Hunting only weekends.

[deerbasshunter3]

The schedule for the property that I hunt was just sent to me. It looks like somebody is going to be hunting during the weekdays every week of April. I only have two weekends off during the month of April. My question is:

If somebody is going to be hunting only during the week all month, how should I expect that to affect me on the two weekends that I will be hunting?

Some things to take into consideration is that (I am assuming) that the guy(s) hunting during the week are after mature gobblers. I, however, am new to his and am after young and old gobblers. I probably will not shoot a jake, however, ask me again if I haven't seen anything by my last weekend to hunt.

Also, I think that it is pretty safe to say that somebody else will be hunting on the weekends that I have to work.

I feel as though as long as the other guys are not going around shooting at every turkey they see, I should not be effected too negatively, in terms of being able to call gobblers in.

Thank you.

[Bowguy]

Never heard of property w a schedule

[1iagobblergetter]

It sounds like it'll only be like hunting public ground. Lol...the person hunting it might just be locking up a large time slot so others cant hunt and it might not be hunted as much as it appears. Maybe they'll get tagged out right away. I'd learn to use or use calls that aren't used often like a trumpet or tube call. I have about the same problem with one guy thinking he needs sole permission for several large properties for the first two season's of an area I hunt. I ain't scared of it be a better turkey hunter than they are and you'll get yours. Goodluck. ..

[owlhoot]

It sounds like it'll only be like hunting public ground. Lol...the person hunting it might just be locking up a large time slot so others cant hunt and it might not be hunted as much as it appears. Maybe they'll get tagged out right away. I'd learn to use or use calls that aren't used often like a trumpet or tube call. I have about the same problem with one guy thinking he needs sole permission for several large properties for the first two season's of an area I hunt. I ain't scared of it be a better turkey hunter than they are and you'll get yours. Goodluck. ..

if you have ever belonged to a reservation type hunt club you will know the first part is right, guys will book up sections of land to keep others off until they can go. Seen it many times.

[deerbasshunter3]

The guy who will be hunting during the week has been hunting that property, I believe, since before my father-in-law owned it. Plus, he is a big turkey biologist here in SC. That being said, he has more than enough say so in the matter.

I will not be able to hunt during the week at all, so it's not like it is keeping me from hunting during the week anyways.

[owlhoot]

Well then i wouldn't think that he would be out there shooting everything he sees?
He will probably be done fairly quick and the woods may settle down for you.
You should have a good hunt. Ask the guy to help you since he should know plenty about the land.

[born2hunt]

Ask the guy to help you since he should know plenty about the land.

Exactly....Ask that guy to hunt with ya on one of your weekends. Your asking a lot of questions on here and thats great but this could be your chance for some good ole hands on pointers. A many a questions can be answered on a single hunt with a tried and true veteran hunter.

[TauntoHawk]

Ask the guy to help you since he should know plenty about the land.

Exactly....Ask that guy to hunt with ya on one of your weekends. Your asking a lot of questions on here and thats great but this could be your chance for some good ole hands on pointers. A many a questions can be answered on a single hunt with a tried and true veteran hunter.

I could agree more. A turkey hunting mentor is huge. Growing up I literally ran around the woods with my dad neither one of us knowing anything about turkeys or calling. We killed a bird every couple of years and those where the birds that were probably hot enough to die listening to a nail on a chalk board. When I was 19 I met a buddy of a friend who took me turkey hunting, taught me turkeys, woodsmanship, calling, and we've killed a pile of birds since. He passed down everything he had learned from a local call builder. Since then I've gotten involved in taking kids, veterans, friends, even turned my wife into a true turkey slayer. You can shave years of mistakes by yourself off by hunting with someone that knows what they're doing

[Cut N Run]

It matters how big this piece of land is too.  If that land is a few hundred acres in size, your chances are better than if it is small (<100 acres). Turkeys move around a lot.  Is there hunting pressure on the neighboring land? That matters too.  If I was hunting there, I'd find out where the other guy likes to hunt and try to find an out of the way area that he may not be motivated to go to (a long way from parking, the other side of a creek, the other side of the ridge, etc.).  I've killed some of my biggest and oldest gobblers by seeking those out of the way places the turkeys were comfortable hanging around or moving through that most hunters wouldn't spend the time or effort to get to. 

You might not learn the best area to hunt in your first year of hunting there either.  It could take a few seasons to figure the lay of the land out and which way the birds like to move through. Scout when you can in winter to learn the lay of the land the best you can.  That way, if you know which way a gobbler is moving, you can get around in front of him and get where he wants to go before he does.

Pay attention to every gobble you hear and which direction it is moving.  Lots of times turkeys will tell on themselves by sounding off from the same ridge or draw, especially late in the morning when the hens start going to nest. If you find a strut zone you can set up near, you're in business.   You can use their voice to fine tune the areas you'll want to hunt.

Remember to exercise patience and don't give up because the gobblers are henned up early in the season.  The third week of the season is my favorite time to be in the woods because the hens are nesting and the gobblers are still feeling it.  The woods can be empty of other hunters in late morning by the third week and gobblers are very callable and killable that time of year.

Jim

[DerekDixon]

When you get to go walk the roads and find the tracks and just sit tight and call soft. Nothing super aggressive.

[deerbasshunter3]

It matters how big this piece of land is too.  If that land is a few hundred acres in size, your chances are better than if it is small (<100 acres). Turkeys move around a lot.  Is there hunting pressure on the neighboring land? That matters too.  If I was hunting there, I'd find out where the other guy likes to hunt and try to find an out of the way area that he may not be motivated to go to (a long way from parking, the other side of a creek, the other side of the ridge, etc.).  I've killed some of my biggest and oldest gobblers by seeking those out of the way places the turkeys were comfortable hanging around or moving through that most hunters wouldn't spend the time or effort to get to. 

You might not learn the best area to hunt in your first year of hunting there either.  It could take a few seasons to figure the lay of the land out and which way the birds like to move through. Scout when you can in winter to learn the lay of the land the best you can.  That way, if you know which way a gobbler is moving, you can get around in front of him and get where he wants to go before he does.

Pay attention to every gobble you hear and which direction it is moving.  Lots of times turkeys will tell on themselves by sounding off from the same ridge or draw, especially late in the morning when the hens start going to nest. If you find a strut zone you can set up near, you're in business.   You can use their voice to fine tune the areas you'll want to hunt.

Remember to exercise patience and don't give up because the gobblers are henned up early in the season.  The third week of the season is my favorite time to be in the woods because the hens are nesting and the gobblers are still feeling it.  The woods can be empty of other hunters in late morning by the third week and gobblers are very callable and killable that time of year.

Jim

There is a little over 1,000 acres.

[10gaugemag]

Just 1 other hunter on this 1000 acres?

[deerbasshunter3]

Just 1 other hunter on this 1000 acres?

Myself, two other guys, and whoever they may bring with them. I would say still less than 10.

[born2hunt]

Just 1 other hunter on this 1000 acres?

Myself, two other guys, and whoever they may bring with them. I would say still less than 10.

Many guys would love those numbers. Public can be way more than that. Just count your blessings that you have somewhere to go, hunt hard but careful and you'll be ok. 

[porcupine]

I would definitely talk to him on the piece of property that big if you don't have an opportunity to scout....Plus like has been mentioned on the ground experience is invaluable when you're learning