My experience in Alabama has been exclusively in the northern mountains near the TN border for the last 10 years. Usually take a trip every year and hunt for a 3 or 4 day weekend. So let's say a total of 35 days hunting. Have only killed 3 turkeys. And I can also say that I've had toms inside killing range maybe another 12 times. Out of those, have only laid eyes on them 1 time. They do what their instincts tell them. Get close but don't commit and make hen commit. Problem is with mountain turkeys, there is usually a bench or ridge between you and him. And they find a way to use it. Was there last week and twice had one inside gun range. First one I called 4 hens into my lap but he stayed on the other side of a little finger of rocks gobbling and drumming. The hens walked off and I called them back into my lap. He still wouldn't come in. Later that afternoon I set up in a spot with lots of sign and soft called for 2 hours. Stood up to try another place and there's a longbeard at 50 behind a rock. He gone.
And about 4 years ago, my buddy and I had three 2 year olds hang up in gun range but out of sight for 1.5 hours. Gobbled the whole time. Most intense turkey hunt I've ever been on. So I eventually belly crawled about 50 yards away, set up, and threw 3 soft yelps over my shoulder. 15 seconds later my buddy killed one walking down his gun barrel.
I can honestly say for every 1 turkey I've killed in AL, I've killed or called in for others about 10. Now Alabama birds don't know they are in Alabama so I don't subscribe to the theory that just because you are in state X the turkeys are tougher to kill. But like I said above, when there is a 6 week season and a 5 bird bag limit, that puts alot of hunters in front of alot of turkeys. They wise up real fast. And combine that with the mountain terrain limiting your range, and they can sure humble any hunter out there.
But isn't that why we go back??? And doesn't that make us better turkey hunters???
