What would you have done different?

[Gobspur]

Pretty much what everyones said, poor setup, calling, movement....busted.  Got a few things to learn yet...

[Bill Cooksey]

Three possible causes are plain to see. Hunter, and probably cameraman, weren't hidden well. Decoy was poorly set, and even when set properly they'll sometimes booger a turkey for whatever reason. My bet though is that full fan sticking up right next to him was the main culprit. Either the full fan spooked the birds, or it drew even more attention to the hunter.

[guesswho]

As soon as I saw the other fellows carrying decoys and cameras I'd have told them good luck and have fun and Id see them at the truck later.  Then I'd have wandered off in another direction and tried to locate a gobbling bird.  As far as what happened in their case I couldn't tell you, didn't make it that far.

[jblackburn]

I think I'd have not had 7 other guys trying to facebook live a hunt

[Flyinhunter]

Yeah, y'all are right after looking back. He's out in the open. They definitely saw him because the bird was strutting then instantly got out of there. Thanks for all the replies.


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[GobbleNut]

I wouldn't call it "busted",...as in the birds seeing and identifying the hunters.  Those birds did not react as if they had realized there were humans there.  Their reaction would have been totally different had that have happened.  Either that, or those are the dumbest d@mn Eastern wild turkeys on the planet. 

They obviously were concerned about something being out of place,...or perhaps they just weren't in the mood to interact with other loud-mouth turkeys at the moment,...but there was certainly no recognition that there were people there. 

[Gobspur]

I use the term busted loosely with turkeys.  In this case I'd say the hunter(s) were busted, but they didnt necessarily bust the turkeys.  Like you said they definitely saw something out of place.  Even did the telltale wing tuck when you know theyre about to get out of dodge.  Thats when i know ive been busted lol

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[GunRunner]

What would you have done different?

Everything.

Better concealmeant and in the shadows, no moving into position with birds right in front and not well obscured, very light purr or cluck if any calling at all, decoy setup poor, 5 folks too many....way too many.

[Marc]

Enjoyable thread, and it would seem my observations are reiteration of those that have already replied.

I felt there are a couple of things that could have made that situation go better.

I think that leaving the decoy in the truck might have proven beneficial (those birds very well would have continued forward motion looking for the hen that was not there)...  If he were using decoys, I would have probably had a jake decoy along with the hen (although that could be dangerous on public land).

I do not think the whispering helped his cause...  Those birds came out of the brush nervous, and it could have very well been due to the whispering...  Certainly the birds heard it, and whether or not they reacted to it is up for debate...  I believe in zero verbal communication while working birds I can see or hear. I have made the most quite of "chirps" on my scratch box and had birds respond hundreds of yards away...   They can certainly hear the whispering or low talking of a human voice; whether or not they interpret that as danger is up for debate, but I believe they do in many cases (especially public land).

I believe that turkeys can pinpoint a turkey or hunter calling within inches at the distance those birds were...  Once I can see turkey, I assume he can see me, and I do not call at them.  If I need to call at a bird that is "almost" in range, I try and wait till the bird is obscured behind a bush, tree or rock....  Sometimes you have to know when to "keep it in your pants." 

I did not really get a good handle on his setup, but when hunting in such a situation, I never like to be out in the open...  Edge of the woods near an open area, so that it is a natural course of action for the birds to continue forward motion to look for that hen. 

As others have said, that turkey sensed danger...  Could have been the camera man, could have been the whispering, could have been due to calling at birds that could see him and pinpoint his location; probably some combination therein.  It seems to me that he was hunting these birds as naïve private land birds, as opposed to public land birds that have been hunted and chased around the woods by hunters...

All of that being said, hindsight is 20/20 and those birds looked like they have been around the block, and I most likely would have found some way to screw the pooch as well. 

[Gamblinman]

I've watched the spring thunder series so far but it's not close to what it was with A-Aron running the show.

The calling was expected they are trying to get the birds to gobble on camera so they are going to call loud and aggressive to them insight I can deal with that 

But a common theme in the first few episodes is set ups are in the wide open the youth hunt was even worse sometimes setting up feet from any trees or brush. And decoy set ups have be oddly placed or used when they shouldn't guess they might have to have a decoy out for a sponsor I don't know but on the youth hunt they had the same birds come in like 5 times and each time the second they saw the strut decoy they skirted and scooted why on Earth would you set up again on them with the same decoy after 1,2,3 failed attempts with that happening is beyond me.

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If you think Spring Thunder went downhill, check out some of the new Primos videos.  They really suck, then again, since Wilbur sold and bailed, its been going downhill anyway.