Reemus Buckshot
Well-Known Member
Opening morning bird were gobbling everywhere. I called in a bird from over 400yds away and my buddy missed a 55yd shot on the bird. I have hunted four times since then and since opening day...gobbles and birds have been few and far between.
I am a beginner. I have deer hunted all my life, but just started turkey hunting last year and feel like a failure as a turkey hunter. I cannot get birds to respond to my slate call for the most part. It's the only call am comfortable with. My normal strategy is wait for the first few gobbles I hear, try to get withing 200yds of them, and let out a few clucks and series of yelps. To me my calling doesn't sound bad, but besides opening morning, I have yet to have a bird respond.
I am hoping it is due to the massive amount of hens I saw in the area during deer season. Maybe they are all just henned up. Besides almost getting eaten alive by mosquitos today, when I drove out, I saw a strutter and a hen in a field on our lease. It was on a part of the property I rarely hunt near a river. It drove me crazy. I don't know what to do next. I just need some help in general as far as strategies on closing the distance on henned up birds and calling strategies. Anything will help from the experienced.
One more thing. How do your strategies change throughout different times of the day? I usually make my first call around 6:45am. Birds typically start gobbling around 6:30. A buddy of mine told me not call while they are on the roost or they will stay up there and gobble. I usually hunt to around 10am. How do your strategies change?
I am a beginner. I have deer hunted all my life, but just started turkey hunting last year and feel like a failure as a turkey hunter. I cannot get birds to respond to my slate call for the most part. It's the only call am comfortable with. My normal strategy is wait for the first few gobbles I hear, try to get withing 200yds of them, and let out a few clucks and series of yelps. To me my calling doesn't sound bad, but besides opening morning, I have yet to have a bird respond.
I am hoping it is due to the massive amount of hens I saw in the area during deer season. Maybe they are all just henned up. Besides almost getting eaten alive by mosquitos today, when I drove out, I saw a strutter and a hen in a field on our lease. It was on a part of the property I rarely hunt near a river. It drove me crazy. I don't know what to do next. I just need some help in general as far as strategies on closing the distance on henned up birds and calling strategies. Anything will help from the experienced.
One more thing. How do your strategies change throughout different times of the day? I usually make my first call around 6:45am. Birds typically start gobbling around 6:30. A buddy of mine told me not call while they are on the roost or they will stay up there and gobble. I usually hunt to around 10am. How do your strategies change?
