Owl call locating predawn

[BlakeJ]

If you were headed out blind to an area thst holds birds and want to roost one with an owl hooter, how early do you like to get there?

[Skeeterbait]

For me, the term roosting a bird has to do with going in the evening just at sundown and listening for birds to fly up so you know where to start the next morning.  You could do this passively just listening, or you could owl trying to get one to gobble just before black dark.  Not a lot of point in continuing once black dark as I rarely hear one gobble in total dark.

Same goes for in the morning, which I would call locating, not roosting.  Not a lot of point in owling till light begins to break because again, I have rarely heard a bird gobble in total darkness.  The exceptions I have heard have been on bright moonlit mornings and lightening storms.

[Old Gobbler]

I've won the Florida state oiling championship several times - that being said I don't even carry a owl hooter with me in the woods anymore

   there are so many owls down here , ( s Florida) the gobblers don't pay them any attention , and if you get them to sound off to it in the dark other turkey hunters will close in on your location

It works great elsewhere , but from what I have observed with hunting turkeys in s Florida , it will actually hurt you over the long run

[Muzzy61]

I've won the Florida state oiling championship several times - that being said I don't even carry a owl hooter with me in the woods anymore

   there are so many owls down here , ( s Florida) the gobblers don't pay them any attention , and if you get them to sound off to it in the dark other turkey hunters will close in on your location

It works great elsewhere , but from what I have observed with hunting turkeys in s Florida , it will actually hurt you over the long run.      I'm in north Florida, and I agree with old gobbler.

[cahaba]

First light. I have also had birds shock gobble at an owl call up in the day. There's no bad time to try it. It won't hurt to try while it's still dark but like Skeeterbait said I have rarely heard them gobble in complete darkness.

[d.winsor]

I hear people owl hooting behind my subdivision at 10.00 am and 12.00 pm.  By the time season rolls around the birds probably won't pay any attention to an owl hoot.  Just ease thru the woods and sound like a turkey walking, or sit and scratch in the leaves, worked many times for me.  After first light I'd use a crow, hawk, etc.  Of course if you have private land where every one does not wear it out it is a whole different story.