Afternoon hunts

[PAHunter]

What's it like hunting spring toms in the afternoon?Do you feel afternoons are more productive than mornings?or about the same?Never hunted turkeys in the afternoon,by regulations in PA & Ohio,you must quit by noon.Can't tell you how many times I had to leave hot birds at noon over the years.

For this reason,I often wondered,just how productive the afternoons actually are,as compared to the mornings overall?

 

[muddy]

I prefer afternoons for the most part. I usually set up in the roost area and go for the "afternoon quickie" approach for a big ol tom. How are the bird populations where you hunt? Usually not being able to hunt afternoons is to give birds a chance to get together and make more birds for the upcoming seasons.

 

[docH]

I also have had better luck in the afternoons. Nearly all of my birds have been harvested in the afternoon. Most of them have come in silently or with very limited gobbling, though. Since most birds were silent, it took a little more patience. I also prefer to hunt near roosting sites, but not too close if early in the season. Otherwise, if they get spooked near the roost too often, it may change their patterns. Many times the hens are sitting on their nests, and it's easier to get a gobbler that isn't henned up.

 

[DLO]

I've taken birds with equal luck in hunting AM vs PM. I really like setting up like Muddy does....near an approach to a roosting site in the afternoon. I prefer morning hunts because of the toms tend to be a little more vocal just off the roost. I have noticed the numbers of birds seen in the blind are greater in the afternoon though.

 

[houston]

Definitly afternoons!

 

[sims8ball]

I completely agree with Doc. Everything he said is what i was thinking. Ecspecially the birds being silent.

 

[PAHunter]

It looks as if the afternoons can be very productive.I would have to say my most productive period is between 10am-noon.I have always thought noon-2pm would be very productive if we could only hunt longer.

To answer your question Muddy,we rank around #3 in overall turkey population,with an estimated figure that exceeds 350,000 birds.Like you said,they probably limit hunters disturbing or bumping nesting hens,by reducing hunting hours.I would guess it's more to do with the 250,000 spring hunters,than not having enough birds though.

Due to all the hunters,the limit is one spring bird,there's talk of a bonus tag for 2006,but I'll believe that when I see it.And get this,our season dosen't open until Apr.30th.,we basically miss the first gobbling phase all together.Never did understand their reasoning behind the things they do here when it comes to hunting.

 

[muddy]

Holy Cow! That's a lot of birds and hunters!! Hopefully they can implement a new strategy for seasons, maybe open it up earlier in the year and then have all day hunting during that early part before the hens hit the nests. At the very least you have sheer numbers of birds whereas many places have few birds and too many hunters. I'd say come on over to Iowa and I'd take ya out to bird hunt but with the cost of an out of state tag I doubt you'd be willing to do that. Keep clucking away and good luck this spring!

 

[PAHunter]

Thanks for the invatation Muddy,your right,with the cost to turkey hunt there,I'll pass.Not sure how much hunting I'll actually get to do this spring.But when I get the time,I usually go 20 min.to the west in Ohio,which allows 2 spring birds at the cost of 24.00 a tag,not bad.Over the years turkey hunting has become very popular here,with a lot of hunters.It can be a very dangerous time to hunt.In the short 9 years I've been turkey hunting,I've been shot at twice,no kidding.Muddy,If you ever want to turkey hunt here,just let me know.

Good luck to you also,and thanks again.

 

[outdoor]

I fell that up around here the toms are more active in the morings. But in the afternoons, I have seen BIG toms a walken. I would prefer morings. Good Luck! Bring him down. Good Luck all!!