Told myself I would never...

[SpokaneSlayer]

use a gobble call on state land for safety reasons, although as far as I know I'm the only one that regularly hunts this peice of property.  But the way my season is going, it's the only thing I can think of that I haven't tried.  So I bought one yesterday.  This is a synopsis of what's been happening.  I get set up in the afternoon after work, and usually after a few yelps, I get at least 2, somtimes 3 or 4 toms to answer.  They are all hanging out together.  Last night was no different.  So I decided to move from one blind to another that is much closer to where I know these birds are.  I slip in and give some purrs and clucks.  They gobble.  I wait a bit then yelp.  They gobble, only this time they had moved down the fenceline and seem to be coming back uphill toward me.  That's the last I heard from them.  Never showed up. 

Now for my question, what are some good situations to use a gobble call?  The way I figure, theses toms are always in a group so they may feel safe coming in to check out the "intruder".  Am I wrong?  Also, I'm thinking that I could yelp some with a mouth call, then cut myself off with the gobble call.  Is this a reasonable technique?  Any advise is appreciated. 

[Machias]

It could be they are all jakes and will run when you gobble for fear of getting their butts kicked. 

[fishunt247]

I've used it all by itself and with yelps. They get yelped at by hundreds of guys, so they may think that when they hear another hen & gobbler together, its the real deal. On real "hen shy" birds I've used just the gobble call by itself with success. Just gobble to your hearts content is my advice.

[tlbradford]

It could be they are all jakes and will run when you gobble for fear of getting their butts kicked. 

That is what I was thinking when I read this.  You probably have a group of jakes.  The big boys should be breeding hens and not running together right now.

Of course, I have seen a group of jakes run off a big tom before, but only once in my short turkey hunting lifetime.

To answer your question on the gobble call.  I use it to get them to shock gobble when nothing else is working, when I am hunting on weekdays.  On weekends I try not to use it for fear of runners and gunners.  In my opinion 1 or two gobbles max is all you need if you get a response from a tom.  If they are going to come check out an "intruder" one or two will be all it takes.  The more you shake that thing, the more they may figure out it really isn't a turkey. 

[SpokaneSlayer]

Thanks for the words of wisdom.  I would agree with it being a group of jakes except I've seen them before.  Not monster boss toms, but nothing I would pass on either.  Tell you the truth, I've seen very few jakes.  Most of the birds I see while walking in are 2 year old birds.  There are some 3 year olds in there as well.  The spot I'm hearing them gobble from I'm almost certain is a strut zone.  They are there everyday.  I could almost tell you withing a certain degree of error what time they show up.  I'm kinda at the end of my rope here and the clock is ticking.  I almost regret trying it with a bow.

[Machias]

I think it's a little like elk hunting as well.  He gobbles, you gobble back at him, why would he leave his hens to come mess with you?  Now if you work in close and get a response, then he will probably have to walk over and attempt to kick your butt.  Generally if they are gobbling at you when you are hen calling and they DON'T come in, they are with hens and expect you to come over there.  However if you get him to gobble and he is waiting on the hen to come over and he hears another bird gobbling with her, then he just might saunter on over and try to open a can of whop@$$.  With as many folks in this state that think it's all good to sneak in, I'm even more reluctant to gobble call.  Gobble call until he shows up or you hear someone's safety being clicked off.  

[Machias]

Are you using one call?  Try several, make it sound like a whole group of hens.  Heck boys the partys over here!!

[fishunt247]

Sounds to me like the birds don't have hens, right? My advice stands. On May 4th this year, trying to strike a gobbler, nothing was working. As I often do later in the year, I gobbled. A bird answered, and proceeded to triple gobble for like thirty minutes. As we were moving in on him, I'd gobble to check him, and he would freak out. I'd fire back, one or two or three times. This went on for, like I said, thirty minutes or more, just a gobbling fiesta. I stopped hen calling cuz he didn't care about that. Long story short, he flew the canyon to where I was gobbling from. He didn't have hens. If it were me, I wouldn't even take a hen call out of my vest and solely gobble, since hen calls don't seem to be doing it, but to each his own. I get the safety issue, but if you're sure nobody else is around, go for it. Good luck.

[SpokaneSlayer]

I hope I don't hear a safety click off.  I'm in a no firearm zone so archery is the only option.

Are you using one call?  Try several, make it sound like a whole group of hens.  Heck boys the partys over here!!

I have done that.  Work a box or pot call with my hands and throw in some with a mouth call.  My dad is coming out this weekend.  Not a hunter, but I could show him how to use a box call easy enough.

Like I said before, I'm pretty much the only hunter on this property.  I've seen one other group of 3 guys earlier in the saeson but that's it.  That's the only reason I'm considering the gobble call in this area.

[strutnrut1984]

becareful slayer i got shot at back east doing that. and it was on private land 2 took 2 pellets in the face and a bunch in my knees and shins. if your gonna do that consider tying up a orange ribbon near you call location. i use it all the time anyway when i dont have too setup quickly.

[SpokaneSlayer]

I have orange flagging tape on my blinds.  Mostly to help me find them in the dark.

[Machias]

"I get the safety issue"

I'm not trying to start a pissing match with you but obviously you don't get it.    You can NEVER, EVER be sure your the only one there, even on private property.  Also I would imagine someone who is tresspassing would also probably disregard other laws such as firearm restrictions.   Just my thoughts, take it for what it's worth.

[Intruder]

Do you have access to hunt the area they are gobbling from?  I'd ditch your blind and sneak into their strut zone and setup there if possible.  They're always way more comfortable coming to an area where they like to hang out.  It will sound very natural to have a hen callin from there too.   

[SpokaneSlayer]

Do you have access to hunt the area they are gobbling from?  I'd ditch your blind and sneak into their strut zone and setup there if possible.  They're always way more comfortable coming to an area where they like to hang out.  It will sound very natural to have a hen callin from there too.   

You know, I've thought about asking, but but I'm a wuss.  About dithcing the blind, I'm bowhunting.  Isn't pretty difficult to draw on a turkey that isn't strutting and facing away from you?

[MuleyontheWall]

Do you have access to hunt the area they are gobbling from?  I'd ditch your blind and sneak into their strut zone and setup there if possible.  They're always way more comfortable coming to an area where they like to hang out.  It will sound very natural to have a hen callin from there too.   

You know, I've thought about asking, but but I'm a wuss.  About dithcing the blind, I'm bowhunting.  Isn't pretty difficult to draw on a turkey that isn't strutting and facing away from you?

They do it on TV all the time...