Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: Cougeyes on May 13, 2008, 01:45:07 PM
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I was on some private propery a little bit ago and took a walk to locate some birds. Within the first couple minutes I called in two birds that would gobble every time I clucked at them, never did see them. They were consistently gobbling and coming closer, i think they saw me but i never saw them.
Do Turkeys get call shy, or i should say since they heard my call and probably saw me are they smart enough to place that call to a "treat" instead of a real bird? I only called for maybe 3 minutes then they just stopped because i had to shift my position. I wasn't hunting them just trying to get some pictures of them.
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Turkeys do get call shy. Hit one wrong note and they are usually history. Call too much and they are likely to get wise. Less is usually better when it comes to calling. They also have excellent eyesight and can pick up on the slightest movement.
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They do get call shy. In MO where I grew up usually by the second weekend you couldn't get a gobbler to answer a box call. I would approach those birds from a different direction and use a slightly different call, however it doesn't sound like you spooked them too bad. I'd still try your original call, maybe a little softer and from a different location and you should be fine. Also and I'm not trying to be critical of CP so please don't take this wrong, but "hit one wrong note and they are usually history" is not correct at all. The old timers used to tell folks that all the time, I think because they liked to add to the mystic of calling. Turkeys themselves mess up notes and calls all the time. Some of the worst calling I have ever heard came out of real hens mouth. You make a mistake, just call again, you'll be fine. He's definetly right on, less calling is usually better and they have some of the best eyesight around. Be patient and slow down. Lots of birds are now gobbling on the way in and shutting up those last 60 to 100 yards and circling around and sneaking in and looking things over. Much safer for them that away!! :)
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A couple of other points. They will get decoy shy as well. Turkeys that are in a group and have one killed will be much more wary of caling and dekes. If you shoot a turkey and they are in a group, sit tight until the others clear out. This wil help you if you go back to the same area to hunt your second bird. I know you are just taking pictures, but just in case you decide to start hunting in the future.
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I had a hen yelp her way up to me, sounded so bad I thought for sure it was some dufus practicing in the woods...nope, twas a hen!
Not sure if a wrong note would spook them off...
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Worst callers in the woods are real hens. While they certainly do get conditioned to calling, dekes, etc. I doubt those birds were traumatized by the event. Just 1 in my run ins w/ scarey things for them. They'll likely respond to a call again.
