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Simpleman.2

Simpleman.2

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I've had a pretty good year so far. Started off pretty good with a nice gobbler four days into the season but have went dry since. You guys can guess from the title what this threads about. After I killed that bird I've been able to get on several more birds but just haven't been able to seal the deal for various reasons. The biggest problem I've been having is the birds hanging up on me about 70 yards out. I've had to or three birds this season coming hard but they won't ever fully commit. My question is how do you guys go about calling in a bird once you've located him. I typically call once and locate the bird and then try to cut the distance some between us. I then get set up and Yelp a few times along with a few clucks. Once the gobbler responds and I can tell he's coming depending how close he is sometimes I never call again and just wait but other times I will continue to call. I've tried both the past few trips and I still keep getting the same outcome. So my question is what do you guys do when you have a gobbler closing in? Call? If so what calls? Or do you sit and wait? If so how long before attempting to call again? Any info is appreciated thanks.
 
It happens to all of us, so don't feel like the lone ranger. I rarely call if a bird is 75 and closing, and if I do, it's usually a light cluck and some scratching in the leaves. I typically setup where I can shoot when I see them. A lot of times I'll purposely setup where they have to top a ridge or high spot of sorts at 45 or so, thus ensuring they have to come within range to see where the calling is coming from. As you stated, get as close as you can and call sparingly and the end result will typically be more dead birds. Good luck rest of the season, and keep us posted.
 
Andy S.":12ctdqe1 said:
It happens to all of us, so don't feel like the lone ranger. I rarely call if a bird is 75 and closing, and if I do, it's usually a light cluck and some scratching in the leaves. I typically setup where I can shoot when I see them. A lot of times I'll purposely setup where they have to top a ridge or high spot of sorts at 45 or so, thus ensuring they have to come within range to see where the calling is coming from. As you stated, get as close as you can and call sparingly and the end result will typically be more dead birds. Good luck rest of the season, and keep us posted.
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I usually try to use the land to my advantage but I have shot myself in the foot a few times before. Could of killed a bird a few days ago but there was a creek between us and he wouldn't cross it for nothing...Never tried the leaves scratching thing but Its a very good idea. I'll have to give it a try. Thank you for the advice and I'll definitely keep everyone posted.
 
I have found that every turkey is a little different. There is no one thing to do to ensure he comes into range. I try to take his temperature a little. If he is very vocal than I'm a little more vocal. If he is quiet and passive than so am I. I tend to error on the side of quiet. You can always get more aggressive if needed. I find it very interesting the subtleties of different birds and how it can change on a given day or even an hour later. Makes hunting them so dang fun.
 
ADR":32ejc4ts said:
I have found that every turkey is a little different. There is no one thing to do to ensure he comes into range. I try to take his temperature a little. If he is very vocal than I'm a little more vocal. If he is quiet and passive than so am I. I tend to error on the side of quiet. You can always get more aggressive if needed. I find it very interesting the subtleties of different birds and how it can change on a given day or even an hour later. Makes hunting them so dang fun.
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Well said I agree. Maybe I'm just having some bad luck here lately. Guess that's why they call it hunting and not killing.
 
use the terrain, or thicket, whichever is more available to keep a visual barrier between you and the bird. Make him come close before he can ever see the ground where you are sitting. I like ridge tops where the bird will pop up 20 yards away from over the rise. And have killed quite a few in thick woods where video sucks, but calling them in is great.
 
There are no set rules in turkey hunting, so one thing isn't going to work everytime.

Typically, I try to set up where he will have to stick his head up over a hump or something that is within 40 yards. When I locate one. I'll try to get as close as I can without spooking him. When I set up, I call just a few times to let him know I'm there. I usually do not call again. Sometimes they will eventually walk your way. Sometimes they don't.
The most counter -productive thing you can do is to call to a bird that is hung up. All he will do, normally, is just stand there and gobble and stryt.

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Don't be afraid to move if terrain or cover will allow. Sometimes slightly re-positioning on a hung up bird is enough to get him off the dime.
 
I don't like moving torward a gobbling bird if I strike him with a turkey call. Imo if he gobbles to my yelps and then I cut the distance he's going to think the hen is coming to him. I usually will just go to a high spot or somewhere that turkeys frequent often and sit silently and listen. If I bird fires off I will make my move and be where I think I need to be before I ever make a call to him. Good luck!
 
TNTomtaker01":390kczzn said:
I don't like moving torward a gobbling bird if I strike him with a turkey call. Imo if he gobbles to my yelps and then I cut the distance he's going to think the hen is coming to him. I usually will just go to a high spot or somewhere that turkeys frequent often and sit silently and listen. If I bird fires off I will make my move and be where I think I need to be before I ever make a call to him. Good luck!
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I never thought about it this way. I often time will call from the truck and not even think about the fact that he may be thinking I'm a hen moving in. I might try to use a crow or owl hoot instead for now on. Thanks for the advice, Really good point here.
 
Are you putting a decoy out? In my experience putting a decoy out in the woods. The bird will get to where he can see the decoy and stop and gobble trying to get the hen to come the rest of the way. Not a fan of decoys in the woods.
 
I can help you all out tremendously with hung up birds. The key is using one hen, but make SURE that when you know where he is coming from it is facing in the opposite direction or in a direction in which he will be in range in order for him to think the hen can see him. If he thinks she can see him from 80 yards he may stop and strut for HOURS waiting for her to come to him. If he thinks he has to get closer for her to see him, then he will and you can get him into range that way. I use a single hen decoy in the woods along logging roads and make him come around the corner of a logging road in order to see the backside of the hen, once he see her he will be in shooting range shortly. Using this tactic I have called in toms with hens, but I called once to every three of his gobbles and he slowly made his way closer every time he gobbled. Play hard to get! Once they gobble back give him time and call sparingly once he is in view and can see the decoy let it do the work with the exception of a very soft yelp with a mouth call a few times if he starts to lose interest, but not much at all. Remember mature men don't like women that talk too much or are too easy - and neither do mature gobblers lol!
 
chebuck":2jui0j87 said:
Are you putting a decoy out? In my experience putting a decoy out in the woods. The bird will get to where he can see the decoy and stop and gobble trying to get the hen to come the rest of the way. Not a fan of decoys in the woods.
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No I don't use decoys
 
Bobyote":27wstel1 said:
I can help you all out tremendously with hung up birds. The key is using one hen, but make SURE that when you know where he is coming from it is facing in the opposite direction or in a direction in which he will be in range in order for him to think the hen can see him. If he thinks she can see him from 80 yards he may stop and strut for HOURS waiting for her to come to him. If he thinks he has to get closer for her to see him, then he will and you can get him into range that way. I use a single hen decoy in the woods along logging roads and make him come around the corner of a logging road in order to see the backside of the hen, once he see her he will be in shooting range shortly. Using this tactic I have called in toms with hens, but I called once to every three of his gobbles and he slowly made his way closer every time he gobbled. Play hard to get! Once they gobble back give him time and call sparingly once he is in view and can see the decoy let it do the work with the exception of a very soft yelp with a mouth call a few times if he starts to lose interest, but not much at all. Remember mature men don't like women that talk too much or are too easy - and neither do mature gobblers lol!
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I may have to give this a try. Thank you for the tip.
 
Also if I'm in the woods and I hear a gobble I look for the quickest place to set up where decoy placement is good and where the tom can't circle around except to my left- because I am a right handed shooter. I don't close the distance. If if he come straight into to me I've got him because I don't have to to turn to my right.. Also if they are hanging up and strutting - just wait it out, but if they won't come in head back to that strut zone before he gets there the next morning and call once let him gobble and come to where he was gonna go anyway.
 
Simpleman.2":2th35afa said:
TNTomtaker01":2th35afa said:
I don't like moving torward a gobbling bird if I strike him with a turkey call. Imo if he gobbles to my yelps and then I cut the distance he's going to think the hen is coming to him. I usually will just go to a high spot or somewhere that turkeys frequent often and sit silently and listen. If I bird fires off I will make my move and be where I think I need to be before I ever make a call to him. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I never thought about it this way. I often time will call from the truck and not even think about the fact that he may be thinking I'm a hen moving in. I might try to use a crow or owl hoot instead for now on. Thanks for the advice, Really good point here.
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Call from the truck????????
Surely you don't expect a gobbler to come to you if you are calling from your truck!
I have turkey hunted for many years and NEVER seen a hen drive a truck. :rotf:
 
Lol I say calling from the truck but in reality I'm referring to calling from high spots, typically ridges, that I walk out not far from the truck to locate a bird. I hunt the Cherokee national forest a lot and there's many logging roads on top of the steep hills and hollers.
 

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