Little help

[JellyHead Key]

Ok I've made a previous post about how I have 1700 acres to scout at my club and I'm just not sure where to start. Well I've been out there the past 2 days and haven't found a roost yet. I don't see any droppings, tracks, etc. but I know for a fact their all over the land. I haven't done any scouting in the early hours yet though. If I do, do I need to go before daybreak and just listen? Also, everyone says you need to find a roost to have success. Am I doomed if I don't find a roost? Any help would be appreciated, I'm a first year hunter.

[MouthCaller]

Without knowing the property I would think your best bet is to get in there before daylight and listen you'll find some roosted somewhere if they're there. Is your season open? What state?

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[memert116]

First, do not give up!  Second, you are not doomed if you can't find a roost.  1700 acres is a ton of ground to even begin scouting in two outings.  Couple of suggestions.....you can definitely try going out early in the mornings and just listening or owl hooting or whatever to try and get one to sound off; you can also try scouting any feeding areas at different times of the day and just kind of follow them around to see what their movements are like.  If you can find an area that looks like a roosting area set back from it in the evening and try getting one to gobble.  Again, with 1700 acres you need to be patient and understand that they can be almost anywhere.  If you are sure they are using the property you will eventually cross paths with them.  Hope this helps a little and I'm sure others on here will come up with even better ideas for you to try.

Good luck!!!!

[Dtrkyman]

Having 1700 acres is a blessing and a curse! A farm I hunt yearly has some days you would swear there are zero turkeys there, the next day 20 birds are hammering.  Look to the creeks if they are there, easy place to find tracks and they need water.

They love roosting near steep slopes and ridge points if you have hilly terrain, look for scratching, many times it is easier to find than tracks or scat! Will look like someone had a yard rake in the leaves and left little open spots scattered about.

Get to a vantage point that is high for hearing and open for looking, glass fields with your binos, owl hooters, coyote howler, crow calls are good locators. If they are vocal they will start just after pink lot many times.

[JellyHead Key]

My season opens April 12 in NC

There are some hilly areas overlooking creeks that I walked for hours today without finding any signs. Looks like I'll be getting up early in the morning and hunt these boys down. We have 27 large food plots for deer hunting and I've seen them quite often there during deer season. Just need to find out where to set up on opening day!

[Kylongspur88]

1 google earth/ go listen early.

2 find some sign

3 learn that area where you find sign like the back of your hand.

If you foccus on all that huge chunk of land you wont be able to see the forest for all the trees. You don't need to hear one on the roost to kill. I usually have my best luck mid morning and into the afternoon when gobblers break away from hens.

[Vabirddog]

We are still in winter flocks up here (va) it may be so down there or not much breakup and sign concentrated and so hard to find as yet. I would be there pre dawn and walk deep in roads before light and listen. mark down or commit to memory where they were sounding off and any hens heard. This way you can scout back towards the truck and use all your time. While it is good to pattern birds (If they gobble on the ground) staying with them after flydown, it is also good to move on and try to locate as many as possible. remember while some may have a consistent roost many will move around, or may have a pattern of 2 or more areas, and some may never be heard again. identifying areas they prefer to roost as well as high places with the best hearing will give you a good place to start in the mornings.