Post by: Bogie85 on May 20, 2019, 05:09:34 PM
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
Post by: WaltAlpine on May 20, 2019, 07:55:36 PM
Post by: Gobble Doc on May 20, 2019, 08:13:56 PM
It's a great time even if your tag isn't wrapped around a bird's leg!I think my success bar is lowering to where a safe trip is a successful trip.
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Post by: EWUeagles on May 21, 2019, 07:20:36 AM
Well I finished out my first Turkey season with a big zero, but I learned a ton. I found their roosting spots finally, found their feeding zones. Got them calling and could get them within 100 yards but they stayed in the tree line so I couldn't see them. Looking back we may have called too much, we were calling every 15-20 minutes.
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
If the birds are 100 yards away and gobbling you should get aggressive on them. Sneak in closer or do a circle around them and get to another area. I'm not passive when I hunt turkeys and prefer taking it them when it is called for. Glad you had a great time and Colville is a pretty area.
Post by: Bogie85 on May 21, 2019, 08:00:56 AM
Well I finished out my first Turkey season with a big zero, but I learned a ton. I found their roosting spots finally, found their feeding zones. Got them calling and could get them within 100 yards but they stayed in the tree line so I couldn't see them. Looking back we may have called too much, we were calling every 15-20 minutes.
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
If the birds are 100 yards away and gobbling you should get aggressive on them. Sneak in closer or do a circle around them and get to another area. I'm not passive when I hunt turkeys and prefer taking it them when it is called for. Glad you had a great time and Colville is a pretty area.
That makes a lot of sense, would you change your calling? Do you still use a decoy? Are you doing yelps only?
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on May 21, 2019, 09:49:26 AM
Post by: EWUeagles on May 21, 2019, 10:34:10 AM
Well I finished out my first Turkey season with a big zero, but I learned a ton. I found their roosting spots finally, found their feeding zones. Got them calling and could get them within 100 yards but they stayed in the tree line so I couldn't see them. Looking back we may have called too much, we were calling every 15-20 minutes.
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
If the birds are 100 yards away and gobbling you should get aggressive on them. Sneak in closer or do a circle around them and get to another area. I'm not passive when I hunt turkeys and prefer taking it them when it is called for. Glad you had a great time and Colville is a pretty area.
That makes a lot of sense, would you change your calling? Do you still use a decoy? Are you doing yelps only?
I use a decoy when I can but if you get closer than you realize don't waste your time with a decoy. My last turkey I called into 15 yards with out a decoy. I'm sure he would have came to my feet if I didn't shoot haha. I'm not a great caller but I always figured if I'm doing something and get a response I'm doing something right. If you move in close and he's still stuck there I'll try anything to get him to move and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Post by: Bogie85 on May 21, 2019, 11:01:04 AM
It's great to hear you had a good time. By the sound of it you had better luck calling the birds than I did at the beginning of the season. It does get frustrating when you can't get them in range but it's nice to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. When you go out in the fall find out where they roost and where they drink and place yourself in between the two. The birds are all flocked up then and it's a great oppurtunity to watch them and learn about them. Just don't forget to kill one when you're done observing :chuckle:
Heck yeah, this is great info! I think were definitely learning, and I feel like each time I get them a little closer. I am not complaining for only my second time out , having at least between 4-8 gobblers going at it.
Post by: Bogie85 on May 21, 2019, 11:02:15 AM
Well I finished out my first Turkey season with a big zero, but I learned a ton. I found their roosting spots finally, found their feeding zones. Got them calling and could get them within 100 yards but they stayed in the tree line so I couldn't see them. Looking back we may have called too much, we were calling every 15-20 minutes.
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
If the birds are 100 yards away and gobbling you should get aggressive on them. Sneak in closer or do a circle around them and get to another area. I'm not passive when I hunt turkeys and prefer taking it them when it is called for. Glad you had a great time and Colville is a pretty area.
That makes a lot of sense, would you change your calling? Do you still use a decoy? Are you doing yelps only?
I use a decoy when I can but if you get closer than you realize don't waste your time with a decoy. My last turkey I called into 15 yards with out a decoy. I'm sure he would have came to my feet if I didn't shoot haha. I'm not a great caller but I always figured if I'm doing something and get a response I'm doing something right. If you move in close and he's still stuck there I'll try anything to get him to move and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Really great info! Thanks so much. There is a lot to learn here, and the variables are the harder part. But it's so much fun, they are so reactive.
Post by: slowhand on May 21, 2019, 11:14:17 AM
Sounds like a good time :chuckle:
Post by: Bogie85 on May 21, 2019, 01:07:40 PM
Tagging in.
Sounds like a good time :chuckle:
:chuckle: you would know ;)
Post by: TheStovePipeKid on May 21, 2019, 02:24:23 PM
Post by: Machias on May 21, 2019, 02:27:00 PM
Post by: Machias on May 21, 2019, 02:28:05 PM
EWUeagles' comment inspired me to mention that in some cases, like you having hung up birds, moving away from the turkey and calling can help. The tom thinks the hen has lost interest and may close the final distance. This works really well if you have a partner calling which allows you to remain still and not get busted. I have used decoys exactly twice in a decade of hunting. The first time produce a cougar, which was counter productive, and the second a tom. I prefer to be light and mobile so I can circle around or cover alot of ground if needed.
Very effective if you have a couple of guys! I have done this and had guys almost have to shoot in self defense as the gobbler was running past them to catch up with the hens that were leaving.
Post by: Machias on May 21, 2019, 02:29:13 PM
Well I finished out my first Turkey season with a big zero, but I learned a ton. I found their roosting spots finally, found their feeding zones. Got them calling and could get them within 100 yards but they stayed in the tree line so I couldn't see them. Looking back we may have called too much, we were calling every 15-20 minutes.
Even though we didn't get one, man it's exciting hearing them come in. Inexperience got us this time, but each time you go out you learn something new. Looking forward to fall, I refuse to give up on these cautious birds.
Did see a ton of wildlife out in colville area, saw skunks, elk, deer, and heard lots of turkey saw a few.
If the birds are 100 yards away and gobbling you should get aggressive on them. Sneak in closer or do a circle around them and get to another area. I'm not passive when I hunt turkeys and prefer taking it them when it is called for. Glad you had a great time and Colville is a pretty area.
That makes a lot of sense, would you change your calling? Do you still use a decoy? Are you doing yelps only?
Try to learn the to cutt and cluck with your calls. Excited clucks really fire up a tom.
Post by: gaddy on May 22, 2019, 08:23:30 AM
Post by: Bogie85 on May 22, 2019, 09:54:24 AM
I've done what TheStovePipeKid suggested a few times, even alone it works well. Another thing, Had a hung up bird that would gobble at every call, or on it's own. We worked that bird for a couple of hours. It was the last day and last hour of season. Got around for a different angle, let out a few yelps and immediately followed with the gobble shaker and a few slaps to the leg with the hat. That bird came a running, gobbling the entire way. Had heard about that in a seminar several years ago. It was a last ditch effort but it worked.
Heck yeah, that's worth having in my arsenal. Still learning as much as I can, tons of variables.
Post by: gaddy on May 22, 2019, 10:37:11 AM
Post by: EWUeagles on May 22, 2019, 12:41:12 PM
I've done what TheStovePipeKid suggested a few times, even alone it works well. Another thing, Had a hung up bird that would gobble at every call, or on it's own. We worked that bird for a couple of hours. It was the last day and last hour of season. Got around for a different angle, let out a few yelps and immediately followed with the gobble shaker and a few slaps to the leg with the hat. That bird came a running, gobbling the entire way. Had heard about that in a seminar several years ago. It was a last ditch effort but it worked.
Heck yeah, that's worth having in my arsenal. Still learning as much as I can, tons of variables.
It's worth having for sure but make sure you know when to use it. If you're hunting on public land I would recommend using it almost never. When gaddy used it was probably the best since it was a last ditch effort at the end of the day. You don't want to call in a trigger happy turkey hunter. I have a jake and a hen decoy and I won't even put the jake decoy out on public land.
Post by: Machias on May 22, 2019, 02:14:20 PM
Post by: gaddy on May 22, 2019, 06:35:33 PM
Post by: Machias on May 23, 2019, 10:15:44 AM
Post by: Bogie85 on May 25, 2019, 02:06:22 AM
I agree with the above posts. Like I said, this was a last hour of the season Hail Mary move on a bird that I had exhausted every trick in my bag on. Go big or Go home I said. The thing about Turkey hunting is it's fun, and a challenge. First you have to locate them, then you have to get them to come to you, using your best feminine yelps, cuts, purrs and any thing else you can think of. Had a few gals try this tactic on me in my younger days :chuckle: Then if you happen to hear a tom respond that is locked up, and also hear a hen with him, Mimic the hen as best as possible. Sound for sound and asap after she sounds off. She might be the dominant hen in the group. You might set up a "cat fight" which can bring her in, with the tom in tow, or others might show up to see what happens. The toms will generally come in silent. It's all a game and that is what makes it so fun. I am by no means a turkey expert but I like to try different things, I hunt as much as I can and try different things. Bird or not, I had fun playing the game, and that's all that matters.
I definitely need to keep practicing at the calls, I got pretty good at the yelps with a box call. Purr's I am still working on. So much to learn, but I am hooked this is a yearly thing for me now.
Post by: Big game archer on May 26, 2019, 03:07:13 PM