Its late in the game and

[selinoid44]

I have no time to scout birds at all and I get off at 5pm. I have limited mornings (maybe 2) to hunt and I have 6 days left to hunt. I have set maybe 4 evenings from 5 to 8:30 on a fence row with my back to a woods and facing a feild that has just been planted. I am sitting where I know the birds come across into the field. The 1st night I was there I sat 80 yds from there and 2 hens and a nice tom came up the hill and stalled out before they were in range. I adjusted the sit so I would be able to see them come across the fence and get them in drop range. The problem now is I havent seen a tom there since that 1st night. I have seen a couple of hens there and had 3 jakes come out 1 evening. and thats it. The last night I was there I was walking back to the truck and there were about 7 birds by my truck. I think they might be roosting in a small woods close to where my truck was parked because I saw 1 come down from a tree there. I wonder if I set up in the field close (within 150 yds) of where I think they might be roosting on one of the mornings I have left? Should I stay on the fence row or change it up a bit? They  seem to be decoy shy and minimum calling is probably better. Any suggestions? Its late in the game and coming down to the wire, not sure what my next move is??

[gobbler336]

in the morning why don't you just listen for him to gobble and go to him?  call him up and shoot'em in the head.  don't trivialize it.

[redleg06]

Hard to say exactly what I'd do but if I had hunted one area and NOT seen a tom in quite a while...process of elimination would make me switch it up.   Especially if you have seen them other places recently.

You say you dont have any time to scout but if you saw them in a specific wood lot over close to where you usually park, what's keeping you from easing over there and checking for sign if you think it's likely where they are roosting? I'm talking about scouting while you are hunting. They dont have to be mutually exclusive.

[Michigander]

Hard to say exactly what I'd do but if I had hunted one area and NOT seen a tom in quite a while...process of elimination would make me switch it up.   Especially if you have seen them other places recently.

You say you dont have any time to scout but if you saw them in a specific wood lot over close to where you usually park, what's keeping you from easing over there and checking for sign if you think it's likely where they are roosting? I'm talking about scouting while you are hunting. They dont have to be mutually exclusive.

X2

[Thunderbolt]

I agree....listen for the gobblers in the morning and then play the game...Thunderbolt

[jakebird]

x2.

[longbeard10]

Id suggest getting out at flyup time and roost the birds and then you will have a general area for the morning about where to setup. if that doesnt work wait till morning and listen to them wake up then go after him like somone stated above. goodluck!

[selinoid44]

This morning I had my 1st chance to morning hunt. I got there and attempted to shock gobble some birds and notta. I walked and ran the hoot owl call for a mile with no gobbles. I did manage to whack a coyote. I saw him and his buddy in a field and gave em a couple of clucks. They came on a string. I layed down in the grass and one of them came right to me. We were face to face inside of ten yds. BOOM he got a face full of lead! Back at it this evening we will see what happens. I went to another property and walked another mile, same thing.

[Thunderbolt]

in the morning why don't you just listen for him to gobble and go to him?  call him up and shoot'em in the head.  don't trivialize it.

I agree.....sneek in the area....locate....get close without busting him and smack him!

[magnus]

Not meaning to hijack the thread....but it is related....here in PA i went up to an area yesterday at first light that has been LOADED with gobblers this year.....big public tract, several thousand acres, but despite it being a beautiful morning there wasn't a single gobble to be heard.   What this area does lack are openings where the birds can go to strut, etc. (set up zones)  I honestly don't know what they do after flydown except cruise around the timber.   Has been about 8 days since I was last up there, and was able to work several birds but all had hens.....able to get hens in close but gobblers not close enough for shots.   Now, as said, yesterday was totally quiet.  Has been raining here for most of those 8 days, don't know if that had something  to do with it.    Plus foliage has really jumped up.  I've found that at a certain point toward mid-late May in every season most gobblers really shut down.   Hard to figure that they ALL got the word to shut up on same day, but it sure seems that way!!   Anyway, any suggestions or observations on gobbling activity as the season gets late?