5th morning...

[JRA]

...hunting this property...hunting the same bird.
For the 5th time I get set up as he gobbles 70+ times on the roost. He is roosted on the side of a ridge. I set up in the dark in a clump of big trees in the clearing closest to his roost. No way he sees me. I have witnessed him fly down to this clearing before and have seen him there another time. He is gobbling his head off and I am waiting quietly knowing this is it...he is going to fly down right in front of me.

But then he doesn't.

He pitches down in the opposite direction. Every. Single. Time. He flys down in the opposite direction and I can't get back on him before I have to leave. I'm starting to hate this bird.

 

[TW]

Did you call while he was on the roost?

 

[PalsPal]

Sounds like he went toward his hens.

I would have had to have given him a couple of subtle clucks.

Good luck with him!

 

[JRA]

Yeah I called a couple of times. Not very aggressive calling...more subtle and short. He was gobbling like crazy on the roost but the two times I let out calls he didn't gobble. I would think he heard me. Maybe he didn't like my calling. On he hit the ground he gobbled for a while and I gave pursuit. I could see him strutting about 200 yards away but he was across the property line. I couldn't get him to come my way.

 

[PalsPal]

Oh, he heard you. He was probably looking intently.

I hunted one once that stayed in the tree until he saw a hen coming to him. Hope this one isn't like that!

 

[TheRealSpurhunter]

I'm in the same boat. I hate these birds!!!

 

[TheRealSpurhunter]

I took vengeance yesterday!Im hoping I killed the one that was making me miserable though LOL

 

[Roost 1]

He had hens close by and when you call that insures he not coming your way...In my opinion you much better off to not call while he is still in tree, 50\50 chance he flies down your way......Good luck!!

 

[Setterman]

Yeah I called a couple of times. Not very aggressive calling...more subtle and short. He was gobbling like crazy on the roost but the two times I let out calls he didn't gobble. I would think he heard me. Maybe he didn't like my calling. On he hit the ground he gobbled for a while and I gave pursuit. I could see him strutting about 200 yards away but he was across the property line. I couldn't get him to come my way.

In those situations it's best to not call until he's on the ground usually. There's so many factors at play. If you call too early he may know there's no hens there yet, if you call too late his hens may be in front of him, your calling may not sound anything like his harem does and he knows you're an imposter.

If you know he's the dominant bird, the best way to kill him is to gobble at his gobbles from that location. At least that's what I'd try, but it's risky and may not work. Or wait until later in the day as the season winds down one day you'll catch him alone and he will die quickly.

 

[Dover_Mike]

He had hens close by and when you call that insures he not coming your way...In my opinion you much better off to not call while he is still in tree, 50\50 chance he flies down your way......Good luck!!

Agree!