Change in tactics???

[marshboy]

Over the progression of the breeding season, how do you change your hunting tactics, if at all?  In other words, do you change as the birds change from the time winter flocks break up until the end of the breeding season?
Or, do you simply hunt the same over the course of a season in the hopes that one day a gobbler will cooperate?
Greg

[guesswho]

Later in the season I'll try to see if he's still interested in hooking up with a hen.  But I find a lot of gobblers late in the season that's more interested in hanging out with the guys. so I adjust accordingly.

[marshboy]

Thanks, Ronnie.  I was hoping you would chime in.
Looking forward to putting my new turkey tote to use this spring.
Greg

[guesswho]

I hope you wear it out!

[alloutdoors]

I assess my tactics on a day to day basis in response to whatever the birds are doing at that time. I don't ever go in with a preconceived notion of what the birds should or shouldn't be doing based on time of season, weather, or anything else. Turkeys rarely do what they are "supposed" to do anyway. 

[cahaba]

For the most part listen to how the hens are sounding and call accordingly.

[turkey harvester]

Learn by your mistake, If he doesn't want to play with what your using, then throw something different his way. You have to take their temp and see what is going to work on that day or circumstance.

[NYGobblergetter]

I try to figure out what the birds are doing based on my own observation, speaking with farmers and checking my trail cams. If the birds are being tight lipped I will generally try to sit in likely areas for longer periods of time to see if I can pique a gobblers interest. Water sources in dry areas tend to be good when the weather is warm.

[Spring_Woods]

Later in the season I'll try to see if he's still interested in hooking up with a hen.  But I find a lot of gobblers late in the season that's more interested in hanging out with the guys. so I adjust accordingly.

You hang out with the guys?

[guesswho]

You hang out with the guys?

Absolutely.  I always can blame someone else that way when I do something stupid.  One of my best excuses is " but (insert friends name here) dared me to do it."

[vtmchunter]

Whether it helps me or hurts I can't say for sure.

Early in the season, I'm reluctant to call without an active bird gobbling.  I like to figure out where the turkeys are.  The next day(s) I'll call some from where I thought those gobblers were or where I think they're going.  I get more and more aggressive as the season goes on, because there are less hunters, more foliage, and I feel like I have more of an idea where a few birds are and their attitudes.

As the season wears on, fields of grass grow taller, get manure spread on them, etc.  Manure = more turkeys; tall grass = less turkeys.  Gobblers in our area bunch up more later in the season and are difficult to attract the standard off the roost way later in the year.

Hunt til noon if you can, call where you've heard hens calling from.