Most frustrating season ever

[jakesdad]

To start off with our farm and the 2 adjoining neighbors there has been little(as in zero)action.One neighbor killed a bird opening morning and he said he has not seen or heard any birds since.I have been hunting a farm west of here that is 90 acres of timber and it holds several birds,as do the adjoining farms.Not uncommon to hear 6-8 birds hammering every morning.It seems every time i've set up and had birds work something has gone wrong.Birds come in from a really awkward direction,birds come in from a direction that you have no idea where they came from,birds not doing what you'd think they do,etc.

This morning was a great example.Slid in early to a wooded ridgetop where birds have been roosting.There is a old logging type road that follows the ridge to a small field.Birds have been using this road.I get in within 75 yds of 2 roosted gobblers who are lighting it up on the roost.I give a couple little purrs and a cluck and shut up.Birds are going nuts.I see them pitch down into the road.I am just around the bend,so when they come around it,its 35 yds lights out.They're gobbling with no coaxing from me other than purrs and clucks.Birds get quiet,I figure they are coming.Next gobbles come from my right down over the edge of the ridge.Ok,following the edge of the road no problem.All goes quiet.Next set is from further up a ditch full of briars and such.And they keep in it on the way to the field!Why me? Any turkey worth his spurs would walk the road right? Get up and make a BIG loop to get to the field before them.Get decoys set right in line with the ditch they are in and the road they should be on.Let out a series with my Hot Hen.Double Whammy!! Sit down and shut up.5-10-15-20 mins go by no sound.Call again get an answer.Except they've left the ditch,crossed the logging road and are in the field with me over a small rise 60 yds to my left past the decoys.Decide they have better things to do and walk off...........alone!

This is just one of a few scenarios of how my season has gone so far.Bought ready to pull out what hair I have left and hang it up!

But then again i'll probably go again tomorrow before work 

[Cut N Run]

That's turkey hunting.  Keep after 'em, man.  Your success will be that much sweeter.  I hadn't been hearing many gobbles to speak of and those I did hear were following hens off the property I could hunt. Last time out it worked like it was supposed to & I had one respond and give me a 15 yard shot. You know how turkey hunting goes, the next time they might just about run you over.

If they keep playing stubborn, mix it up and try adding a gobble call.  That should get their curiosity up or make 'em mad.  Patience kills more turkeys. 

It is turkey hunting and not just turkey shooting.  If it were easy, too many people would be doing it.  I'm pulling for you.  The next time could be your best hunt ever.  Stick with it. Good luck.

Jim

[steveo]

Don't give up ! Only take a few minutes to change a whole season...... Highs and lows are just part of the addiction that is spring Gobbler hunting ??

[KYHeadhunter02]

Hey atleast year hearing the birds and know what there doing. I almost hate a farm I hunt. They don't make much noise. If I'm not on them and they do I can't hear them because the property runs along an interstate and is narrow. Its 100 acres and is all woods except roadways. Stay after them.

[WV TURKEY THUG]

try hunting a whole season only missing a few days and not get one. 

[Onpoint]

To start off with our farm and the 2 adjoining neighbors there has been little(as in zero)action.One neighbor killed a bird opening morning and he said he has not seen or heard any birds since.I have been hunting a farm west of here that is 90 acres of timber and it holds several birds,as do the adjoining farms.Not uncommon to hear 6-8 birds hammering every morning.It seems every time i've set up and had birds work something has gone wrong.Birds come in from a really awkward direction,birds come in from a direction that you have no idea where they came from,birds not doing what you'd think they do,etc.

This morning was a great example.Slid in early to a wooded ridgetop where birds have been roosting.There is a old logging type road that follows the ridge to a small field.Birds have been using this road.I get in within 75 yds of 2 roosted gobblers who are lighting it up on the roost.I give a couple little purrs and a cluck and shut up.Birds are going nuts.I see them pitch down into the road.I am just around the bend,so when they come around it,its 35 yds lights out.They're gobbling with no coaxing from me other than purrs and clucks.Birds get quiet,I figure they are coming.Next gobbles come from my right down over the edge of the ridge.Ok,following the edge of the road no problem.All goes quiet.Next set is from further up a ditch full of briars and such.And they keep in it on the way to the field!Why me? Any turkey worth his spurs would walk the road right? Get up and make a BIG loop to get to the field before them.Get decoys set right in line with the ditch they are in and the road they should be on.Let out a series with my Hot Hen.Double Whammy!! Sit down and shut up.5-10-15-20 mins go by no sound.Call again get an answer.Except they've left the ditch,crossed the logging road and are in the field with me over a small rise 60 yds to my left past the decoys.Decide they have better things to do and walk off...........alone!

This is just one of a few scenarios of how my season has gone so far.Bought ready to pull out what hair I have left and hang it up!

But then again i'll probably go again tomorrow before work 

You're having the kind of year my wife is. I set her up for the shot and every time the birds circle or do something crazy and give me the shot. I swear if I set her up and o set up with a creek beside me, it wouldn't surprise me to have have a bird come swimming up the creek right to me. She's frustrated too

[WildTigerTrout]

Does not sound frustrating to me it sounds exciting. Matching wits with the Old Gobbler. Frustrating is hunting for days and not hearing or seeing anything. You know they are there, keep at it.

[jakesdad]

Does not sound frustrating to me it sounds exciting. Matching wits with the Old Gobbler. Frustrating is hunting for days and not hearing or seeing anything. You know they are there, keep at it.

I know what you're saying.Its kinda both for me.Then again i'm the kind that gets excited when I get a bird early in the season then i'm mad because I got to wait a week before I can go again(unless I get to go with somebody else).Sometimes I wonder which creature has the pea sized brain! 

[WildTigerTrout]

Does not sound frustrating to me it sounds exciting. Matching wits with the Old Gobbler. Frustrating is hunting for days and not hearing or seeing anything. You know they are there, keep at it.

I know what you're saying.Its kinda both for me.Then again i'm the kind that gets excited when I get a bird early in the season then i'm mad because I got to wait a week before I can go again(unless I get to go with somebody else).Sometimes I wonder which creature has the pea sized brain! 

Sometimes I ponder that question myself. Remember you don't always have to kill a bird to have a fun hunt. I have worked birds for nearly an entire morning, never fired a shot and left the woods with a big ol smile on my face. Hey they win most of the time. It's a chess game and they are the masters of the game.

[mgm1955]

Does not sound frustrating to me it sounds exciting. Matching wits with the Old Gobbler. Frustrating is hunting for days and not hearing or seeing anything. You know they are there, keep at it.

Couldn't agree more. Some of the best hunts for me haven't ended with a gobbler in the truck. Seems like the harder it is the more satisfying it is in the end. Keep slugging and good luck!!!

[Snoodsniper]

It'll happen just hang with it.