Did some scouting

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RageBow

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Made it out this evening to check a few places for any signs of birds or to look for them roosting. A field I saw the most action in last year was completely baren at the time I was there. So I went to another spot I went to last year and heard some gobblers. As I rounded the corner I noticed a deer feeding. I ducked into the woods to try and get a quick picture and not disturb. As I moved to get a better angle I snapped the picture and realized there were a few hens feeding. I decided to go ahead and back out, knowing I would be back this Saturday morning. Good Lord willing. Hopefully I will bag my very first turkey this spring. Last year was my first time hunting turkey. This year I am changing things up. No blind or decoys most likely. Will be in the woods listening for the gobblers and setting up against trees once I locate them. Due mainly to not getting them to come in last year. Hopefully things turn out to be a great Easter weekend for my very first Turkey!
 
Guessing there is no competition this year? Not that I would enter. Just fun to watch sometimes. I saw the post about Grizzly being too busy and all that other stuff back in February. I know it can take a lot of work and people lose interest. I just like to see what others are taking home. Motivating to get in the woods and get the thrill of it all.
 
Best of luck, I remember my first, won't ever forget that moment. Wasn't too long ago either...you will get one. Oh and the contest is non existent this year, which is ok with me, too many people dropped out and the whole scoring deal was a hassle when you just killed a bird


Sent from the talk of tap
 
Thank you both. I don't honestly know too much about what I am doing. Plan to sneak in real early. Set up in the woods where I can see the field they were in and hopefully their path to it. No blind or decoys. Just plan to sit real still and wait. Any suggestions or tips?
 
Patience is key
don't call to much
calling is overrated for the most part
great set up always trumps calling
take it all in and learn from mistakes because your gonna make a ton along the way.
lastly - what worked today may not work tomorrow so don't get discouraged.
 
Thanks for all the info. I know this question probably does not have a straight forward answer. But in the morning coming off the roost. Do you tend to see more birds fly into the woods or fields first? Where should my main focus be?
 
Good luck to you. You got more experience than I do. This is my first season. I realized, rather than having a unproductive season I would rather better my chances and knowledge and take a skillful friend with me.
 
RageBow":o3f76tth said:
Thanks for all the info. I know this question probably does not have a straight forward answer. But in the morning coming off the roost. Do you tend to see more birds fly into the woods or fields first? Where should my main focus be?
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my personal opinion is tomorrow they will head to fields to dry out so I would lean toward fields tomorrow at least for the early morning part.
 
Thanks REN! And Poleaxe I agree I would go with someone if I knew someone. I stalk alot of these topics and absorb as much information as I can from those on here. I take it out in the woods and put it to the test. Last year I hunted for the first time. Sat in a blind. Had strutters come in a few hundred yards from other side of the field last year just about every time. Couldn't seal the deal. Lack of experience. Calling issues. Decoys. Whatever it may be. Hopefully things change this season. Either way I got hooked last year just watching them strut and gobble.
 
RageBow":2uj4n2ev said:
Smyrna, Murfreesboro. Mt. Juliet.
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then we are very close with me in Lebanon. Just hit me up sometime and id love to get a hunt in with you. If i can work it out with my landowner i have a spot or if you got places we can try there. If you ever can go during the week let me know as that is easiest for me .

615-306-3219 Jaymie
 
RageBow":3urdigru said:
Thanks for all the info. I know this question probably does not have a straight forward answer. But in the morning coming off the roost. Do you tend to see more birds fly into the woods or fields first? Where should my main focus be?
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it really depends. I usually hunt in the woods and they usually fly into the woods, but if they are roosted on a field edge they will probably fly down into the field. If they aren't roosted close to the field, then you should set up facing into the woods


Sent from the talk of tap
 
I found some in a field. Didn't get to watch them roost, or look for the closest game trail. Plan to get in close to the fields but hoping to catch them walking in the woods out yo the fields.
 
RageBow":3h4wv4ac said:
I found some in a field. Didn't get to watch them roost, or look for the closest game trail. Plan to get in close to the fields but hoping to catch them walking in the woods out yo the fields.
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they don't really follow "trails" although they may walk the same route each day (but they also might change every day too). They do like logging roads and obvious open trails, but that's no guarantee they will use them.

If you find fresh scratch, that's a much better sign to go on. When they scratch, they kick the leaves behind them and leave the bare dirt to pick up food. When you find a bunch of fresh scratch, look to see which side of the scratches the piled leaves generally face, and you can guess they probably were traveling the opposite way.


Sent from the talk of tap
 

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