Busting the roost?

[jtoliver43]

I know this is a common tactic used in Fall turkey hunting, but have any of you guys ever tried this in the spring? for example, I have a tom that roosts with about 6-7 hens and is pretty content with his harem after fly down. i.e hard to call in. Would you think scattering them at daylight, then coming back later in the day and try to "re assemble" with some hen talk would be worth a shot?

[g8rvet]

I'll be interested to hear from some of the more experienced hunters.  Where I hunt on smaller pieces of property, busting the roost results in turkeys high tailing it for a while, so every time I move or set up, NOT busting the roost is my highest priority. 

I would try to call that bird in later in the morning, after the hens have left him. 

[Happy]

It can be very a very deadly tactic. That being said I have never intentionally done it. I have busted them off the roost and killed them an hour or so later. It doesn't take long for a Tom to get very lonely in the spring. However it's a risky proposition. If you dont separate the tom completely from the hens then all you have done is scared them. Also if property lines are tight you have the risk of sending them over to the neighboring property. Also don't expect them to be overly vocal coming in. Two gobbles was the best I ever got.

[stinkpickle]

It works.  I've busted up flocks and called them back while they were already on the ground.

[Marc]

Wouldn't it be better to bust them up the evening before?

For those of you who have done so in the morning, how long before they attempt to regroup?

[stinkpickle]

Wouldn't it be better to bust them up the evening before?

For those of you who have done so in the morning, how long before they attempt to regroup?

Busting them up the night before might work, if you're sure they aren't going to roost hop during the night.  I prefer to bust 'em up on the ground, similar to fall hunting, so they aren't trying to reassemble in the trees.  As far as how long it takes them to regroup, it varies...sometimes a few minutes, sometimes a few hours.

[Dr Juice]

Busting them up from the roost may push them outta there permanently.

[fallhnt]

I've busted hens off the roost in the a.m. in the spring and every time It's an easy kill on a gobbler. When I've busted the gobbler off the roost it's game over for me.

[silvestris]

Should you do it and the gobbler is separated from his hens, wait until he gobbles before you call.  If you bust the hens, but not the gobbler and he continues to gobble, you should not have to wait long to pull the trigger.  However, busting flocks repeatedly (sometimes just once) from the roost will make that roost a former roost.

[Dr Juice]

I wouldn't do it, the risk is too high for my liking. I prefer to work the hens and hopefully they will bring in  the gobbler in tandem for the BOOM!

[Cullenhunter]

It has the opportunity to be a great tactic. I personally would not try it because it may make the birds shift roost sites or stay in the tree longer. But when I killed my first turkey we ended up bumping a couple of birds out of trees but the hunt still ended seccusfully