+on+box+call&sca_esv=f716cdc2862777a3&sxsrf=ADLYWIIBeVwjcSnBRmO61lF0hS2pQfOg8g%3A1717517154527&ei=YjtfZu3xH7rL0PEPkum8gAk&ved=0ahUKEwjtqpD_qcKGAxW6JTQIHZI0D5AQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=david+halloran+gobbling+on+box+call&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5b9311f0,vid:MS7dP_5zS-4,st:0

Personally I think my gobble sounds better than Hallorans.  A bit louder too. I hold my box vertically but with the paddle up (opposite of Halloran) and use 2 fingers to move the paddle across the paddle while holding the box firmly in my other hand. For a jake gobble I will make the gobble slightly shorter and sometimes immediately follow the shorter gobble with a jake yelp or 2. I do the jake yelps on a mouth call as there is no time between gobble and yelps.

As far as the type of box call I like...one with relatively narrow or thin rails and 1" or 1 1/8" across the rails. Any wider and the gobble becomes a bit more difficult to make it sound realistic.