Post by: Bogie85 on May 06, 2019, 08:12:05 PM
My question to those that may have insight on what's best to do. When they shut up at 6am. Should I just be sitting in the same spot? When should I call it and move to a new spot and call? Should I stop calling all together? My hunting buddy can't go for the next 2 weeks, wondering if it's worth trying to go solo?
Post by: 270Shooter on May 06, 2019, 08:38:17 PM
Post by: Bogie85 on May 06, 2019, 08:52:24 PM
Gobblers are tough to call in right off the bat in the morning. They tend to be vocal but usually will have hens. The hens will leave the toms at some point during the day, usually mid morning. 9-11 am is the best time to be in the woods right now. If you hear a bird sound off in the middle of the day there is a good chance he’s by himself and looking for hens. Close the distance but don’t try to get too close if you can tell he’s coming your way. Don’t call too much here either.
That's great advice! this really helps me see some things I could have done better. Thanks a ton!
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on May 06, 2019, 09:32:26 PM
Post by: Bogie85 on May 06, 2019, 10:25:41 PM
I spent a week and couldn't call in a thing. Take enough time and figure out what way they are headed off the roost and be there before sun up the next morning. Also if you can pattern them out. I had a flock that would come back to their roosting area around three or so and graze for the afternoon. Being setup where they will be helps a lot when they are hard to work.
Heck yeah! Thanks for the info. Definitely going to use this next time.
Post by: Russ McDonald on May 06, 2019, 11:14:26 PM
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Post by: Wazntme on May 07, 2019, 12:28:18 AM
Post by: Bogie85 on May 07, 2019, 08:08:14 AM
When your calling don't over call. Nit getting any response just do a series of calls every 15-20 minutes. Eventually the toms will bachelor up I think there is a transition right now. The hens are startingnto nest so they a kicking the boys out. So the boys startung looking for single ladies. That is when you will start seeing groups of toms and nothing else. Saturday a family I had out spent 12 hours in a blind to finally have a tom come in and he came in totally stealth mode. No gobbles and just starying putting when he got within 60 yards of our decoy.
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Thanks for the great advice, do you think you can have too many decoys? I think you are right, because most are henned up right now it seems.
Post by: Bogie85 on May 07, 2019, 08:09:08 AM
Sleep in until 8 and get into the woods around 930 and when you hear a gobble sit down and call every 15 minutes, they will come in quiet a lot of the time.
Really? we never heard a gobble after 6 lol stayed out the whole day. They just went dead silent for us.
Post by: Birdgetter on May 07, 2019, 09:18:05 AM
Yeah most birds I even had a chance at were mid day! Trying to get them off the roost was a waste of time.Sleep in until 8 and get into the woods around 930 and when you hear a gobble sit down and call every 15 minutes, they will come in quiet a lot of the time.
Really? we never heard a gobble after 6 lol stayed out the whole day. They just went dead silent for us.
Post by: Russ McDonald on May 07, 2019, 09:48:46 AM
Yes. I did on Saturday and pulled 2 and just stuck with a single feeding hen.When your calling don't over call. Nit getting any response just do a series of calls every 15-20 minutes. Eventually the toms will bachelor up I think there is a transition right now. The hens are startingnto nest so they a kicking the boys out. So the boys startung looking for single ladies. That is when you will start seeing groups of toms and nothing else. Saturday a family I had out spent 12 hours in a blind to finally have a tom come in and he came in totally stealth mode. No gobbles and just starying putting when he got within 60 yards of our decoy.
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Thanks for the great advice, do you think you can have too many decoys? I think you are right, because most are henned up right now it seems.
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Post by: Wazntme on May 07, 2019, 11:15:17 PM
Post by: bearpaw on May 08, 2019, 03:58:44 AM
Unfortunately I don't get to post that joyous picture of me with my first turkey. This is my first year out for turkey, and feel like I learned a lot. But for some reason we couldn't ever get a gobbler to come in. They almost all had hens, and when they didn't have hens. They just wouldn't budge even after 2 hours of sitting, they would gobble until 6am and than nothing for the rest of the day.
My question to those that may have insight on what's best to do. When they shut up at 6am. Should I just be sitting in the same spot? When should I call it and move to a new spot and call? Should I stop calling all together? My hunting buddy can't go for the next 2 weeks, wondering if it's worth trying to go solo?
Those toms probably have hens, when toms are henned up generally the hens will go away from calling and the toms will follow. Occasionally agreesive yelping will call the whole flock in, but as mentioned they generally go the other way. When this happens you can make a big loop around them and try calling again or sit quietly and wait, both methods have worked for me in the past, but sitting quietly has worked more times than calling when toms are henned up. If you have seen the flock feeding in a particular spot you can set up there and wait, they usually come if you are quiet and very still.
Post by: Bogie85 on May 08, 2019, 10:24:46 AM
Unfortunately I don't get to post that joyous picture of me with my first turkey. This is my first year out for turkey, and feel like I learned a lot. But for some reason we couldn't ever get a gobbler to come in. They almost all had hens, and when they didn't have hens. They just wouldn't budge even after 2 hours of sitting, they would gobble until 6am and than nothing for the rest of the day.
My question to those that may have insight on what's best to do. When they shut up at 6am. Should I just be sitting in the same spot? When should I call it and move to a new spot and call? Should I stop calling all together? My hunting buddy can't go for the next 2 weeks, wondering if it's worth trying to go solo?
Those toms probably have hens, when toms are henned up generally the hens will go away from calling and the toms will follow. Occasionally agreesive yelping will call the whole flock in, but as mentioned they generally go the other way. When this happens you can make a big loop around them and try calling again or sit quietly and wait, both methods have worked for me in the past, but sitting quietly has worked more times than calling when toms are henned up. If you have seen the flock feeding in a particular spot you can set up there and wait, they usually come if you are quiet and very still.
Really good info, thanks for the heads up! Really helps me learn how they think, which is the biggest hurdle when you can't get out every weekend :).