Frustrated

S

Setterman

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The lack of gobbling birds has left this Hunter frustrated. I've hunted 5 days in 5 different areas that are usually outstanding. I've basically heard one bird gobbling and he shut up at my first call, which isn't odd if he's a subordinate bird. The areas I hunt are huge tracts of mountainous terrain.

The daily rains remove any tracks so it seems like there are literally no birds around, other then random lobe hens which I'm calling in 2-3 every hunt that are very vocal and certainly seeking friends.

I'd be lying if I didn't have my concerns that 30" of snow staying on the ground until early March could have wiped them out, but logic says that's not possible with the heavy mast to keep them alive.

I'm sure I'm not alone, and for me I can handle it all except this, every day it's dead quiet and there's seemingly no way to beat a gobble out of one.

Maybe at the high elevations the birds are way way way behind, but anymore I'm just not sure. Sadly I'm headed out of town until Friday so I won't get the chance to try and turn things around until next Saturday. I just hope KY brings more enjoyable days
 
Right there with you. Been a tough week for me. Since Sunday gobbles have been few and far between. Just gonna keep going in hopes it turns around all the sudden


Joshua 24:15
"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."


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Don't know enough to give a expert opinion but I hunt mountain terrain also. Today they were nowhere near quite. They were fired up all morning in every direction. Hens were just as vocal. Worth every minute just listening to them this morning.
 
Ive hunted huge tracts of public mountainous terrain the last several hunts and I'm right there with you. It's been tough, at least the view is good.
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Sms, gorgeous looks like where I was this morning,

Poleaxe, you're a lot further south then me, and usually those birds are two weeks ahead of ours. Hopefully mine will be like that soon and yours will be quiet :poke:
 
Setterman":3mumz1eg said:
Sms, gorgeous looks like where I was this morning,

Poleaxe, you're a lot further south then me, and usually those birds are two weeks ahead of ours. Hopefully mine will be like that soon and yours will be quiet :poke:
Click to expand...
the view picture is looking right on the KY border so pretty far North and on the plateau edge.


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I'd be frustrated too. I can only get out on the weekends but have heard birds all 4 mornings including juvenile and killed one. Had one on fire this morning but he would not budge. Gobbled until I think I bumped him trying to sneak closer mid morning. Woods are starting to green up but still pretty open.
 
Your for sure not alone!! Nephew killed a silent bird opening morning and I heard one gobble Tuesday morning 12-15 times until he hit the ground and heard or seen nothing since.....My farm usually has 7-8 long beards hanging together and have seen NONE in the field. Been tough knowing I have used vacation all week.
 
Dang it must be bad if setterman can't get on em. I've at least called a few in, had two that were hot but there was a creek between us that I couldn't wade without getting busted (same day I missed one later), I've heard occasional gobbling but I too have noticed much less than usual. I don't even hunt early morning much due to work schedule, so I'm out mid day and sometimes till sunset and hear the occasional bird gobble randomly or fire up. I'd like it to pick up too, and sure hope it picks up for you.


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They all been tight lipped on north Cherokee after they fly down. Got lucky today and one gobbled good but that's it.
 
I'm right there with you. Heard two birds gobble a single time yesterday. I keep telling myself today is the day it turns around. Headed north to Campbell County as soon as the coffee quits brewing.
 
You echo the sentiments of a lot of hunters I have spoke with in the last week, basically little to no gobbling in numerous parts of the state. Hang in there and it will make a turn for the better soon, as you know all to well, and it will be game on at that point. Good luck in Kentucky.
 
Been the same for me. Thursday morning was my first gobble of the year. Heard three different birds each gobble one time. Yesterday morning they were all fired up. Seemed like there were 20 different gobblers. Only bad part was they were all across the river from me.
 
I have hunted 6 days so far. Gobble on the roost and if you don't kill him then it's basically no gobbling til lunch. I have got done gobbling at that time. Tough for sure. The dogwoods are bloomed out here and when that happens it gets tough.
 
When the birds are not gobbling it's time to get a tent blind and comfortable chair, about 8-10 decoys with at least one remote controlled motion one--and a good scoped gun so you can ambush them at 70+ yards...that should do it!
 
My complaint isn't a lack of birds.....but that our property is all or nothing....but the property next to us holds em....this morning we went to our blind, as I thought I saw a hen and a tom roost in that area, my son and I got up at 430 and were in the blind just a bit after 5am.....the woods were quiet....at sunrise we heard our first gobble.....they weren't close at all, but I figured we had a couple hours before church....they gobbled a fair amount, and I hoped that maybe, just maybe a 2 year old would come our way....nope, at flydown....blam, blam, blam, blam....blam, blam, blam, blam......30 minutes goes by, blam, blam, blam.....I was like what are they using....loudest gun I have ever heard.....and ironically the only people that are allowed on the property are inlaws that live in Nashville.....and I am pretty certain that they weren't down. I told my son, lets go to waffle house and have some breakfast.....I only get to hunt weekends since I am working in Virginia....patience I remind myself!!!
 
I checked earlier today and for the state total we're running 4000ish birds behind compared this time last year. You're not alone in having a rough start.

The last several days, I've seen numerous lone hens in or heading toward "nesty" looking areas later in the morning or early afternoon. This morning I had a bird at 80 yards that gobbled so much he likely damaged his vocal chords but just wouldn't leave his girls to go on to that big roost tree on the sky; definitely a big difference from several days ago. By next week hopefully his girls will have moved on.

I think it's gonna get better but it's been a weird start for sure.
 
My best spot looks to either be void of turkeys, or they just aren't gobbling, at all. Luckily my smaller spots are average or better than average with gobbling and amount of gobblers.

I hope our best place isn't part of the big decline. Really worried about it.

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Boll Weevil":33m3obv9 said:
I checked earlier today and for the state total we're running 4000ish birds behind compared this time last year.
Click to expand...
This years season started 6 calendar days later than last year. If you compare the first 9 full days of hunting statewide for both years, we are ~1700 birds, or 12% shy of last year's total at this point. I expect once the majority of hens start sitting, and we get some good stable weather, we'll make that difference up in no time.
 

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