May turkey hunting

[MerriamMagician]

Ok everyone, I have had a lot of success hunting in April the past five years. I don't think I have even hunted the month of May for five or six years because we have always been tagged out. Same story this year, however I have several people who want to go with me to learn the sport. To be totally honest, I don't remember all the tactics for hunting birds in May. I know it can be both beautiful and ugly with the beautiful being gobblers finally unhenned up and sometimes a lot more responsive to calls and will even come running. The ugly would be callshy, cautious birds that are quiet and avoid open areas a lot. I would appreciate anyones tips for hunting in May just for a quick refresher. Also when do you think the second gobbling peak will occur this year? Last weekend every bird in the valley had lockjaw pretty much all day.

[Limhangerslayer]

There are always gobblers that aren't lockjaw.  If you have impatient hunters that need to hear gobbles be mobile cover ground,  I guarantee with persistence you will find a vocal bird.  As far as tactics a lot of times I read a birds mood, doesn't matter if it's April or May. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

actually my favorite time to hunt... I love hunting in May ... most guys have bagged up or quit ...over the years I have found it much better hunting ..like you said , hens are nesting and gobblers are alone ... just a little better time for calling birds in..but then you have to worry about ticks ...thats the only thing I hate about hunting in May 

[yelp]

It also is the best time to bag the dominate tom as he loses hens to the nesting process making your plea's sounding even more enticing! 

[MerriamMagician]

I know for a fact that your right about less hunting pressure. This was only the third weekend and saw scarcely anyone else. It always seems like the initial week of hunting pressure completely changes the birds patterns but within three weeks or so as the majority of the hunters call it quits, the birds slowly get back to their normal routine and often return to where they were roosting when the season started. The one concern i have for this season is that it seems the birds are a week or two behind normal schedule. I have seen many large hen flocks that completly lacked the presence of any male birds. I did call up one lone gobbler last weekend and it was intense, heartpounding action!! Probably one of the top five most exciting turkey hunts I have ever experienced! I'm really looking forward to some more of that. I'm busy next week, but will be returning to the woods for the second weekend of May.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Exactely....this is why I only went for 2 days ....I never saw more than 2 other hunters and a gamie who checked us which was the first time I ever seen a warden in these parts . But once I saw one flock with over 150 birds in it and many with 20 to 50 in it I decided I was not wasting all my time and money on staying for a week ...yes I know we could of killed more birds and should have but I seriously have more fun with lonely gobblers than flocked up gobblers...one good thing to remember though is that its  not because the bird has gotten any dumber and the rule for me is once you locate a gobbler and move in on him and get him to answer be patient . We all get excited when we get one to answer and seem to want to call alot ....I kinda read the mood of the bird...if I cut a few times and he just goes off doulble & tripple gobbling then I will try keeping him excited by yelping and cutting...but if he gobbles once or twice every 5 min or so I go silent ...the best thing to do if he is not so excited is to wait and see he will answer you on his on without you making another sound ...If he does then what I do is just be quit until he gobbles at least 3 times on his own without me saying a word...hopefully when he does gobble he is moving closer with every gobble he makes...after 3 or 4 times of gobbling on his own then I will cluck softly a couple times or go to doing whit whits ..if I am in the timber I do not use decoys late in the season because I want the bird to come looking for me ...he already knows about where you are but not exactely because your not calling alot to give up your EXACT LOCATION SO NOW HE IS THINKING Hmmmm she must be over there.....just my  but its worked more times than not of me ..

[turkeydancer]

    Works for me ... good advice.

actually my favorite time to hunt... I love hunting in May ... most guys have bagged up or quit ...over the years I have found it much better hunting ..like you said , hens are nesting and gobblers are alone ... just a little better time for calling birds in..but then you have to worry about ticks ...thats the only thing I hate about hunting in May 

John - I haven't had a tick problem in over a decade. Next time you're at Cabelas buy some cans of Sawyers Tick spray and treat your clothes, hat, gloves, boots, face mask before you go out and let them dry (dries in a short time)> Pay special attention to any openings such as under the hat brim, cuffs, collars, button or zip up areas, etc.  It lasts thru 3 washings before you need to repeat. Helps with other insects too!

[Tom Tamer]

, heWhat everyone else said here, plus what you mentioned...being tagged out. I think the pressure is way less, because of the tagged out guys , plus lakes open up and the weather gets nicer. Heck my favorite time to hunt the past few years is Memorial dayweekend. There ain't another turkey hunter to be found by then. And usually the Toms haven't heard a receptive hen in a couple weeks. 3 of the last 4 yrs I've had my quickest hunts and also my Largest Merrriam's on that weekend. I love May hunting. Tatics do change, I do a lot more run and gun stuff, but also let them work to me.Last year we had a bird that would gobble constantly but move away he had no hens but would still make rounds, we sat right where he gobble from when he hit the ground, took a nap and when he came back he kindly woke us up with a gobble before walking down to 25yds of my Dad's Mossberg. Love a considerate May Tom like that.

[turkeydancer]

My "run and gun" days have become more like "walks really slow and guns" ...    

[dawei]

My "run and gun" days have become more like "walks really slow and guns" ...    

Like me, Limp & Lounge; or Wobble & Gobble! LOL!!!!!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I will do that AL ... Need to go to Cabelas again soon and see what is walking around there  Some fine scenery last time and I do not mean animals & guns 

[ghosthunter]

We just got back from a week of voodoo chickens. We should have had two birds but crap happens. Only saw three hunters. Last year we hunted May second week and had gobbles and no hunters.Thinking about another trip around mid May.

[MerriamMagician]

I cant wait to get back at it!! Im looking to go on the 12th and 13th and possibly memorial day weekend. Made some wingbone calls from my birds and from some older wings and gonna give it a go with them!! I made a wingbone call years ago, but lost it before the season started so using one will be a new experience. Also hoping to get some good video footage. I filmed a really awesome hunt last week that ended with success only to discover that the media card had mysteriously not been in the cam. Bummer

[hawksfan75]

Memorial Day weekend is the only opportunity I'm going to have this year. So, here's to hoping that the May hunting is good this year 

[Gobble Doc]

Last year I went on Memorial Day.  It was a zoo.  ATVs, yellin, etc.  It would have been a good time to get much further off the normal path but I wasn't prepared for a long hike back into the woods.