Roosts

[WEEZER]

Since I only apply for the very last Turkey hunt I only get limited responses to my calling. This makes scouting really important. each year I find roosts but never any Turkey in the morning. My question is; How close should I attempt to get to the roost? And how early?
Most of the time I kick up Grouse and deer on the way in. Will this spook them into breaking up early even if I'm heading in a couple houre before daybreak?
~Rick

[msiebers]

Weezer, I think your going to have a hard time calling in Turkeys, on that last season, no matter where you park yourself. Sure, it can be done.
I would put more faith in patterning a few Tom's, myself, and setting up where they are likley to walk through in the morning.
Also, if the birds are'nt there after the sun comes up, they probably wernt there at all. Turkeys can make a **** of a racket when they fly down. I dont think that you would miss hearing it from 100 or more yards away.
Did you put them to bed the night before, as they say?

[msiebers]

Speaking of "Roosts".
Quite often while fishing on the Big Manistee in the fall, we have seen several Turkeys roosting in the trees, over hanging the river at the "Top of the Mile Run". They would'nt even move while we motored our boat into position to anchor.
I often thought about going back in that swamp, in the spring, to try for those birds.
One of these days I'll have to put in for a Unit K permit and see if they're around. ;)

------------------
Mike

[WEEZER]

No I don't always put them to bed, however the few times I did they still weren't there!!! I know that the Late hunt will be a challenge, I ususally have to stalk them. Last year I made a four hour stalk on 4 of them and eneded up missing!!!!
Yes I know about the Turkeys in the Manistee area, especially near the Sawdust!!
I could never concentrate on hunting when there are fish in the river, that's why I apply for the Last hunt.

[dustbuster7]

Last year I hunted, I got within 100 yds of the roosts. On the last day of the season, I walked right under their roost and scared them off, luckily they came back after dawn, but were very very quiet, got within shotgun range, but behind trees.
This year I hope to take a tom with a bow.

[Dangler]

I've never lost a turkey overnight from the roost. Not sure how that happens. If you can roost a gobbler by himself, you're good to go. You don't have to fight other hens for him when he pitches out the next morning. If other hens are roosted in the area, set up between Tom and the ladies.