Afternoon/Evening Gobbler Tips

[Shoot2Kill]

My wife is currently out of town with our guard unit helping out up in Fargo with round 2 of the flooding so I'm a single parent with a 16 mo old until she gets back which makes hunting a little tough. My mornings are jacked but I have a coworker coming over tonight to watch my son so I can get out tonight. She can't come until 6, so I'll be set up by 6:30. I've never hunted them much in the afternoons/evenings....any tips? I know right where these jokers roost at on this farm....what tips do you afternoon/evening guys have?

 

[Cornfed]

I can't give you any advise based on PERSONAL experience because I have never hunted turkeys past noon.... however, a buddy of mine who has harvested several turkeys with his bow has good success later in the day. He likes to set up close to where he anticipates them to roost and tries to get there a couple of hours before dusk. He sets out a hen or two and just lightly calls every 30 minutes or so.... he says rarely has he had a tom gobble.. they just show up at the decoys before going to roost.

If you can't get in there before 6:30pm you may be cutting it close without spooking them.... good luck!

 

[DWilk]

If you have a general sense as to where they are during the middle of the day, then try and get between them and where they roost and like Cornfed said, sit and be patient. It sounds simple, and it is, but it definitely does work. I had an amazing evening sit last night, and they were talking like crazy. Don't let anyone tell you evenings can't be exciting. I bet I heard 500 gobbles from 4-730 last night.

I agree, 6:30 might be pushing it, but it all depends on how far the birds are moving to their roost, and if you can slip in relatively unnoticed. If you think you can get in before the birds move in, go for it! Good luck!

 

[captain]

A few years ago I could only hunt evenings...and I had a better success rate.
The real key was knowing what trees the roosted in.Granted I had an unfair advantage because it was my farm and I knew every roost tree....but successful scouting can do it.
Just know where they roost and set up near by. I love mornings but evenings can be easier if you know exactly where they are going.
Good luck!

 

[Cornfed]

Now you guys have me interested in trying some evening sits. What kind of decoy setup do you guys like in the evenings? Hens alone, jake also, or strutting tom????

 

[THA4]

actually.... i am more agressive in the evening than i am in the morning.

I killed a tom after the sun set in Nebraska last spring, calling my brains out and making Pretty Boy dance.....

I have killed a good bunch of birds in the late afternoon and early evening..... I say its worth it!

 

[Iowabowtech]

I'm more agressive with decoys and less with calling. I think the visual end of things is the best way to get birds in because they're less receptive to calling in my experience. So I go with a flock setup, in the open where it can be seen from long distances and call enough to draw some attention. Setup location is hopefully somewhat close to roost to bring the ambush factor into play if all else fails.

 

[Shoot2Kill]

Right track

I was on the right track last night....had 2 hens come strollin' through the spread at 7:00 and pec at one of my decs. They kept right on going not making a sound....I thought....sweet....loverboy will be along shortly following the ladies to bed. That was until somebody started riding a 4 wheeler all over tarnation in the field beside me at about 7:30 and didn't leave. Aaagh! After that...nada.

 

[Cornfed]

I was on the right track last night....had 2 hens come strollin' through the spread at 7:00 and pec at one of my decs. They kept right on going not making a sound....I thought....sweet....loverboy will be along shortly following the ladies to bed. That was until somebody started riding a 4 wheeler all over tarnation in the field beside me at about 7:30 and didn't leave. Aaagh! After that...nada.

Now that really stinks.... sounds like you were in business.....