Finding roosts at dark thirty?

[billinsd]

Ideally you roost the birds the night before, but what if you live far away?  How productive is it to get shock gobbles a hour or two before daylight?   And what works to get a gobble without scaring them off the roost?  If the toms have stopped gobbling during the day, how likely are the to before the first light?  Thanks Bill

[LX_Trkyhntr]

Bill when I go out and don't have a bird roosted, I will try to go to a place that I can hear for a good ways.  I will try to slip in at least an extra half hour before first light.  I just hit my Harrison hooter a few times.  Sometimes they will gobble a little early for you.  If not just wait until they start waking up and try hooting some more.

Good luck,

[Jay]

A second to Owl Hooting. It's what gets them started most mornings.

[BHhunter]

I use a coyote howler. I've mistakenly ripped off a good howl to find I was 50 yards from them. Sat down and let them settle and they came in just fine. I'm no expert, but I think if you don't get too close that they can see you you're fine.

[Struttin Spurs]

A second to Owl Hooting. It's what gets them started most mornings.

I agree. Most morning I dont even do anything. I just let them start on their own. It seems like once one starts, they all start.

[coflax]

LX_turkyhunter has some sound advice. Get to a place where you can hear good and let them do there thing.You might be able to provoke some early birds to give up their position but if not just sit tight and let it happen. Also, I have had really good luck with locating using my short reed goose call. Hunting by rivers and lakes or ponds for that matter you usually will have some goose traffic and it is natural for them to hear. Although the old hooter works well also.