Late season poll

[packmule]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum and I've enjoyed reading your posts.  I noticed the quiz about favorite tricks for bringing a gobbler in.  Thought maybe we'd start a new one about how late do you feel turkey calling works in the season.  Personally, I've found that calling can be quite good until about the 12th of May or so (depending on weather patterns, etc.).  After that I've heard some good gobbling here and there, but had little luck bringing gobblers in.  Seems to me that the last couple weeks of the season are more of an "ambush" scenario.  Let's hear what you all think!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I know that a little "peep....peep.....peep" works for coyotes !!

[JKEEN33]

Interesting question. I've never had a tag left after the first week of the season so have never been in that situation.  . Looking forward to seeing what others have done though.

[Andrew]

I know that a little "peep....peep.....peep" works for coyotes !!

True that!  I was wooing a tom for 15-20 minutes few seasons ago and he just vanished.  Adjusted my sitting position, and as I looked up I saw this nice yote creep'n in on my deek, then he winded me I supposed since he shot off like I bat out of hell!

Getting back to the question at hand...the birds are more leery since they've been chased for almost three weeks, I think the key ingredient at this time is to call very little and be more patient.  I had a bird that was 100 yards in front of me skirt off to the right about 60 yards, sneak up along a creek (saw him the entire time). and come in on my left.  He saw something he didn't like (most likely it was my dad fidgeting  ) and took off.  Reminded me of when a pheasant is double backing along a fence row, head low to the ground and hauling ass!  That was the spookiest bird I've seen yet.

[turkeyfeather]

I don't know the exact date, but I do know there is a point later in the season when calling doesn't seem to get a response. Probably because they have heard every call by that point, anyways that's when I try to figure where they're going and cut them off.

[Phantom Gobbler]

You can hit a hot lone gobbler later in the season that will get fired up and come running, but it seems you do have to spend more time in the woods and cover more ground.   

[Turkeyman]

Alot depends on were the turkeys are at in the breeding cycle in your area. Different calling technecks should be used depending on were the birds are at in that cycle. Later in the year in most cases i will do fighting purrs and gobbling this is if the gobblers are back together after breeding. Cover alot of ground and sometimes you can find a lone gobbler that is still wanting to breed. Look at turkey hunting like you would a elk or deer rutting cycle. Pre rut, rut, post rut and learn how to call for those cycles.

[packmule]

Interesting question. I've never had a tag left after the first week of the season so have never been in that situation.  . Looking forward to seeing what others have done though. 
Posted on: Yesterday at 11:34:05 AMPosted by: STIKNSTRINGBOW 

You fill all three tags in the first week every year?  That's pretty good hunting!

[JKEEN33]

Interesting question. I've never had a tag left after the first week of the season so have never been in that situation.  . Looking forward to seeing what others have done though. 
Posted on: Yesterday at 11:34:05 AMPosted by: STIKNSTRINGBOW 

You fill all three tags in the first week every year?  That's pretty good hunting!

No just the 2. I have no idea where or how to hunt the Eastern over here on the West side. We usually spend the first week up in the NE and if you have a good spot, it is fairly easy to fill the tags. 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Interesting question. I've never had a tag left after the first week of the season so have never been in that situation.  . Looking forward to seeing what others have done though. 
Posted on: Yesterday at 11:34:05 AMPosted by: STIKNSTRINGBOW 

You fill all three tags in the first week every year?  That's pretty good hunting!

That wasn't my post ??
I have not even gotten ONE tag filled in the last 4 years, DAMN EASTERNS !!   

[turkeydancer]

Turkeys always respond to calling ... remember they may just come in silent.  You also must realize that they go through different stages (and moods) throughout the season and your calling tactics need to change dependent on what stage they are in (and mood).  May want to look at Knight and Hales Gobbler Guide to get a better idea of what I mean. What makes this sport so much fun is to figure out what's going to work and when to consistently get the toms coming no matter when you're out there. The good news is that sometime during the season even the worst caller using the wrong tactics from the wrong location will still get lucky occasionally.
 

[yelp]

Interesting question. I've never had a tag left after the first week of the season so have never been in that situation.  . Looking forward to seeing what others have done though. 
Posted on: Yesterday at 11:34:05 AMPosted by: STIKNSTRINGBOW 

You fill all three tags in the first week every year?  That's pretty good hunting!

That wasn't my post ??
I have not even gotten ONE tag filled in the last 4 years, DAMN EASTERNS !!   

Hope you find a big one this year!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I learned to get as close as possible to my oponents "strut zone', in this case a bald knob in the middle of clear-cut, get myself confortable, make a couple soft calls, until he gobbles (or sometimes just "PPPppHHHhhTTtttt" (you know what I mean)
Then just sit there...........