What would you do?

[Horner]

OK guys here is a little scenario I am faced with all the time.

Where I hunt at it is hilly with 3 to 4 flats on every hill side. 

Lets say you strike a gobbler and he is gobbling his head off about 100 yards out from you.  You can't tell which flat he is gobbling from.

What would you do?

[WillowRidgeCalls]

You didn't say wheather the hillsides were open or covered with trees or brush? If you can see any distance at all, I'd probably be looking for a tree to set up by if the bird was only 100yds off. If your area is brushy and you can move without being seen then I would try to work above the bird or at least higher up than he is on the hillside.

[Horner]

The woods get thick fast where I hunt.
I guess the 100 yard thing is a little close.  However, many times last season I was that close and could not get it done.

It always seems that when I am Spring turkey hunting the birds do the opposite of what I do.  I was on the same flat as sometimes and have had them go high and low on me.

So my next question is, 9 times out of 10 is it better to set up on a higher level than a roosted bird?

I will have to get out to my spots and take some pics of the terrain I am hunting, so you guys can give me some better advice than just a scenario.

[scoot12]

I am a newbie what I say might be stupid but I would get above birds and plop my butt down if he is 100 yards away, especially if it is thick and I would try to make the bird hunt me by doing some soft calling.  Scoot

[WillowRidgeCalls]

Is there water at the bottom of the hillsides? Most times I like to be above the birds, they are easier to work. In the 26 years of chasing these things, I've found they only want 3 things in the spring, water, sex, and food, and in that order.  The place I hunt has a creek in the bottom and the birds will work down to it and then work their way back up to the top in late morning, sometimes they come down and sometimes not,  but they always go up.

[Horner]

Is there water at the bottom of the hillsides? Most times I like to be above the birds, they are easier to work. In the 26 years of chasing these things, I've found they only want 3 things in the spring, water, sex, and food, and in that order.  The place I hunt has a creek in the bottom and the birds will work down to it and then work their way back up to the top in late morning, sometimes they come down and sometimes not,  but they always go up.

Yes there is a big creek that feeds into the river at the bottom of the hills.  I will definitely keep that in mind.  

They always seem to roost one flat down from the top.  I will keep in mind to stay high and not to go low.  Thanks!!!

I now am thinking about all the wasted hunts I have had from tying to call birds down to me.  Makes me want to cry!!!!

[Boparks]

Not sure I got all the info needed but normally 100 yards is plenty close enough to set up and call from as long as there are not obstacles in the way. Being at an even level or higher is generally better than being lower. Setting up in a place you know he likes to be and/or where he has to come looking for you is much better than being where you can see him and he can see where you should be at a 100 yards etc.

In my opinion at this point it's a matter of figuring out how to work the bird in. Soft and easy would most likely yield the best results ...If not or he 's just standing on a flat gobbling I'll rip into him with aggressive yelps and cutts..try and fire him up good and then just stop and try and wait him out. Even the fighting purr thing is a good last resort.

If this fails and you can relocate without him seeing you...swinging around on him and calling from a different spot is worth a shot..believ it or not I have swung around on birds and called 2-3 times while walking before I set back up just to sound like a hen on the move. I've only done this when I knew I had the cover and it does put pressureon you to set up fast especially if he gets quiet and you're not sure where he is. Often him going quiet means he's coming in.

Truth is it just depends on how you feel a bird is acting or what he needs which can differ with birds or even the same bird on a different day

[Horner]

Thanks Bobby!!!  I think I get way to aggressive with my calling all the time and need to learn when I need to just shut up. 

If I hear other hens in the area I go nuts tying to call louder then them.......That could be what killed me last year.  Plus I was down below them almost every time.

[J Gilbert]

If it were me, at 100 yards out, I'd sit tight and play the quiet game.  I'd may a few soft tree yelps to let him know I was there and essentially shutup until he hit the ground and I could get a bearing on him.  If he usually goes downhill in the morning for water and comes back up as the days wears on, I would do my best to be patient and try to wait him out.  He very well could have hens with him when he flies down, but once those hens go to nest he's going to get lonely. I would try to setup where he wanted to be and do some soft calling, just purrs and scratching in the leaves. Doing this helped me kill one of my birds last season

[Ctomp1974]

My dad likes to hunt from his blind and is more patient than me, but most of the time if he can get one to answer, even though he going away, that gobbler will usually come back and check the spot later when his hens go to nest, and he gets lonely. Most of dads kills are 30 Min after sunrise or between 10 to 12 o'clock.

I usually try to work around ahead of them and try to get him fired up. But when they are henned up, you are at a big disadvantage.

Clint