Sit and wait, or make something happen?

[JohnnieB]

Our season in NY is only the month of May and you can only hunt until noon. Usually my first few hunts will be out of the Double Bull where I will sit until noon. After the first few weeks everything is green and the birds have been spooked a few times so I find run n gun works better.

[redleg06]

Some places I hunt, I know there are birds using an area frequently and in a situation like that I'm more likely to setup and wait it out because I know the area well enough to know that eventually, one will probably work my way. Some days they are jus quiet but if I know they are in there because of scouting then it's easier to be patient.

Other times, you have to cutt and run and be aggressive. Generally speaking, I tend to be a little more aggressive and have no problem moving if that's what I feel needs to be done.

I think some people hear "patients" and think that means that if they hear a turkey gobble, they need to sit down on the spot, break out the calls and dig In for the long haul come hell or high water.   Depending on the situation, that may be the right call but IMO, some folks get In the habit of playing it a little too safe when they really could have used the opportunity to improve their position on the bird and increase their chances of killing it if they closed some of the distance and got into a better set up....obviously it would depend on a lot of different factors.

[SonicBanshee]

sit

[Trey]

There is a time and place for both.  Unfortuantely, we all learn from past mistakes and make adjustments from there. 

[mfd1027]

My personality tends be quiet/reserved and you would think I'd hunt with the same style- content to wait em out.

"NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!"  lol   Something happens when I put on my camo and grab my huntin' gear.   I'm gonna make something

happen.   I turn into a hootin, yelpin, cutt'n, purr'n, cluck'n nut.   I'm a man on a mission.   Ain't nothin' like it.   You'd think I'd know

better after 45 yrs. of chasin' these guys!!!  

[hoyt]

If I roost a gobbler I'll set up and see what happens for a while, but I'm not going to sit too long if he don't start my way. I'll get up and walk & gun till I hear a gobble or get tired of walking. When I get tired I'll either go back where I roosted the gobbler...if he walked off with hens when I was trying to work him or go to an area I know birds frequent that time of morning and set up and call/rest for about 45mins and then walk and gun till I get tired and set up somewhere again call/rest.  Killed a lot of gobblers doing that over the yrs. They will come back a lot of times after the hens leave them.

[bgbuck153]

I will give the birds ample time to commit and then I go terrain permitting straight at him ! I get as close as I can using a crow call to keep tabs on him the purr and scratch the leaves . Boom !

[joshb311]

First, I always try to set up on a gobbler that I know is there first thing in the morning.  If that doesn't work out, I love to cover ground with the old run n gun.  If you get set up, on a bird, be patient.  But, don't hesitate to mvoe if you need to.  Moving even a few yards can sometimes turn things in your favor.   Good luck!   

I do the same.  Although I probably need to sit more than I do.  I hunt with a guy from time to time who will sit and sit and sit till the cows come home.  It drives me crazy but he kills a lot of turkeys.

One friend I learned a lot from last year is a statue when it comes to sitting. He's bagged a lot of birds in his years and always kills his limit by halfway in the season.

I can't stand it. I'm just too antsy and end up moving if the action is dull. It has cost me. I got busted on my third hunt because I didn't think my setup was any good. I sat for a while with no responses to my calling and figured I was hitting on nothing. When I stood up, my heart sank. There were two nice toms about 30 yards away and they saw me well before I could even think of getting the drop on them.

[cscott]

I dont have the patience to sit and wait.....theres another turkey out there that will be willing to participate.