Fields vs Woods Hunting?

[MidTennFisher]

Do any of you post up in the woods and try to pick one off as he's on the way to an open field right after he flies down?

The reason I'm asking is during the Summer on some of my kayak fishing trips before sunrise on JPP I'd see birds fly down from the roost along the edge of the lake. I remember where they were and I think next weekend I'm going to go scout in the morning to see if they're still there. I'm guessing they fly down and head to the nearby fields. Those fields are not part of the WMA according to the TWRA GIS maps so I'd have to intercept them along the way.

I'm new to turkey hunting and have not been successful yet. I tried really hard last season (first time trying) but never saw one other than ones I spooked while moving spots. I was hunting around field edges and scouted beforehand finding tracks and hearing gobbles. Any scouting and setting up advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Setterman]

It all depends on how far they roost from the fields to be honest. If they roost right on them they'll usually fly down in them, if they roost back in the woods they'll gather in the woods and then head to the field. The latter are much easier to kill especially if you get tight early and convince the gobblers to fly down first. If that happens you've got a dead bird. If the hens come down first it can spell trouble but you can still have success

 

[Mike Belt]

I agree with Setterman but I've found that it also depends on the terrain surrounding fields. If there are timbered ridges surrounding them they're more apt to fly straight off the roost into the fields. If the terrain is flat they may drop into the timber first.

I almost always initially set up in the timber. That's where the birds begin their day so I want to be there to greet them. I wish there was a way to get the gobblers off the roost first but usually it's the hens dropping down first and then game on between you and them for the gobblers attention.

 

[Deerbuster1996]

It all depends on how far they roost from the fields to be honest. If they roost right on them they'll usually fly down in them, if they roost back in the woods they'll gather in the woods and then head to the field. The latter are much easier to kill especially if you get tight early and convince the gobblers to fly down first. If that happens you've got a dead bird. If the hens come down first it can spell trouble but you can still have success

Agreed

 

[Gravey]

There are no birds on JPP. When turkey season gets here they leave until late May.

Been a while since I've hunted it but live basically on top of it. The birds there seem to get call shy pretty quick. Setterman gave you pretty solid advice.

 

[catman529]

They might go straight to the fields or they might stay in the woods all day. Fields are good but they aren't a must for turkey hunting. Just scout the land so you know what it's like, so you can use the terrain to your advantage when setting up on a bird. Don't bother trying to intercept a bird unless you've been observing a pattern on particular gobbler. A lonely tom can be anywhere looking for love, he could just be standing there in the woods and gobble at a crow and then you have something to set up and try to call in.


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[deerhunter10]

It all depends on how far they roost from the fields to be honest. If they roost right on them they'll usually fly down in them, if they roost back in the woods they'll gather in the woods and then head to the field. The latter are much easier to kill especially if you get tight early and convince the gobblers to fly down first. If that happens you've got a dead bird. If the hens come down first it can spell trouble but you can still have success

^^ this

 

[hawglips]

Don't think too much. Keep it simple. Locate a turkey, set up on him, and call him in.