| Author |
Message |
Turkey576
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 8:02 pm: | |
Been out for three days Sat, Tues, And Wed. The birds gobble, good real good.. I set up close about 55 to 75 yards from the birds. I do soft tree yelps and as the sun rises I do a fly down cackle and then I just do soft purrs and clucks with some yelps added. The birds like the sound, but will not budge once on the ground. They always head the opposite direction. This morning (wed) I tried to circle the birds, but as luck would have it they followed off some hens to another piece of land. As I returned to my original setup guess who was there, Old tommy boy showing off like a teenage boy for a smiling girl. He was in the field near my blind. I tried to call him closer for a shot and he tried to cicle me and became lost or spooked, whatever.. It never fails do what you think will work and it backfires. This weekend I will try again. Should I watch the field? or try to setup where the birds may go with out calling to them? Very weird????:]
Jon |
Piedmont gobbler
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 17, 2002 - 8:12 pm: | |
Hey Jon,
See my posts under "Not Hearin Em". I think they still have a large number of hens and just arent interested in flirting.
Mike |
GN
| | Posted on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 8:13 am: | |
If you are 55-70 yds from a bird in a tree you may be too close, particulary if they have a flat line of sight to your position(ie, you are not over a rdige edge). Also birds just have places wheer e they want to be first thing in the am; and if you aren ot sure you are sititng in one of those, then go to where one of them is. I think you also might want to sit a long time at where you make you r first calls...particularly if you are sure the bird is answering your call when he gobbles on the roost or on the ground. Either he will show up (maybe two hours later)or the silent one from the back or unknown places will show up. Persoanlly I cannot take my own advice on many days and find myself moving more than I should. Unless you have a specific targeted bird or area when you move I think you should rememebr GN's Rule #1: "never leave a gobling bird to look for one that isn't". Good luck. 2 cents. |
HODY
| | Posted on Thursday, April 18, 2002 - 9:11 am: | |
Well GN I broke your rule today. I was at a friends house and thought I was gonna have a story like Kight had (even though I was planning on calling only). We heard one from his deck and went that way when we got there, he never gobbled again and 2 in the bottom (the other way) sounded off. We waited a bit and then when no response from the upper bird, we went after the others even though we heard the hens. They really did not do a thing after they hit the ground, and really did not answer my calls. As we tried to circle them we set up on the edge of his property and a gobbler (totally different bird) answered. He answered everyhting but would not come on the right property. I had to get to work, so I had to leave him to gobble at the wind. I am hoping that next week all of the birds in this small plot will split a bit more and the hens will sit. It was cool to hear birds gobble from the deck, JUST WISH IT WAS MY HOUSE AND LAND!!!! |
hnt4bucks
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 4:25 pm: | |
Amen GN!! to kill a gobbler most of the time you have to be where he wants to go, at least general direction. Some toms already have there mind made up before light where the are going before the sun comes up. Part of the game of trying to figure out their next move although alot of the time they stay a step ahead. The best bet on these birds is to listen carefully where they go to the strut zone and be there before light. Sometimes quite a ways away from the roost tree but it's hard setting up far away when you know you can get closer but each bird is different just have to get intimate with him and learn his habits especially as the season progresses. Like GN I didn't take my own advice this am and had a bird pass at 40 yds out of site and go directly to his zone. Bet I will be there next time I hunt that bird probally monday. Good luck with this bird. |
mtnbuk
| | Posted on Friday, April 19, 2002 - 10:08 pm: | |
I've had similar results one morning earlier this week with birds responding then going on their merry way. Do spring birds do anything else early in the season?
Here's the plan for tomorrow... my hunting buddy & I will split and cover the two most likely routes away from the roost. One of us will call, they other won't (perhaps we'll flip a coin to see who does what).
If the birds respond the way they did the other morning, they'll move off toward the silent hunter or some other direction. The callers job is to keep in touch with the birds and try to keep them talkin'. The silent hunter will adjust his position and try to get in front of the birds for the shot. Above all, he should not call!
Knowledge of the land and damp leaves will help us with this tactic in the morning.
If, on the other hand, the old guy wants to cooperate, then the caller will have his chance.
mtnbuk |
rayferd t
| | Posted on Sunday, April 21, 2002 - 11:55 pm: | |
You may be getting to close to the birds. Try backing off a bit and i have found that sometimes you are better off not to call at all til he flies down . i have watched alot of birds go the other way gobbling myself, alot of times this is where patience pays off. sometimes after an hour or two you can call that bird back, if that dont work watch the way he goes when he leaves and try setting up there the next trip. |
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