Put Them to Bed?

[flysar]

I'm new to turkey hunting, have seen plenty while scouting/hunting for other animals and have seen them when scouting for the opener; wasn't able to get out this morning but plan to hunt until May 31st if need be.

Would some one help me understand how you "put them to bed". Is it similar to watching elk bed down for the night only you're watching turkeys fly into the roost or are you trying to get a gobble after they've roosted so you know where they are?

In the former case are you walking in turkey country hoping to see them before they see you and then atempt to remain undetected until they roost or are you sitting within eye distance of a roost tree waiting until dark to see if they choose that tree for the night; I understand they normally have 2 or more.

I am hunting state or public access allowed on private timber lands.

Thanks & good luck this year.

[blacktail luv]

They will gobble once they have flown up for the night I personally like to set up pretty close to that tree well before daylight the next morning. Just get in an area where you know there are turkeys right before dark, they will usually give themselves away.  Good luck.   

[Bigtine96]

Turkeys don't gobble

[Machias]

But don't set up tooo close the next day, you can spook them and not hear or see a thing.  Putting them to bed should be part of your overall scouting.  You should be seeing where they like to fly down off the roost.  If you go in right at dusk and listen you'll hear birds gobbling pretty good.  If you've been doing your scouting you'll know where they generally like to land when they come out in the morning.  If I can, without spooking them I like go in right before dusk, do a fly up cackle and hat flap.  He'll probably gobble at you and be dreaming about you all night.  Then before daylight I like to slip in, put my decoy out so that he sees it ONCE he's in range.  Then I set up and wait for them to start waking up and give him a few soft tree yelps, he'll normally boom back.  I'll wait a bit and give him a little fly down cackle and hat flap.  Then I give a nice series of yelps and then I shut up.  Quite a few times he'll land and walk right into your decoy.  However this time of the year remember them hens are all around you and as soon as they hit the ground they are running over to the big boy.  So if you set up in an area that he normally does not fly down into, he will be henned up and probably won't come to your calls.  If that happens, relax, hang out and start walking and calling around 0900 to 1000.  After 0900ish and you get one to answer you have a good chance he's finally all alone and will be receptive to coming in.

[Dustin07]

are you guys hearing them much right now? I haven't been hearing a thing yet this year.

[PA BEN]

With the rain tonight no gobbling. I did get them to gobble w/a cut from a box call, but no gobbles w/the horn from my pickup. Last night every time I hit the horn they gobbled. Not much gobbling once out of the roost. Did hear some at 3 pm today while I was at a friends farm. I do use a turkey wing and do fly down calls and flap the wing on my leg, sounds like hens flying down, brings the toms right in. (most of the time)

[flysar]

If I got this right, wait until they roost and make some calls to get an idea of location (put them to bed). Get in the next morning before daylight, set up, and do some calling once you hear them fly down.

If you're unable to roost them get out before daylight and do some locating calls to narrow down the area.

Thanks for education.

[BOWHUNTER45]

PA BEN love your theory.. done it for 25 yrs at least ..works good , now go to bed a dream about him landing in your decoys come morning.. sent me to bed laughing ...good luck and let us know !!!!!!!!!!!