Tactics

[Gringo31]

I'm just curious what tactics some of you guys use.  I've done a bit of everything, from roosting them and setting up for them to darn near land in your lap, to run and gun calling and daring how close to push em before setting up.  I have had some luck on just going to a likely spot and calling every 5 min or so.  20-30 min later I heard a gobble and he came in from a long way off for my wife to shoot.  I've killed em in the open and in some deep nasty cover.  I am by no means an expert, I think actually I'm just lucky having access to awesome private ground.

Lets hear what some of you guys do.

Gringo

[yelp]

I'm just curious what tactics some of you guys use.  I've done a bit of everything, from roosting them and setting up for them to darn near land in your lap, to run and gun calling and daring how close to push em before setting up.  I have had some luck on just going to a likely spot and calling every 5 min or so.  20-30 min later I heard a gobble and he came in from a long way off for my wife to shoot.  I've killed em in the open and in some deep nasty cover.  I am by no means an expert, I think actually I'm just lucky having access to awesome private ground.

Lets hear what some of you guys do.

Gringo

I follow the crow calls..and then use my squealer really loud.  

Seriously..I used to roost a bird the night  before work him in the am..but now I like to hunt from 10 -3..Sleep in.  THere are so many variations to why turkeys do what they do..I think that is what makes them fun to hunt..Go with the flow and always be prepared.  Private land is also great to have...Do everything you can to keep it.  

[fishunt247]

I use my Walker's Game Ear to listen for hens squealing, because that way you know a gobbler is really close. If you can run that hen off and then squeal without the gobbler seeing you do so, you are in the money. 

But I mostly run and gun. Rarely do I hunt a bird that I roosted the night before. Most often, I will either find a bird on the roost or in the earlier morning, work him, and if he doesn't come in, come back around 8:30 to try him again after the hens leave. I cover a lot of ground: yelping, cutting, and sprinting.

[Machias]

I started doing this a couple of years ago and it's made my odds go way up.  I'll roost a bird the night before, then right after sundown, I'll slip in, climb the trees that the hens are in and put them all in a gunny sack.  I take them a couple miles away and put them up different trees.  If you move real slow they never even wake up.  Then I go back to the roosting area, you know because it took me all night to do this and the sun is already coming back up and since I'm the only one calling they come right in.   

[ribka]

I started doing this a couple of years ago and it's made my odds go way up.  I'll roost a bird the night before, then right after sundown, I'll slip in, climb the trees that the hens are in and put them all in a gunny sack.  I take them a couple miles away and put them up different trees.  If you move real slow they never even wake up.  Then I go back to the roosting area, you know because it took me all night to do this and the sun is already coming back up and since I'm the only one calling they come right in.   

I am calling WDFW and am reporting you.
One less hunter in the woods will up the odds for me

[Machias]

 

[yelp]

I started doing this a couple of years ago and it's made my odds go way up.  I'll roost a bird the night before, then right after sundown, I'll slip in, climb the trees that the hens are in and put them all in a gunny sack.  I take them a couple miles away and put them up different trees.  If you move real slow they never even wake up.  Then I go back to the roosting area, you know because it took me all night to do this and the sun is already coming back up and since I'm the only one calling they come right in.   

Dude ..I wondered who was taking the hens I put up in the trees I was hunting.  We call it stuff'n stalk out our way.  

[Machias]

Sorry Gringo31, I know you were asking for a serious answer.  I like using all of the tatics you mentioned.  I used to like putting them to bed, before gas got so expensive.  I still do on occassion if I'm camping in an area.  But many times even when you put them to bed they end up being henned up before they come in.  I love chasing them at first light but have most of my success after 9.  If you get a gobbler to answer after 0900-0930 you have a very good chance of calling that bird in.  I like to run and gun and I like setting up in strutting zones and calling once in a while.  I live spring turkeys. 

[Gringo31]

No apologies needed!

I'm considering being less aggressive this year.  I know where they are at, but sitting tight more and being more patient.  Part of this is because I'm looking to take somebody with me that knows nothing about turkey hunting and I'm trying to maximize success while I reduce errors.  All the guys hunting out of the double bull blinds etc....how long do they sit in one?

[turkey slayer]

I roost bird at night and give a few yelp before dark and get within 75 to a 100 yard of the roost area in  the morning. I would say this has worked for 90% of the time.
Last year I was standing at camp waiting for cougerkilr drinking a beer because I already had 2 birds down. I herd a gobble a mile to a mile and a half away up in a middle of a draw, so I pin pointed were it was. Got there the next morning and killed that bird by 615.
I also agree with yelp 10 to 2 in the afternoon. I never hunt at night I just scout. Just my

The picture is of cougerkilr tom last year

[Phantom Gobbler]

Slayer,

Flash Scouting at night?  Now I am starting to wonder a wee bit about your tactics??   

[Tom Tamer]

I try it all too....what ever I think the birds may want. I also am trying to learn the patient thing like you, but I find it hard.....that is until I bugger up a hunt then I kick myself. But I find it harder to be more patient when trying to help some one else get into it like you're doing this year. Mostly because you feel like you want to show them that same action that got you hooked.

With the blind thing, if you know they're there I've sat in one up to 5 hours and had  birds walk by, bring a book It can be effective though. But I've also sat in one for hours too and Nada... they do help in inclimate weather though, nice and dry, no wind, and if you pack in a heater....you're toasty too..

[Phantom Gobbler]

Trying for roosted birds is always worth a shot.    Most important is hunting (and getting permission to hunt) in areas that you know has birds.  Even with the birds on the increase in the NE, as has been said here before, they can move around alot and scouting really is key to your success.  Once you know your area has a huntable number of birds, then you can observe their daily patterns and decide where to setup (stut zones, roost sites, feeding areas etc.) or run and gun until you strike a hot bird.    Have fun this season.  

[turkeydancer]

I am not against using any legal tactic in the book ... if you lock in to one style with turkeys you're hurting your chances.

Tamer - I know why you bring a book and what you're using those pages for shortly after you run out of gloves !! 
       

[yelp]

Another tactic is to drive through Hunters Campground at night and put your tag on the ones hanging in the trees...LOL  I call it Flash tagging...

[yelp]

Another tactic is to drive through Hunters Campground at night and put your tag on the ones hanging in the trees...LOL  I call it Flash tagging...

Remember you zipties..

[Tom Tamer]

I am not against using any legal tactic in the book ... if you lock in to one style with turkeys you're hurting your chances.

Tamer - I know why you bring a book and what you're using those pages for shortly after you run out of gloves !! 
       

Darn right....once the gloves are gone and my camo shirts have been whittled into tank tops I'll use anything

[the shootist]

When I'm hunting with a partner I like to leave my partner and start hen calling as I'm going away from the tom. If he gobbles to the left then I just keep crawling or sneaking along with my partner constantly between myself , and the gobbler. It works especially well when the bird is hung up. I've crawled fifty yards down a hill hen calling, paused 10 minutes, and hen called back to where I started and the tom came through the fence and right to my partner. Also know your bird.. If he is dominant then use a hen, and jake decoy but if he's been beat up just use the hen. I've watched toms see the jake and leave the area because of this. Also be aware that hens love to look for snails this time of year to keep their eggs stronger (just like feeding oyster shells to your chickens ) so use ravines where snails will be more prevalent, and you may find hens working the area with a tom in tow. Lastly remember that turkeys are a lot like elk. A bull elk will defend his harem while the satellite bulls work the borders trying for a chance at a cow. Turkeys do the same thing and a lot of birds are killed that are NOT the dominant bird with the hens. But they can still be big!!! 

[yelp]

When I'm hunting with a partner I like to leave my partner and start hen calling as I'm going away from the tom. If he gobbles to the left then I just keep crawling or sneaking along with my partner constantly between myself , and the gobbler. It works especially well when the bird is hung up. I've crawled fifty yards down a hill hen calling, paused 10 minutes, and hen called back to where I started and the tom came through the fence and right to my partner. Also know your bird.. If he is dominant then use a hen, and jake decoy but if he's been beat up just use the hen. I've watched toms see the jake and leave the area because of this. Also be aware that hens love to look for snails this time of year to keep their eggs stronger (just like feeding oyster shells to your chickens ) so use ravines where snails will be more prevalent, and you may find hens working the area with a tom in tow. Lastly remember that turkeys are a lot like elk. A bull elk will defend his harem while the satellite bulls work the borders trying for a chance at a cow. Turkeys do the same thing and a lot of birds are killed that are NOT the dominant bird with the hens. But they can still be big!!! 

Great tactic for private land becareful on public hunters..there are enough uneducated hunters that may come up and stalk you. I have had it happen to me using same tactic..it is scary.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Another tactic is to drive through Hunters Campground at night and put your tag on the ones hanging in the trees...LOL  I call it Flash tagging...

Remember you zipties..

Flash Tagging?

And I thought those were just large turkey eating fire flies in camp last year!   I did think it was strange that they ate the feathers and all!   

[yelp]

Another tactic is to drive through Hunters Campground at night and put your tag on the ones hanging in the trees...LOL  I call it Flash tagging...

Remember you zipties..

Flash Tagging?

And I thought those were just large turkey eating fire flies in camp last year!   I did think it was strange that they ate the feathers and all!   

I get my birds every year...LOL