Getting closer to some Easterns.....

[haus]

.....I've never in my life been excited to find a steamy pile of *censored*, but I sure as hell was yesterday!!

now what the hell do we do  Put all of our eggs in one basket or keep looking for other potential spots. I guess I'm relucatant to focus in on a location if their habits are about to change. Everything I've read says that when these birds transition from wintering locations to nesting sites they can cover miles. Has anyone actually seen a living breathing Eastern recently? Are they into their spring fling habits or no?

I purchased this Primos owl hoot call n tried to use it yesterday.....I think its broken cuz it sounds like a damn duck....or its just operator error 

[Birdguy]

I met a kid this weekend in eastern washington with a Primos owl hooter that sounded like a duck/buck grunt call. Infact my 8 year old asked the kid why he brought a deer call turkey hunting ...maybe they put the wrong reed in a bunch of calls at Primos 

[PA BEN]

Find a high point and sit until dark to listen for gobbles. Same in the morning, 0ne hr before daylight.

[haus]

I met a kid this weekend in eastern washington with a Primos owl hooter that sounded like a duck/buck grunt call. Infact my 8 year old asked the kid why he brought a deer call turkey hunting ...maybe they put the wrong reed in a bunch of calls at Primos 

hmm. Watched the video on the primos site, then watched video of the real thing on youtube..... 
https://shop.primos.com/pc-503-38-power-owl.aspx
BARRED OWL AMAZING VOCALS!

[PA BEN]

I've never used a owl call. I saw an old video years ago on how to owl hoot. Cup your hands over your mouth and hoot, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you". Works real will. BTW, when there in the roost in the evening you can make a loud cutt with a box call, they will gobble to locate them for the next morning.

[dawei]

I've never used a owl call. I saw an old video years ago on how to owl hoot. Cup your hands over your mouth and hoot, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you". Works real will. BTW, when there in the roost in the evening you can make a loud cutt with a box call, they will gobble to locate them for the next morning.

Who cooks for you, Who cooks for you ALL (extra note to finish the call).

[Wacenturion]

I've never used a owl call. I saw an old video years ago on how to owl hoot. Cup your hands over your mouth and hoot, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you". Works real will. BTW, when there in the roost in the evening you can make a loud cutt with a box call, they will gobble to locate them for the next morning.

Who cooks for you, Who cooks for you ALL (extra note to finish the call.

That's only for southern owls..........just kidding.

[bow4elk]

I yell that who cooks for you line every year and all I ever hear back is "shut the *$&% up!" 

[Tom Tamer]

Hate to jack the thread but it's going down this path.....has anyone ever got a response in WA from an Owl hooter.....from a turkey not an Owl

[Birdguy]

I've never used a owl call. I saw an old video years ago on how to owl hoot. Cup your hands over your mouth and hoot, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you". Works real will. BTW, when there in the roost in the evening you can make a loud cutt with a box call, they will gobble to locate them for the next morning.

Who cooks for you, Who cooks for you ALL (extra note to finish the call.

That's only for southern owls..........just kidding.

For the southern owls wouldn't it be YALL??

[Wacenturion]

Hate to jack the thread but it's going down this path.....has anyone ever got a response in WA from an Owl hooter.....from a turkey not an Owl

Not the best for getting a response, but to answer your question..........yes I personally have.  I also took someone one year from down south out on Rio's in the Blues, where both days, once late afternoon and also the next morning gobblers responded to owl calls he made using only his mouth.  Louder than any factory call, and better sounding.  Fairly well known turkey hunter I might add from South Carolina.

[yelp]

Hate to jack the thread but it's going down this path.....has anyone ever got a response in WA from an Owl hooter.....from a turkey not an Owl

Not the best for getting a response, but to answer your question..........yes I personally have.  I also took someone one year from down south out on Rio's in the Blues, where both days, once late afternoon and also the next morning gobblers responded to owl calls he made using only his mouth.  Louder than any factory call, and better sounding.  Fairly well known turkey hunter I might add from South Carolina.

Don't they say Who cooks for me who cooks for me ..down there?  LOL.  Bobby Keck is his name...I believe..

[KimberRich]

Hate to jack the thread but it's going down this path.....has anyone ever got a response in WA from an Owl hooter.....from a turkey not an Owl

I have a couple times but the same birds Gobbled to the truck door slamming and any other noise so I didn't feel like it was really the call as much as any loud sound "shocked" these particular birds.  I've got better responses from my crow call.   

[rainshadow1]

I believe the southern owl says. "...who cooks for ALL Y'ALL???"

But I'm green as grass when it comes to Turkeys, so I'm going to be leaning alot on you guys this season if I can get out after them!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I learned that it is better to just hoot once LOUDLY on call more than trying to sound like an owl..
the reasons are that you are attempting to get a "shock gobble", so it is the loud noise that is eliciting the response, not the owl.
also, a shock gobble will happen immediately, and while you are making the second "who" and "who cooks, etc" you will drown out a response and not hear it....

[bow4elk]

I learned that it is better to just hoot once LOUDLY on call more than trying to sound like an owl..
the reasons are that you are attempting to get a "shock gobble", so it is the loud noise that is eliciting the response, not the owl.
also, a shock gobble will happen immediately, and while you are making the second "who" and "who cooks, etc" you will drown out a response and not hear it....

Exactly!  I use my voice and do a quick hoo....hoo-hoo and that's it.  And I have my partner stand about 10 yards away so he can listen for a response.

[haus]

thanks for hootin' suggestions.....
gonna give it a shot tomorrow evening.

[yelp]

I learned that it is better to just hoot once LOUDLY on call more than trying to sound like an owl..
the reasons are that you are attempting to get a "shock gobble", so it is the loud noise that is eliciting the response, not the owl.
also, a shock gobble will happen immediately, and while you are making the second "who" and "who cooks, etc" you will drown out a response and not hear it....

Exactly!  I use my voice and do a quick hoo....hoo-hoo and that's it.  And I have my partner stand about 10 yards away so he can listen for a response.

Also try this put your arm up in the air and say Yoowhoo  Yoowhoo Yoowhoo..It works.  Your partner 10 yards away says  What?

Yoowhoo   What?   LOL   

[Tom Tamer]

Hate to jack the thread but it's going down this path.....has anyone ever got a response in WA from an Owl hooter.....from a turkey not an Owl

Not the best for getting a response, but to answer your question..........yes I personally have.  I also took someone one year from down south out on Rio's in the Blues, where both days, once late afternoon and also the next morning gobblers responded to owl calls he made using only his mouth.  Louder than any factory call, and better sounding.  Fairly well known turkey hunter I might add from South Carolina.

Interesting....thanks.... My boy had some how lost all my locators, so I found the K&H set of three on sale for $10 and it has a hooter in it....I may give it a try....then about three days later I found all my other calls...in the wife's car.....the boy snuck them out of my turck....Lil' Booger

[haus]

Also try this put your arm up in the air and say Yoowhoo  Yoowhoo Yoowhoo..It works.  Your partner 10 yards away says  What?

Yoowhoo   What?   LOL   

oh man..... 

[turkeydancer]

Go ahead, ask me if I give a hoot ... LOL ...

[Wacenturion]

Also try this put your arm up in the air and say Yoowhoo  Yoowhoo Yoowhoo..It works.  Your partner 10 yards away says  What?

Yoowhoo   What?   LOL   

oh man..... 

Yelp's already lost it.

[yelp]

Also try this put your arm up in the air and say Yoowhoo  Yoowhoo Yoowhoo..It works.  Your partner 10 yards away says  What?

Yoowhoo   What?   LOL   

oh man..... 

Yelp's already lost it.

Yooohoooo 

[haus]

and their gone  No new sign, didn't hear a peep from a tom either. tried all sorts of locator sounds...doubtlful anything was in range to hear. Just as the trail had heated up it goes cold again.......
Anyone know if hen's from the same flock stay together and seek the same general nesting area, with toms in tow or do they scatter?

[turkeydancer]

Hens scatter ... toms will be in somewhat the general area of the hens.

[turkeydancer]

Note thata a lot of guys will throw any "sign" out in the brush for two reasons:

1) One they want to come back and see if the birds are still frequenting the area (and don't want to be confused with last weeks sign).  

2) They don't want anyone else to know birds are there.  

[haus]

Hens scatter ... toms will be in somewhat the general area of the hens.

k thnx...
12 birds, could be in any direction at any distance.......ah this is gonna be fun  Guess we'll have to narrow the search area and roll the dice. Hen's will stay close to water sources in swamp depressions or small streams, and they'll stay well clear of any human precense right? Even though they were spotted feeding near some homes a month ago.. 

[Elkpiss]

Their not gone dude, You have to remember the Easterns over here on the wetside are very elusive.. The Hens will feed all day and do pretty much a huge circle till they roost again. Same as the gobblers. The main reason they will vacate their location is if they get spooked off, then they generally move up the creek or river that their close to..  Note.. these easterns feed in huge circles, and then return to their roost.. and 2nd note, their is a very small window when you will get the Eastern fired up "Gobbling".. You can have them gobbling pretty good then the rest of the season that particular bird will be quite.. Its just how it is on the westside.. Sucks, but thats why they call them phantoms over here!!  ..

[turkeydancer]

Check your area for forest openings (doesn't have to be real large and can be logging roads) in a central location where the tom can feel safe "strutting" and trying to attract more hens while the hens are on the nest or feeding ... he'll stay fairly central so his hens can find him again in the later afternoon ...
 

[haus]

Their not gone dude, You have to remember the Easterns over here on the wetside are very elusive.. The Hens will feed all day and do pretty much a huge circle till they roost again. Same as the gobblers. The main reason they will vacate their location is if they get spooked off, then they generally move up the creek or river that their close to..  Note.. these easterns feed in huge circles, and then return to their roost.. and 2nd note, their is a very small window when you will get the Eastern fired up "Gobbling".. You can have them gobbling pretty good then the rest of the season that particular bird will be quite.. Its just how it is on the westside.. Sucks, but thats why they call them phantoms over here!!  ..

ic ic, good stuff. I hope these ones haven't spooked, but knowing they will be focused near main water sources is helpful if we do have to expand our searching.  Have a couple setup spots that we think are worth a shot, getting a decoy, figured what the hell why not try it  

[Wacenturion]

Good advice given above....Haus, you also mentioned..........

"tried all sorts of locator sounds...doubtlful anything was in range to hear"

you'll lose big betting on that one.....don't kid yourself for a minute......they're somewhere close....and they can definitely hear ya.

[haus]

Good advice given above....Haus, you also mentioned..........
"tried all sorts of locator sounds...doubtlful anything was in range to hear"
you'll lose big betting on that one.....don't kid yourself for a minute......they're somewhere close....and they can definitely hear ya.

Great now I'm gonna be lookin over my shoulder all nervous! 
So how spooky is an eastern? i briefly hunted turkeys in the Blues several years ago, remember getting relatively close to birds while walking around. Are these easterns the same? Will they let you know you just scared them and let you walk within 100yrds before they freak out? Or is it more like 'look at that person 1/4mi away, RUN!"

Hate workin so far from where we're hunting. can't do nothin but talk about turkey for 5 days and look at sat photo's haha

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

In my little experience...
Once you find them, you need to figure out where they spend some time, sit down and make yourself confortable, your going to be there a while.
It can take a couple hours for the bird to decide to come look at you, If you called once, he knows you are there, If you called twice...He thinks your impatient,..
If you called 3 times he thinks your an impatient bitch....
if you called 4 times and nothing, and you been there for 2 hours, you might as well go find a different spot because he doesn't like you and probably went looking for his girlfriend who doesn't talk so much....
But I am a rookie and am still learning, this is just how they treat me.

[Tom Tamer]

In my little experience...
Once you find them, you need to figure out where they spend some time, sit down and make yourself confortable, your going to be there a while.
It can take a couple hours for the bird to decide to come look at you, If you called once, he knows you are there, If you called twice...He thinks your impatient,..
If you called 3 times he thinks your an impatient bitch....
if you called 4 times and nothing, and you been there for 2 hours, you might as well go find a different spot because he doesn't like you and probably went looking for his girlfriend who doesn't talk so much....
But I am a rookie and am still learning, this is just how they treat me.

Spoken like a sage Western WA Eastern turkey hunter   LOL