turkey questions

[carvermoe]

Hi guys,Im new to turkey hunting.If you have seen them in a spot feeding last year,will they be back in the same area this year?Also hunting a small hill that they live on and come off to water at the river,where do you likely set up?Do they pretty much us the same routes? Thanks for any help.

[OneHorn]

It depends, if the know there is food there and thay have been going there year after year then most likely they will be in the general area feeding. If i were you i would go in the night befor and roost the birds and then the next morning try and get like 50-70 yards from the roost tree and start out with some real soft yelps.

[Tokul]

Not knowing how close you live to this area, I'd strongly suggest dramatically increasing your odds of success by scouting these birds.  Put on your camo and get out there and watch what they're doing.  Don't make a sound just watch them.  Lots of factors go into what birds do year to year and sometimes things happen that change what they do.   

[OneHorn]

well im sure he knwos to scout there Tokul

[turkeydancer]

Maybe not ...see " new to turkey hunting".  With all game, your odds go dramatically up with the scouting.  Setup between the roost tree and where they feed/water ... then over strut zones, or any where they are frequenting. Setup as close as you can without bumping the birds (hopefully 150 yards or less dependent on cover, terrain, light of day.

[OneHorn]

well i realize it says " new to TURKEY HUNTING" which most likely means he has hunted other animals befor so therefor he knows he should scout. Im not guna jack this guys thread so carvermoe just do what i said in my first post and like turkeydancer resaid. If you need any other help feel free to pm me

[turkeydancer]

OneHorn nothing was meant, but  ... I wish I had a nickel for every new turkey hunter that thought you just drive up the road until you see one, jump out, load the gun and pop them ... or thought that you didn't need to scout them any more than they do a grouse ... so I've learned over the years not to assume that someone knows ... 

[OneHorn]

Very true turkeydancer. the infamous " ROAD HUNTERS".

[Phantom Gobbler]

Hey, what's wrong with road hunters?     Even hardcore "turkeymen" use their wheels to scout out new areas, locate birds and spot turkey movements.      

[OneHorn]

I guess what we were trying to say is that it does suck when a guy walks way back in and then someone passin you on a four wheeler and half the time they aint even supposed to be in there. a "Real hunter" uses the legs that god gave him.

[wastickslinger]

I guess what we were trying to say is that it does suck when a guy walks way back in and then someone passin you on a four wheeler and half the time they aint even supposed to be in there. a "Real hunter" uses the legs that god gave him.

Man that would be a long walk for me from Moses Lake to the Blues. Good thing I dont mind driving to my spot.  Ok enough of me being a 

In my experiences with turkey they are creatures of habit. Year after year they roost in the same trees and eat in the same fields and strut down the same openings. Now that being said there are way more factors that are usually involved. Scouting will help but you just never know what that tom will decide to do when he wakes up and flys down. Thats the fun thing about turkey hunting. You gotta be ready to improvise.

I would say make a trip over and scout em out real quick, NO CALLING or MESSING with them. Just watch like others have said. My guess is you will find that they are still there.

Good luck!!!

[OneHorn]

Hahahaha that was a good smartass comment wastickslinger!!! Made me laugh

[carvermoe]

Thanks for the imput guys,I didn't mean to start anything,just wanted to gobble up a few ideas.I am going to scout next weekend and use your suggestions when season starts. thanks again.I'll report back.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Don't mind us NW turkey hunters .... we all start getting testy this time of year waiting to get out in the turkey woods!   

[turkeydancer]

Good luck ... just got my banquet done last night and the reports today ... now I need to go kill something! 

I bicycle for birds in western Wa.  I was basically talking about the guys that will 2 or 4 wheel around locked gates that say no motor vehicles past this point ... watched easterns start putting and heading for cover 5 minutes before I heard the vehivle and 10 minutes before they arrived  ... not only cost me a few chances at easterns in the past, but costs these "oblivious" people everytime they do it ... heck, I'm 58 years old and still enjoy the walk or bicycle ride ... I'm just saying get off or out of the motorized vehicles and enjoy a real hunt