Locating mid day

[will_law]

Hello,
I am new to turkey hunting and had a question about locating mid day. Last week I hiked into a great place, no people, and with birds. I saw one tom and another hen, but the tom never got close enough to the decoys (I am an archery hunter).

I could easily locate the roosts at night and in the morning, but never heard a gobble from 10am till 8pm. Most of the action was around 6am when I could call and they would respond from the roost.

I am curious if this is normal or if people get gobble mid day normally when trying to locate. I tried to use both hen calls, a crow call, and listened to see if any gobble came from actual crows or other sounds. Nothing. Any tips or suggestions are much appreciated. Thank you!

[builtfordtough]

That tom is content with his hen.  Time to hike more and crow locate call.  Hike a ridge and call, nothing, hike to the next ridge and call.  Sometimes all it takes is a few bends in a trail to get around corners and call and a tom may answer.  We do a ton of hiking a calling to locate.   When a tom sounds off definitely give it some time. We had several toms call and then come in completely silent last week.  I am far from an expert when it comes to turkey hunting or really anything for that matter lol but have learned a lot by just walking and calling and listening.

[Mfowl]

For the short term, keep looking, calling to new ground and see if you can find a bird that will play. But, keep going back to the area you have birds in. Sooner or later the hens will be breaking off to lay/sit on the nest and leaving those toms alone during the mid day. They become vulnerable at this point and more likely to answer or come to a call. Good luck, keep at it!

[WapitiTalk1]

Saw this and certainly had an answer until I saw it was taking about bird hunting  . Good luck with them birds. 

[dilleytech]

It’s very typical for them to call like crazy from the roost then shut up on the ground. But they usually will gobble again throughout the day but you have to be out in the woods listening. I still have yet to hear a turkey shock gobble to a crow or owl. Dogs yes, car doors yes, and most of all loud hen yelps. They get easier to call in later in the season. It’s very hard to call a mature Tom away from receptive hens. But midday that becomes easier as hens go to nest. Your best bet. Get out early to locate on the roost. Or sleep in and go out mid day. Either way. Don’t leave when the gobbles stop. I shot my most recent Tom at 5 pm. I have killed the majority of my birds after 10 am. Except for the few birds I have been able to get in front of early in the morning.

[Russ McDonald]

Can't remebee the episode but Meateater had a bio talking about how turkeys hearing is like radar to them.  They found that they called in a spot for about an hour and moved on to another spot.  Came back to that spot 2 hours later and there was a tom standing right where they were sitting.  They did studies and found that to be common.  If you here a gooble and you call and he responds back don't do a back and forth with him play hard to get wait then call again.  If he is closer wait it out.  As everyone has said they gooble on the roost but when they hit the ground woth their hens they are done and yup once the hens nest toms will be looking for more love'n so they will respond more.  Youth opener is so good because they will respond to calling a bit more.  The before and beginning of their mating season is best and then when hens start nesting.  Best thing is in the morning be close to the roost and hope they fly down in your direction or trybto setup in their feeding pattern.  Good luck.

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[will_law]

Thank you all so much for the tips. I got one or two more overnights I plan to sneak in before the season ends. I appreciate all the advice.

[Fl0und3rz]

Tagging along.