Tips for Turkey Success

[Machias]

I don't even hit the woods until 0800 anymore.  Very rarely do you have the perfect scenario of calling to roosted birds and have them fly down and start strutting in front of you.  Certainly happens and happens all the time, but not for me, it's only happened a handful of times with the 50 or 60 birds I've killed in the spring.  I grew up in Missouri and have been chasing birds for 44 years.  But if I get a gobbler to answer anytime after 0900, I have a VERY good chance of calling him in.  One of my favorite birds I killed was a few years ago in Virginia.  Gobbled every time I called.  I could see him strutting in the field, but nothing would get him to budge.  I circled around and was able to get within 200 yards.  Called to him, double and triple gobbled.  Called again with a different call, hoping to sound like two hens.  Boom gobble gobble.  Then I just sat there and never called again.  10 minutes goes by Gobble?  20 minutes, Gobble?  At the 30 minute mark he lowered his fan and started feeding, in my direction.  Shot him about 45 minutes after I had initially set up.  I also took a guy out, first time hunter.  Told him we would be unlikely to call one in early, but things should pick up around 0800 to 0900.  We're walking up a logging trail, I crow called, bird gobbled back.  We moved up to an flat area and I gave him a few yelps and purrs.  Double gobbled.  He was still about 150 or so yards away.  While I was standing there trying to decide if I should move in closer, he double gobbled again but was only about 75 yards away.  I quickly had the guy set up and I moved back about 30 yards.  Once I got set up, called again, double and triple gobbled!!  15 seconds later boom, 24 pound bird, with a 11 inch beard down.  I probably ruined that guy turkey hunting! 

[pickardjw]

We played hard to get with a bird this weekend. Went back and forth with him for 10-15 minutes then shut up. He kept gobbling occasionally and eventually ripped off from the ridge above us 45 minutes later, just on the private side of the fence. He hung up there. Should've been able to see our decoys (feeding hen, breeding hen and jake).

What do you do in that situation calling wise?

[Badsmerf]

Wow really? I'm kinda self taught and only have a handful of seasons. I've never read or watched much Youtube on turkey hunting. It has been about a decade since I've gone (NE Iowa in the past), but now I'm here and love being in the mountains. I called a bird to my 13 year old daughter during youth season and called one in on Saturday from the roost. I had a lot of Toms that just weren't that interested in me, thought it had something to do with my calling or too much calling etc.

[Russ McDonald]

We played hard to get with a bird this weekend. Went back and forth with him for 10-15 minutes then shut up. He kept gobbling occasionally and eventually ripped off from the ridge above us 45 minutes later, just on the private side of the fence. He hung up there. Should've been able to see our decoys (feeding hen, breeding hen and jake).

What do you do in that situation calling wise?

Problem is thay they could see your hen most likely.  I natire the tom struts and gobbles to bring the hen to him.  We are working opposite trying to het them interested.  If he see your hen he is going to strut and gobble.  Try not to give them a good long distance site to your decoy.  You could also try different calls to sound like multiple hens like another striker on your slate or a mouth call and slate call.  Throw in clucks and cuts.  To also answer the question right now the toms have their hens.  During youth season they were still breeding so very suseptible to calls.  Calling off the roost if they fly down and circle back is good but soon the hens will be going to nest.  They are laying eggs now.  Once they nest the tims will be alone and looking foe love.

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[Machias]

I rarely even put a decoy out now, they do have their place.  But when I do set them out, I want him in range when he first sees it.

[Heartsblood]

I don't even hit the woods until 0800 anymore.  Very rarely do you have the perfect scenario of calling to roosted birds and have them fly down and start strutting in front of you.  Certainly happens and happens all the time, but not for me, it's only happened a handful of times with the 50 or 60 birds I've killed in the spring.  I grew up in Missouri and have been chasing birds for 44 years.  But if I get a gobbler to answer anytime after 0900, I have a VERY good chance of calling him in.  One of my favorite birds I killed was a few years ago in Virginia.  Gobbled every time I called.  I could see him strutting in the field, but nothing would get him to budge.  I circled around and was able to get within 200 yards.  Called to him, double and triple gobbled.  Called again with a different call, hoping to sound like two hens.  Boom gobble gobble.  Then I just sat there and never called again.  10 minutes goes by Gobble?  20 minutes, Gobble?  At the 30 minute mark he lowered his fan and started feeding, in my direction.  Shot him about 45 minutes after I had initially set up.  I also took a guy out, first time hunter.  Told him we would be unlikely to call one in early, but things should pick up around 0800 to 0900.  We're walking up a logging trail, I crow called, bird gobbled back.  We moved up to an flat area and I gave him a few yelps and purrs.  Double gobbled.  He was still about 150 or so yards away.  While I was standing there trying to decide if I should move in closer, he double gobbled again but was only about 75 yards away.  I quickly had the guy set up and I moved back about 30 yards.  Once I got set up, called again, double and triple gobbled!!  15 seconds later boom, 24 pound bird, with a 11 inch beard down.  I probably ruined that guy turkey hunting! 

God that sounds familiar... Lol