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Most time calling a bird into range?

ROVERBOY

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I was thinking Today about a bird I called in several years ago, and it took about 3 hours. He came in to about 75 yards, and then went under the hill, where I couldn't see him. Then moved back behind me about 150 yards on a point, right before it drops off onto a creek bottom. He gobbled his head off for at least an hour. Wouldn't move my way. I hardly called at all. I shut up for over an hour. Around 9:15, he gobbled and was about 50 yards away. I couldn't see him and was pretty sure he couldn't see me. I got up and ran from tree to tree. And shot him standing behind a poplar at 35 yards. Over 3 hours....... I don't think it was his first rodeo. Has anybody else had a frustrating bird like that?
 
Frustrated? Many times! One I remember successfully working a long time was the one we call the Rainy Day Turkey. Was camping with some friends. Light rain so they decided to sleep in. I told them to expect me back with a bird. Bird responded to a call about 8 am, still on the roost. Since it was also very foggy, and thick, and steep, I set up where I was. I'm guessing he was about 2-300 yards away. Took about 2 hours, but he came in. And I rode back to camp revving the ATV engine so they would know I was coming. :D:D

The longest one I remember working, unsuccessfully, was the 11 o'clock bird. On two separate days, I was walking out down an ATV trail about 11 o'clock and heard a bird gobble in the same place. Next time, I was where he had been gobbling at 9 o'clock. Sure enough, about 11, he comes strutting and gobbling. Up the hill, down the hill. Across the hill. Several times, I got a glimpse of him. To make a long story short, I'd finally had enough at 5 pm. I stood up, took 2 steps, and away he went! Seems like he was always about 100-150 yards away and just out of sight the entire time. That was early in my turkey hunting career. I've learned a few things the last 25 years. I think I could kill that bird today! 🤔🤔
 
I heard lots of times how hunters will talk about how dumb turkeys are. Jakes and 2 year olds maybe. But, when one gets 3 years old or older, they sometimes get smart and cautious.
 
I have fooled with birds for days on end sometimes. Tried to get my dad a bird a few years ago spent 3 days on a bird killed it this 4th day afternoon hunt in 12 minutes. It's funny how hard they can be and sometimes when things line up how easy they can be to kill at the same time.
 
My longest by far is still clear in my memory. I was up on a ridge one morning and heard one gobbling. I moved over to his ridge up above him about 9:00. I worked him all day and finally rolled him a few minutes after five. He was on a neighbors private all that time, gobbling off and on and finally came to me when I was about to give up. Sore butt that day. But victorious.
 
I have sat from daylight to dark on the same bird many many times, killed a bird two years ago i setup on at daylight and killed him at 6:30 pm never moved once all day cause he never left the same little 7 acre field so i could move on him.
 
I have sat from daylight to dark on the same bird many many times, killed a bird two years ago i setup on at daylight and killed him at 6:30 pm never moved once all day cause he never left the same little 7 acre field so i could move on him.
Are you saying you sat in the same spot all day without moving? Didn't even stand up to piss? 😂
 
have had more then a few that started while the bird was on the limb and I ended up getting him at 9-10am.

also to clear up any confusion. Turkeys are NOT smart lol, got a brain the size of a peanut but man do they get weary and leary as they get older. Granted with everything in the woods is trying to kill you I get it.
 
The first bird I ever killed was probably my longest sit. It was the last day of the LBL non-quota season. He answered my call at 8:05 in the morning. I sat there all morning and listened to him sporadically gobble and answer my call with zero excitement. I finally saw him walking up the hollow with his beard dragging the ground and pulled the trigger on him at 11:30.

He had an 11+" beard and 1.75" spur (other was 1.5). He was strutted out and only weighed 19# on the scale. I suspect he had been called to a bunch in his obviously long life. At the time, I really didn't realize just how special he was, just knew he was my first after trying for one for a while.
 

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