| Author |
Message |
Newguy
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 7:19 pm: | |
I'm a new turkey hunter; this is my second spring season after moving from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. I'm in the Army and will head off for the 1st Armored Division and duty in Iraq shortly, so I'm spending as much time in the woods as possible. I hunt a lot at Hardware River WMA, near Scottsville, and usually hear gobblers off the roost in the early morning.
Anyway, I set up on a high ridgeline the other day. A RR track runs parallel to it down below, there's a treeline beyond it, a floodplain beyond that, another treeline, then the James River.
As dawn came, I heard at least two gobblers to my front, in the direction of the river, but I had no idea how far away they were. They probably gobbled 50 times over a 20 minute span. I could distinctly hear the entire gobble, not just a fragmentary "poodleloop."
I decided to start the next day's hunt along the river bottom, in the treeline just next to the river. Just like clockwork, the two gobblers fired off. However, they were roosted ACROSS the river. All totaled, presuming they were in the same place the day before, they had been about 500 yards away when I heard them from the ridgeline the previous morning.
I've never been hunting with a veteran turkey hunter before, so I don't have someone who can tell me whether a gobble is close or not. I know it's nearly impossible to describe sound level via email, but I've got an idea. If you're watching a hunting video, how high do you turn up the volume to simulate a gobbler at 100 yards, etc.?
Thanks for any advice y'all have. |
WB
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 8:12 pm: | |
Newguy,
There is no good answer to that question in my opinion.
But it depends on a lot of things. Like, wind direction, which way the bird is facing when he gobbles and terrain and so on. Judging the location and distance of a gobble only comes with time. Just be sure that when you move on them try not to cross open or flat areas without a good location on them. They will see you and you will be left wondering where did they go. Try to use terrain to your advantage when moving and calling to them. I. E. hollows, ridges and thickets. Don't call from open areas as the gobbler can see a long way and will hang up at the distance where he feals he should be able to see the "hen"
Good Luck
WB |
Big Bird
| | Posted on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 9:27 pm: | |
If I were ever to buy property specifically for turkey hunting, it would be directly across the river from a WMA. It seems every one I have hunted, the birds were on the other side. I agree with what WB said. I would suggest, if possible, getting a solid fix on the roost tree in the evening as a starting point. Take your crow call and owl hooter and really work to pin one down after fly up. Good luck and thanks for what you are doing! |
Bird Dog
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 3:39 pm: | |
Newguy, I'm familiar with that area and i think that wma gets hunted pretty hard (its good country though, but small) My advice is to knock on some doors in that area and see if you can get some private land to hunt. Lots of Turkey down there on both sides of the james. Good Luck! P S wouldn't hurt to wear that uniform when you go. also my prayers and best wishes on your deployment. |
Newguy
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 3:50 pm: | |
All, thanks for the advice and your support! TP |
gn
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 5:34 pm: | |
If the elevation is right and the wind is light you can hear birdsat least a mile..maybe more...young ears might hear farther. I lit up a bird with a shock gobble routine this morning that was 3/4 ofamile away form me(but 1000 feet below me)....took 45 minutes to get down where he was. |
Bird Dog
| | Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 5:38 pm: | |
Hey gn ,what mountains are you hunting in,generally of course? |
GN
| | Posted on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 6:15 pm: | |
Cumberland, Clinch, Bays, Powell etc |
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