Missed...now what??

[wisconsinteacher]

This morning a tom gobbled on the limb and went over the ridge.  I climbed the ridge and called him back to the roost area and missed him.  (flat out missed)  He ran off and putted as he was moving away.  This ridge has historically been a good spot.  Would you leave it alone for a few days or get right back on the ridge tonight and see I he comes back?

[guesswho]

I'd either sell all my turkey hunting stuff and quit, or Id be back at first light to see if he would give away his location. 

If he didn't see the bush that was shooting at him he's not boogered bad at all.  Now if that bush gave foot chase he might be a little tricky for a day or two.

[Bigeclipse]

I'd either sell all my turkey hunting stuff and quit, or Id be back at first light to see if he would give away his location. 

If he didn't see the bush that was shooting at him he's not boogered bad at all.  Now if that bush gave foot chase he might be a little tricky for a day or two.

this x2! Unless he completely busted you, he is bound to be in the general area. He might not verbally respond to your calls though now so watch out for him sneaking in silent.

[Bigeclipse]

This morning a tom gobbled on the limb and went over the ridge.  I climbed the ridge and called him back to the roost area and missed him.  (flat out missed)  He ran off and putted as he was moving away.  This ridge has historically been a good spot.  Would you leave it alone for a few days or get right back on the ridge tonight and see I he comes back?

May I ask how close he was that you missed? No judgement as far as your shooting skills go but maybe your pattern is too tight. My patterns are the size of basketballs at 25 yards and beach balls or larger at 30 yards. Inside of 20 yards I aim right at the base of the neck.

[limbhanger777]

I've seen missed birds come back into the call within a 10 minutes. I'd be back after him in the morning!

[Divenut2]

X3  Hit it again at 1st light.

[runngun]

Go get him! He ain't going anywhere. 
Hammer time! 
Maybe change up the type of call and a little scratch in the leaves. Just be ready!

Have a good one
Ray

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[zelmo1]

It worked once

[Harty]

Yep, get after him first light next day. As said as long as he didn't see you moving about he should be around and hopefully receptive. I once missed a bird ,went out to eat lunch and came back and killed him a few hours later. He Never did see the source though and just walked away puttin.

[Spitten and drummen]

Turkeys are paranoid and spooked several times a day. He cannot reason that hen equals gunshot. He heard a loud booming sound and he fled. If you jumped up and ran toward him and he saw you then he may be really difficult to call back to that location. If he never saw you then most likely he forgot about that sound withen the next few minutes. I would have relocated , waited a half hour or so and start calling him again. I have missed , eased around , relocated and sat quietly. I have had them start back gobbling on their own and then called them right back up. Turkeys are not smart , extreme paranoia saves them more times than not. They cannot reason and their main focus in the spring is breeding hens.

[wisconsinteacher]

I did jump up and ran over there because I was hoping he was down on the other side of the hill, so he did see me chasing after him.

[Divenut2]

May want to try using a different call than the one you used when he saw you.   

[Spitten and drummen]

I did jump up and ran over there because I was hoping he was down on the other side of the hill, so he did see me chasing after him.

.

He will settle down and still be killable. Change the call you are using and do not set up at the same spot you missed him from. That will up your odds with him.