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New to turkey hunting

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bowhunter16

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I am new in to turkey hunting but seen 5 Toms today while riding fourwheelers.The thing is this place has little hunting pressure,the question is will those birds still be running the same general area? It was up in the evening so maybe they was going to roost and if so you think they will be roosting in the same area come spring? Thanks
 
I would figure ther somewhat local birds, they wander around but if it was late in the evenin they mite be makin ther way to ther favorite sleepin quarters, they usualy have a paticular erea they roost.

Just keep your eye's (and ears) peeled, just dont hasssle'm to much or they mite change territory.
 
In a month or so those toms will break up when it is time to breed. They will be roaming looking for a hot hens to breed and competing for territory. If there is not alot of presure on the land they will probably stay close in that area.

I am not a pro turkey hunter by any means and I will try to give you some advice I have learned over the years by trail and error. Turkey hunting is similar to hunting elk, where as you are calling to locate your bird and calling to bring your bird into range. First if you try to hunt turkey like you do deer, you will lose interest very quick. Sure, you can go to an area with turkey and sit up on a food plot and call and put out decoys and hope they come, but those are long boring days.

Second you do not have to be an expert caller to bag a turkey. The easiest call to start with is a good box call, next try a slate call and last try a mouth call. I have taken about 18 long beards over the years and I primarily use a slate call and box call.

Third be very patient and persistant. If you have one gobbling and he shuts up and he does not appear very quick, be patient because many times he is there. I can not tell you how many gobblers I lost when I first started because I was not patient and would be in a situation like that and stand up after 10 or 15 minutes and he was right there and flew off.

Fourth is a good set up. I find the best set ups are in open areas like powerlines, gas lines, open hardwoods, open pines and short cut fields. Remeber don't hunt them like deer, stay away from thick cover.

I am not a very good writer or typer, so I hope these few tips help you out this spring.
 
Hard to tell
I had 5 LBs on my place last year all winter
3 of the 5 had leg bands and wing tags
The tagged/banded birds left about 3 weeks before season
 
Depends on what is around there, depends on food sources in the spring where hens will be spending their time, depends on nearby nesting cover etc etc. I see you are from Campbell Cty, more then likely you were in Mtns, and if that is the case then be prepared for birds which are very nomadic.
 
They should still be in the general area as long as the food source holds out. They will move to the food. Also, Like tnhunter said, the toms bachelor groups will bust up and begin their search for love. This means you could loose some toms, but it also means that toms from other areas will come to your place. Get ready for the ride of your life. Turkey hunting is a blast.
 
They'll be within a few miles :D

Seriously they can travel a long ways when breeding starts so each day will be different,just because he wasn't there one day doesn't mean he won't be there the next.
 
I'd keep an eye on them, but leave them be, best as possible. They should be firing up any day now, so start listening in the mornings and late afternoons. A LOT is going to change between now and season. Turkeys have wintering grounds and breeding grounds. More times than not, some, if not all, will move to another farm or area during the last week of March, but there should still be a few, or maybe even alot more around your farm, during season. It really all depends on how these particular birds relate to your farm. Whatever you do....don't call at them before season.

.....there will be days when the birds just don't and won't gobble...and setting up in fields that you know they use can be extremely effective on those days.
 

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