Need some advice.

[mossybird]

I have been hunting this turkey on a piece of property all season(5 weeks). The first 4 were very unsuccessful. The past 3 days he has been slipping up and has got within 70 yards but hangs up. I know exactly where he roosts. There is a field beside his roost, maybe 100 yards away. Im setting up on the edge of the field about 120 yards away from him.

He will scream his head off in the morning. I have no idea what im doing wrong. At his 1st gobble i give him a light tree yelp and he answers. Then i shut up until he hits the ground then i give him a few more sets of yelps and be quiet. Meanwhile he is steady gobbling every 30 seconds. He acts like he doesnt want to come to the field or even 60 yards from it. I know hes not seeing me before hand because i walk the edge of the field and there is plenty of leaves on the trees.

When he flies down he struts around his roost for about 30-45 minutes, im assuming hes waiting for hens, before he goes to a cut over where i dont have permission. It would be impossible to get between him and the cut over without him seeing me in the morning. After 630 he shuts down and i stay until 830 in case hes just taking his time. I have sat in the evening from 130-400. Should i stay later? If anyone has any advice it would be appreciated. Really determined to kill this turkey. Thanks

[Jasonb53]

 The bird might be patterning you. I would stay later in the afternoon and be prepared to walk out in the dark or well after to keep from spookin him if you dont get a shot.Also you could go in way before daylight and get close to his roost tree or in between him and cut over. I would change up everything from calling,calls and set-ups every time I went after him

[TX Aggie]

If I leave the woods it is usually around 2-4 to go eat and maybe take a nap. I get back into position around 4 and wait to see where they are coming from to get back to the roost. The birds I hunted this year came in from 6 to 6:30 regularly - how they came in was the guessing game.

If you can set up between the cut that you do not have permission to hunt and the roost where he would have to come through you to get back to his regular area - you have him.

do you know what time he comes back to roost in that area? I think that would be the best way to get into position without him knowing you are there. Especially if you have not tried hunting that late in the day. I had birds on the ground at 8:35 the other night and it gets dark around 9. It was too dark to pulll the trigger on aythng even if I wanted to but I couldn't get up for fear that I would spook them. They were taking forever to get into bed!

[sbraham]

No doubt i would be between his roost and the cut well before daylight, going in wide around him. I probly wouldnt call at all till he flew down, softly and with something other than what he has heard before. Leaf scratching should be good too since you will be in close. Probly purring more than yelping for me in this situation

[jbrown]

One more thing to try, as soon as you know he is leavin his strut zone at the roost tree, slip in undetected to the roost tree area and softly call with a couple clucks, a few purrs and leaf scratchin and lots of patience. I think your best plan is to slip in at least 1hour before first light and get between him and the clear cut. Don't call until he is on the ground and comin your way, only soft purrs, maybe a cluck and scratch leaves behind you. Don't yelp to him!

[mossybird]

Thanks for all the advice! Tomorrow i am going with my grandfather to see if he can kill one. Next time im by myself i will slip in at around 430 which is way before light. Thanks everyone! Should i throw a decoy out or no?

[sbraham]

I would take the decoys in case you gotta go after him on up in the morning but i would not put one out to start with. Especially if its a wooded area