Turkey season so far...

[tenderfoot]

First, I should state up front, I am JUST learning and don't have access to any sort of mentor (which is why I'm reading/posting here). Last minute evening scouting last Sunday to make final arrangements...I find freshly spent 3" 2 oz. magnums on the way to my 1st and 2nd "stand" areas (struting zones). I decided to hunt my plan anyway-saw plenty of deer and within solid bow range at that (paced of later at 15 yards-they browsed around a good 40 minutes). But no turkeys. I mixed soft yelps/putts, scaling up to vocal yelping and cutting-nothing. No responses to shocking. I did manage to alert a flock feding through a pasture around 11:00 am-incredible, they busted me at 150 yards and I was 10 yards inside heavy pine cover, trying to neak around a forested ridge, downwind from the flock. Talk about a disappearing act! The rest of opening day was fruitless. Second day, I did roost a gobbler but bungled the set-up and he flew of to parts unknown. They were/are silent, though. I did manage to shock a gobble late am, slogged around/through a good size swamp to long ridge area, sneaked across til I came to what "felt" like a good spot, set up dekes and comenced to intermittent calling-feeding rustling noises mixed with kee-kees, soft putts, low key clucks...had a flock of 3 hens and one tom pass near, then-STOP! Then they actually backed up, skirted my setup, and snuck away. I think I overcalled and I didn't set up in the right way-should have posted on the higher knoll...thunder and lightning now at 3:30-4:00 am-reluctant to go poking around with a 7 1/2 pound piece of metal in my hand...thinking I'll go out this afternoon, see if I can catch 'em heading back to roosts...toms sem to be shacked up w/ hens...

[David G Duncan]

Tenderfoot

This was my first year hunting turkey also. Sounds like you have all the right things going, except the weather.

I got lucky and bagged a nice tom on opening day up north and my wife shot hers on the second day. Now, I know why having a partner is so effective for calling in a tom. And using decoys sure seemed to be worth their cost and effort. Now before next year all I need to do is to get my wife trained to do some calling for me.

Good luck and I hope you have some good water proof camo.

------------------
Trapper Dave

[TGehrs]

It would be pretty damp out there this morning. It is funny in that up to a couple
days before the opener I was seeing turkeys
most every day but this past week have not
seen a thing. They have definately moved to
a different location. For several years I
have observed this same pattern and am curious what brings it on because these gobblers are not hunted. Possibly the hens
mave to a more suitable nesting area and the
gobblers just follow. Any comments?
Tom
Ps Sorry Trout, the brother-in-law doesn't
allow any hunting on his property.

[budworks]

Originally posted by tenderfoot:
First, I should state up front, I am JUST learning and don't have access to any sort of mentor (which is why I'm reading/posting here). Last minute evening scouting last Sunday to make final arrangements...I find freshly spent 3" 2 oz. magnums on the way to my 1st and 2nd "stand" areas (struting zones). I decided to hunt my plan anyway-saw plenty of deer and within solid bow range at that (paced of later at 15 yards-they browsed around a good 40 minutes). But no turkeys. I mixed soft yelps/putts, scaling up to vocal yelping and cutting-nothing. No responses to shocking. I did manage to alert a flock feding through a pasture around 11:00 am-incredible, they busted me at 150 yards and I was 10 yards inside heavy pine cover, trying to neak around a forested ridge, downwind from the flock. Talk about a disappearing act! The rest of opening day was fruitless. Second day, I did roost a gobbler but bungled the set-up and he flew of to parts unknown. They were/are silent, though. I did manage to shock a gobble late am, slogged around/through a good size swamp to long ridge area, sneaked across til I came to what "felt" like a good spot, set up dekes and comenced to intermittent calling-feeding rustling noises mixed with kee-kees, soft putts, low key clucks...had a flock of 3 hens and one tom pass near, then-STOP! Then they actually backed up, skirted my setup, and snuck away. I think I overcalled and I didn't set up in the right way-should have posted on the higher knoll...thunder and lightning now at 3:30-4:00 am-reluctant to go poking around with a 7 1/2 pound piece of metal in my hand...thinking I'll go out this afternoon, see if I can catch 'em heading back to roosts...toms sem to be shacked up w/ hens...
turkey season started slow for me but ended fast. monday was spent locating birds via the two track and calling out the window. passed on 4 jakes that were all business. tuesday started with better weather and small gobbling. i called in three little one and passed again. went road hunting again and saw some tom courted a hen. i stalked him and shot him at 30 yards. 20#, 10" beard and 1" spurs. this is the second bird i stalked. first was a 12" beard and 1 and 1/4" spurs. these birds are fast but it can be done if you have ridges and fields to lay wait and outsmart. good luck late hunters you'll have better weather than we did!


------------------