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Needing some tips

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IowaDave

PMA Member
While I've shot a few turkeys, I would consider my level about a half-step above 'Beginner' and would appreciate some tips.

I've been going out every morning before work since Wednesday, getting into the woods around 5:15 or so and leaving around 8:00. I don't think the area I'm hunting doesn't have a huge turkey population (I would estimate on a good morning I hear 10 different toms gobble), nor is is a huge piece of timber- about 300-400 total acres with no other timber around for miles- and it's cut up between 4 different landowners. I have permission on the east-most 80 acres.

I've been hearing a decent amount of toms gobble every morning just before daylight, but it seems that they'll stop gobbliing either right at daylight or a half-hour or so after, and not make another sound until I leave. The other thing is that they've never been in the same location 2 mornings in a row. It just seems that they're wandering around the timber & wherever they end up a dark is where they roost.

Do you think they're with hens right away & if I could wait them out I'd have a better chance later in the day when the hens start sitting? I should also mention that I'm trying to bag one with a bow, so the 'run & gun' method is not really an option, but I do have a couple blinds set up on the section I have permission on, so I can be somewhat mobile if I need to be.

A couple other things I was wondering was
1) What time is the best time to start calling? I just never know when to start & usually make my first (soft) call right at 'shooting time'.

2) If there is such a thing, what is a tom's routine throughout the day this time of year? By that I mean does he follow the hens around for awhile, go into a crop field to feed, then head to a ridge to strut, or what (if anything) can I expect him to do throughout the day?

I work Saturdays too, but I've got all day tomorrow, so any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!
 
I almost promise that if you can set up in a strut zone, an area you have seen them before and just wait, calling softlly every 20 minutes...you will get your shot. Most turkeys I kill anymore make NO SOUND save for spitting and drumming coming in. If you hear them in the area, find a good open spot and set up, and wait. Even if you hear nothing coming in or answering, they often are coming to investigate etc. Stick with that routine and you will get your shot. Run and gun can work-but more often leads to spooked birds and tougher hunting IMO.

If you listen to REAL turkeys, hens for the most part are quiet and I dont call until about shooting light with soft calls.

2) If there is such a thing, what is a tom's routine throughout the day this time of year? By that I mean does he follow the hens around for awhile, go into a crop field to feed, then head to a ridge to strut, or what (if anything) can I expect him to do throughout the day?

Yep. They aren't that bright but after breeding available hens early-will seek out strut zones to display and keep trying to get lucky.

Maybe they are smart;)
 
This late season has been tough. I was witnessing the same thing, they would gobble good on the roost, but shut up as soon as they hit the ground. Typically, they will fire up again at 9-10 AM, if you have the time to stay that long. Figure out where they end up and get in there early and set up, they will come.

I'm not too good at this, but have killed a bird or two doing it, but if you can get a bird gobbling early and sneaking is manageable with moist leaves and/or wind. Try getting in real close, say 50-75 yards, sit down, and don't make a peep until he is just about to pitch off the limb. Then give him a few "SOFT" yelps, but when he hits the ground liven it up a bit and see what happens. No guarantees as usual, but worth a try I'd say!

This time of year, I have found a lot of success getting in front of them and cutting them off as calling often doesn't work as well. YOu can get a bird to come running occasionally, but they do get tough late season.

This is also a great time of year to run and gun them during mid morning. If you can strike a bird and get a general direction that they are headed, you can sometimes call them in the rest of the way. I think Huntyak hit it on the head, a gob will be fairly consistent this time of year if not pressured. Figure out his routine and get in front of him.

It can be feast of famine, but it can turn around in a minute. Keep at it, good luck!
:way:
 
My guess is that the birds are henned up early, if you aren't in there tight on them at first setup they are likely going to head off with the hens and do some breeding. I think you are leaving too early. While I have killed alot of birds before 8:00 in the morning, I bet I have killed an equal number or more after 8:00 once birds have breed and are looking for another hen.

Be patient, wait the birds out and if you do have a known strut zone that would be a good spot for an all day sit.

Regards
Jarin
 
Great advice here. I'm no expert but I try to avoid run and gun if lacking the gun. Some exceptions can be made here but while 80 acres isn't small, its not huge either. If you spook them very often, it could become even more difficult with the birds favoring the chunk you aren't hunting.

Without having knowledge of your setup, my guess is they are heading to a nearby field soon after flydown (if one exists) and may be headed back into the timber shortly after you are leaving...having said that a guy has to work so do what you can. If there is in fact a nearby field and you have access, either try seting up on a fencerow that overlooks it or in the timber between roost and field if you don't have access.
 
I would also agree that you're leaving too early, but in your case it's because of work. Sitting tight or sitting in an area where you have seen birds strutting before will pan out if you stick it out.

More birds have been killed with patience than lead or arrows.

If you have another day off in the next couple weeks let me know, I've been chomping to get into the timber any chance I can get.
 
Best advice I've ever recieved was from an old boy and he told me that turkey hunting is alot like deer hunting during the rut. Best time to be in the woods is 10 & 2. I found that if they are henned up, they will usually breed them early and head off to find some new tail around 9-10 AM. 2 PM seems like the time they want to hit fields again or your "strut areas"
 
Thanks for the tips guys, they're much appreciated! :way:

I was able to stay out until 11:30 yesterday morning and while there was a good amount of gobbling for quite awhile after shooting time (until about 7:15 or so), they were all on the next property. After 7:15, I only heard 1 gobble at about 10:00 or so, but it was so darn windy, there very well could have been some I missed.

I switched my blind mid-morning yesterday closer to the neighbor's property since I've yet to hear a gobble on the property I have permission on. From where I'm at now, I can see down into the area it looked like they were sounding off from yesterday morning and if they're there again, they should be able to see my decoys....just need to get them across the fence!
 
Thought I'd make another post to ask this-
I said in my previous post that I've yet to hear a gobble on the property I have permission on, which is true. This morning I'm set up in my new spot on the edge of a long & narrow 30 acre corn field that's between the timber I have premission on & where I've been hearing all the birds.
About 7:15 I look out in the field & 200 yards away is a lone tom making his way across the field. I thought to myself, "This is it....he's alone and he'll be looking for love". I gave about 5 soft yelps and he stopped in his tracks and looked right at me for about 15 seconds. Then he dropped his head and slunk off!!:thrwrck:
What's up with that!?!?
I am the only person who has been hunting this property other than 2 guys who hunted it 1 day 2nd season. There is also a high school kid who was hunting 2nd season, but other than that no one (that I know of) has been out there. I'm not an expert caller by any means, but I have called in a few birds and my calls sound pretty good to me.

Like I said, it was really still this morning, so I was sure to call soft and I was in my blind and not moving, so I know he didn't see me. I had 2 hen decoys & a jake set out, but I'm not sure that he could see them from where he was at.
Any ideas, or was it just one of those deals?


And while we're on the subject, due to where I've been sitting & the way the land lays on this property, that's actually the first turkey I've seen 4th season (I've heard plenty). I haven't had any gobbles from closer than 200 yards away, haven't had any birds see my decoys (that I know of) and haven't spooked anything coming in or out. I call about every 5 minutes or early or when I hear a gobble that's fairly close and about every 20-30 minutes later in the mornings. Is it possible to make birds call shy or to burn a place out in the type of situation I'm in? My buddy thinks that might be the case, but he knows as much about it as I do (which isn't a whole lot as you can tell!) I always figured you needed to have some first hand encounters scaring them to smarten them up like that, but maybe not.
 
You did nothing wrong and sometimes, in fact, most gobblers I see alone like that and just walking along feeding will act the way you describe-even with calls thrown at them. Its almost as if they are set in their way and have a notion of what they want to do.

Don't let it discourage you as I would have callled the same but often they just aren't in the mood for a variety of reasons.

It is possible to burn an area out if there is alot of run/gun or LOUD calling etc. Again, its getting late in the season and although they are still cranking, it isn't as hot as it was, although the weather this spring makes the entire season suspect.

Just keep at it and one will eventually break and come in. I will say they hear EVERYTHING, even if they seem to ignore you, and one like him may slip off, then will come back later to investigate love options after he eats or rests etc.:way:
 
It's been real tuff down south were i hunt. The hens are not nesting yet, so the toms are following them around all day. I hope by this weekend the mid morning will get better!
 
Blaster said:
It's been real tuff down south were i hunt. The hens are not nesting yet, so the toms are following them around all day. I hope by this weekend the mid morning will get better!
Click to expand...

Oh ya, that reminds me of another question I wanted to ask. Last year is the first year I hunted in earnest & I got lucky & got my bird on the first day of 4th season so I was wondering.....

When the hens do start sitting continually on the nest, how does that affect the hunting? I would think that it would be like late rut when the bucks are out looking for those last un-bred does and the toms would be a little more susceptible to coming in to calls, but again, I really have no idea.
Also, when do the hens typically start sitting?

Thanks again, guys! Right around here, there has only been a hunt-able population for about 4 years and there are only a few guys that hunt them and most of them are on the same level as I am so I really appreciate some advanced advice!!
 
I would think that it would be like late rut when the bucks are out looking for those last un-bred does and the toms would be a little more susceptible to coming in to calls, but again, I really have no idea.

:way:Yep!

Also, when do the hens typically start sitting?

I have bumped quit a few between 10-11. But Id say between 9-10. :grin:

It says my reply is TOO SHORT so I must type some more...:thrwrck:
 
huntyak said:
I would think that it would be like late rut when the bucks are out looking for those last un-bred does and the toms would be a little more susceptible to coming in to calls, but again, I really have no idea.

:way:Yep!
Click to expand...

SWEET!
Ok, that make it official for me....I'm committed to either taking one with my bow or eating tag soup.

I've got the ideal situation going for being able to get out every morning, even if it is only until 8:00.....The wife's on maternity leave until the end of the month so she can get the kids going and she has no problem with me being out every morning.
Worst case scenerio is I get to (hopefully) hear turkeys gobble every morning for the next 2 weeks.....I can live with that! :D
 
2 things that will help you considerably.

1. Try roosting them in the evening, This will give you a much better chance in the mornings . You don't necessarily have to set up right under them, but it will give you the upper hand on knowing where they are exactly.

2. Find where they are strutting after fly down. Field, ridge, bottom, etc. Think back on the mornings you have hunted and try to think of the most similar things that they may have done. Hens are usually a creature of habit and this time of year the gobblers will be in tow.

Keep at it and don't make it harder than it has to be. Good Luck :way:
 
dedgeez said:
2 things that will help you considerably.

1. Try roosting them in the evening, This will give you a much better chance in the mornings . You don't necessarily have to set up right under them, but it will give you the upper hand on knowing where they are exactly.

2. Find where they are strutting after fly down. Field, ridge, bottom, etc. Think back on the mornings you have hunted and try to think of the most similar things that they may have done. Hens are usually a creature of habit and this time of year the gobblers will be in tow.

Keep at it and don't make it harder than it has to be. Good Luck :way:
Click to expand...

Great advice...THANKS! Unfortunately roosting them in the evening isn't really an option. I work 'till 5:30 every day & while it's ok for me to be gone every morning to hunt, it's not ok to leave her with the evening duty too if you know what I mean. I haven't brought it up, but I'm not even going to go there & jeapordize what I've got going in the mornings! ;)

Had a frustrating but fantastic hunt this morning! I've mentioned that they're never in the same spot in the mornings & that I've never heard a gobble on the property I can hunt....well this morning there were tons of birds in there & they were sounding off like crazy this morning! Unforuntately, I was set up across the corn field next to the neighboring property and everything went the other way after they flew down. Had some on the neighbor's that started gobbling at me on the ridge that runs the property from I don't know how far away, and kept it up as they kept coming closer (the closest point the ridge runs from where I was at is about 175 yards). It sounded like they were coming off the ridge once when they got even with me, but they just kept sounding off and kept right on walking down the ridge till I couldn't hear them anymore. I was grinning ear to ear all morning while I shook my head & fists at the sons-a-guns!! :moon:

So, with all that said, I need some more help, please.
Now that I know they do at least occasionally roost on my property, how early (how long before shooting time) will they start gobbling to an owl call? And how much disturbance can they handle & how close? Obviously I'm not going to try to get my blind set up right underneath them, but I think I have a general idea where they were heading this morning so if I try & get set up 200 yards or so from where they're roosting and am as quiet as possible, might that work or should I try to get a little further way? Even if I don't spook them right off the roost, I'm just worried that they might hear the commotion & go the other way when they do fly down.
Also- I know the property I'm on pretty well & while they got to be a long way from where I was at fairly quickly, from the sounds of it, they were heading east and (I think) into what was a bean field last year after they got down. This is about the lowest spot around. I thought I'd read that they usually like to go uphill on calm mornings when they fly down. Would that make any sense or were they more likely on a ridge somewhere? I've got a blind set up on the longest, highest ridge on the property, but of course I've got to stomp thru the woods in the dark to get there, which would also make quite a racket. At least my spot now is in a field that I can get to really quietly.
Once again, thanks guys!

hehe...still grinning from my awesome morning hunt!! :D
 
[Also, when do the hens typically start sitting?

I have bumped quit a few between 10-11. But Id say between 9-10. :grin:

[/QUOTE]

I got so excited about your response to the other part of my question I overlooked this.

What I was originally asking was what time of year (typically) they start to sit.
(But it's good to know the time of day too!)
 
Exciting stuff for sure :)

I try to stay at least 100 yards from the roost for a couple reasons. Now many guys get right in on them and have killed plenty, I have done that a few times. However, MOST of the time I really believe they know what flew up next to the the night before and all of a sudden, there is hen within 80 yards that made no fly down call, wasnt there last night, a bit of commotion this morning and although the hammer at ANYTHING, they are still abit suspicious and go the other way.

To pattern them is the key IMO if possible but ANYDAY things could change and they will come RUNNING in.

I have had them gobbling on full moon nights an hour before light in the pitch black. As a rule though, its usually after the whip-or-wills start this time of year or the first Barred owl starts up.

If you can get to that bean field, try setting up there first. Id rather be 300 yards from the roost in an area they are going than 100 yards from 10 toms.

Remember this..THE BEST CALLERS in the world set up in an area turkeys dont like will ALWAYS lose to the AVERAGE caller set up where they do :)

As far as time of year, i have read that depends on the breeding, weather, lost eggs, etc.

If I had to guess Id say they start "sitting" by the 22nd of April at the latest, but again, I have no reference to that question or support for my answer :(
 
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