Suggested Tactic for Bird that likes to fly up in a tree first

[Vabirddog]

Double team him, shooter out in front of caller 50 or so yds, more if needed to catch him on the ground on the way in.

[silvestris]

If a gobbler responds to my calling by flying from his roost or from the ground to a limb in range and in clear sight, he is going home with me.  I have approached too closely to a gobbler on his roost a number of times and always refrained from taking a certain shot.  The roost tree and any other tree are two different things.  The roost tree is protected territory.

[sasquatch1]

DO YOU HAVE DECOYS OUT? IF NOT TRY TO PUT OUT SOME DECOYS, GIVE HIME SOMETHING TO SEE. HE MAY FLY RIGHT DOWN INTO THE SPREAD

[bamagtrdude]

First time, yes, we had decoys out; 2nd time, no.  My buddy is still on him, and I believe he'll get him in the morning; thx for all the suggestions, and clarifications on the legal regs of shooting 'em out of trees.  He's safe on the roost - we'll give him that; after leaving it, though, it's GAME ON!!

[turkey_slayer]

He took to a tree because he suspected something.

In my case I'm sure it was 2 other gobblers he was looking for as all 3 were together with hens the evening before. No way he seen me and deff didn't spook as he was gobbling in the tree. I've seen birds pitch up in the middle of the day in the fall and preen.

[bamagtrdude]

BTW, I'm letting my buddy hunt & take this bird, all on his own.  It's giving him a *great* turkey hunting education, in only his first year.  He's learning a lot about proper setup, calling, maneuvering, etc.  I'm positive that he will eventually take this bird, as he's got the right "never give up" attitude & is enjoying the heck out of learning to turkey hunt w/this sly ole joker!! 

Honestly, we had *no idea* that it was actually legal here to take birds out of trees; we thought that wasn't an option.  Which, even still, I think my friend has a very legitimate chance to take him on the ground.  But, if he keeps pulling that tree stunt, he knows now - BLAST HIS *SS!!

[goosetalk]

Caller could set up 50 yards or so behind the shooter in hopes to catch the gobbler sneaking in before he takes flight.

[deersled]

sounds like you got an "old warrior" on your hands. Might be more fun to just hunt him on his terms until he slips up vs. shootin him out of the tree. Or if you're good with it.....bust him!

[bamagtrdude]

sounds like you got an "old warrior" on your hands. Might be more fun to just hunt him on his terms until he slips up vs. shootin him out of the tree. Or if you're good with it.....bust him!

That's probably what I would do - but, it's my buddy's very first year hunting wild turkey, so ...  It's up to him, but yes; I'd enjoy the "challenge" of it; although last day of season & I ain't got him & he flies up in a tree -- KA-BOOM!    hehehe...  We'll see what happens...

[redleg06]

If he walks in to my set up. He gets shot.

If he flies in to my set up. He still gets shot.....

I wouldn't shoot one off his roost tree but if he responds to my calls and decides to come in, regardless of how he gets to me, he's still getting what's coming to him. 

[FullChoke]

I have had gobblers think that they had this foolproof human hunter tactic down pat, only to meet a real surprise. If a turkey flies into a tree above me during non-roosting times, I have legitimately called him in. He is now facing 2 real problems, trying to survive the shot and then trying to survive the impact with the ground.

Drop him like a bad habit!

[Crawl79]

The Sunday of opening weekend I had this happen to me and got my bird on the ground.

I normally setup in some type of blow down but I messed up and was setup against a tree in the open. It was 12:45 and I had just crept in to my spot as quietly as possible. I waited a few minutes to get comfortable and let out one series of yelps on my mouth call. Knowing that other hunters had been in the area the day before and possibly that am I put the call on my lap and waited. Less than 10 minutes later a gobbler fly's into a big pine 80 yards in front of me and starts doing circles in the tree looking for a hen. I kept still and waited for him to turn. As he turned away I put mouth call in my mouth clucked a couple times and scratched the leaves. He flew down a minute later in my direction but proceeded to strut in a half circle around me for 45 min never coming closer than 45-50 yards, all this time I stayed quiet making him look for me. After 45 min of this  I started to try and fire him up and had him gobbling at some yelping but didn't want him to get too vocal due to hunting on public land. In a last ditch effort to get him the last few yards into my comfort range I cut at him really hard. It seemed to work he started making some tentative moves forward between strutting and gobbling. About that time I hear a loud purr and some bubble clocks behind my shoulder. Thinking its a hen and game over, I sneak a peek and its a bigger gobbler coming in at 20 yards. Swung my gun on that bird as he passes behind some brush. Was about to pull the trigger and notice original bird is at 35 yards and decide to take him after all he put me through.

He got a dirt nap and the big bird got a good lesson about interrupting a party. Hope he tried that again with me, but have a feeling that scenario won't work again.

[Gooserbat]

If he walks in to my set up. He gets shot.

If he flies in to my set up. He still gets shot.....

I wouldn't shoot one off his roost tree but if he responds to my calls and decides to come in, regardless of how he gets to me, he's still getting what's coming to him.

This sums up my feelings.  I called him in and I have no qualms with shooting him dead.

[bamagtrdude]

10-4 -- all great suggestions, everybody -- thx for the tips!!

Crawl79, that's an awesome story, man - congrats!!!