Crow call -> turkey gobbles, then what? :)

[johng]

Hello,

So a few buds of mine and I went hunting today.  It was pretty awesome.  No toms but we did see plenty of sign, found a turkey feather (we're pretty sure at least for a bunch of 206'ers hahaa) AND heard a turkey gobble a of couple times.  One time it was by accident but the second time was when we crow called a couple of hours later... he was still in this ravine we think.

Anyhow, what do you guys think about our tactics:

1) We were talking too loud on the logging road we were hiking up and we spooked one we think and he ran off... We then decided to set up and try to call him in with turkey calls.  Had a jake and a hen set up as decoys.  It didn't work.  He never would gobble back to what we were throwing at him.

2) Second time was we when we did a locator call about 2 hours later and he gobbled.  That was cool.  We then decided to try and quietly move towards him and make some turkey calls and see if we could get him to answer back.  He didn't and the ravine was too steep to try and scramble down.

So what do you guys think?  What do you think we should have done?  I think all three of us need to improve our calling but other than that?   

And then this was another question we had: does it make sense to do a locator call, sit around and make turkey calls from say 20 minutes to 40 minutes and then switch back to a crow or owl call?

Thanks!

-jg

[yelp]

Normally I use a locator..then when he is located set up and try a few calls.  If you are coming at him from the same direction you spooked him..you maybe educating him..Normally after spooking I quiet down for ahwhile..move in do another locator call or a different one..if he gobbles I try to get a little closer and set up..this will vary by how the terrain looks, how excited he is, etc..If he is double gobbling and it sounds like he is getting closer you better be sitting down and ready.  I also will do a loop around the bird and come at him from different angles, etc.  Hope that helps.. good luck!

[carpsniperg2]

its always good to switch it up change directions and such if he is answering you when you call to him then he is more than likely going to be headed your way unless he is henned up or he has been bumped or educated. you can always play hard to get if you think he is intrested start moving away from him and see if this will get him to start working your way. hope this helps

[Button Nubbs]

Wait wait wait and call softly and not a lot, then wait some more. I was talking to a guide this season and he said sometimes when he gets a gobble he will set up and the bird will go silent, then all of the sudden 45 minutes or so later the bird will gobble right on top of them.he knows where you are. One thing I've learned this season is that paitence is a virtue.

[Wacenturion]

Yelp pretty well summed it up.  You said........

"We then decided to try and quietly move towards him and make some turkey calls and see if we could get him to answer back."

That was your biggest mistake.  As Yelp pointed out, use locator calls to get a shock gobble....not turkey calls when moving in closer to set up.  Just chalk it up as a learning experience.......the more you learn, the better you hopefully get.  Keep at it.  What part of the state were you hunting?

[turkeydancer]

I'm with Yelp and all the others ... I also try to get roughly on the same level as him if possible and eliminate any obstucles that would impede him coming in to me ...
 

[johng]

Thanks guys... I will take all the advice to heart.  It was a learning experience for sure and hopefully between us continuing to read, practice and get out there it will translate into success!   

We were slightly east of the Cascades and it was a super beautiful day in the woods: spring rain on the face, two rainbows and not thinking about work!  Yeehaw. 

Cheers,

John

[tlbradford]

Remember the tom is usually calling the hens to them, so when you hen call and move towards him, he sees no reason to come to you.