Question About Moving Through the Woods

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jlmustain

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How quiet are you when you're moving through dry-leafed woods? If you estimate a bird is 100-150 yards away, do you consider the leaves if you move in a little more or just visibility?

It may actually be easier to ask what sounds don't spook them, in your experiences.
 
Twigs popping are the worst. Leaves might sound like another turkey to the gobbler... But within 100 yards your worst enemy might be the bird's eyes. Like REN said it depends on where the bird is. I always try to make the least sound possible, watching my step equally as much as I watch for the bird. Id rather walk in crunchy leaves than a creek bottom that is covered in a flooded sea of dry crackly sticks. Think of deer hunting, you might not hear that deer coming until it steps on a stick.

If I can set up within 100-150 yd of a gobbling bird, I'd pick the best tree and sit down. I like them in thick stuff because you can get away with more movement and they will have to come in closer to see the hen that is calling.
 
80 yards is my goal on the roost, on the ground add a 20 yards. If he gobbles at the sound of you and the leaves sit. I also hunt thicker woods, I am not z field edge guy. I actually crunch leaves while I call to sound like a moving hen. Hope this helps.
 
I try to be as quiet as possible without breaking sticks, but turkeys live in the woods, they are used to hearing other animals walk. I try to be quiet, but I am more focused on not being seen. If your around 100 yards from a gobbler in the woods, It is hard to move anyways.
 
Knowing the lay of the land, in my opinion here, is more important than anything, first and foremost. Take your time, pay attention to detail, and try not to make any over aggressive moves unless you are absolutely sure of what's going on around you. I always act like there is a turkey in front of me at all times in the woods, so I guess you could say I stalk, instead of walk.
 
I've "struck" more turkeys with the sound of me walking in dry leaves than I can count.
 
curdogtn said:
I've "struck" more turkeys with the sound of me walking in dry leaves than I can count.
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Yep. If the leaves are crunchy and I just have to get a little closer, I try to walk slow and sweep my feet, like a turkey scratching.
 
I try to be as quiet as I can when easing through the woods but once settled in I'll scratch the leave some to simulate a feeding turkey. Walking and making more sound may not be an issue but I prefer to be quieter. Never know when I may ease up and see something before I hear it. If I was being loud it may have already been on alert and spotted me first.
 
Its very hard to explain. I cover ground for lack of better words "light footed". Yes i make some noise but it nothing unnatural about it. I can cover ground fairly quickly and not alert things to my presence. My wife picked it up in a very short time but i have other people i know who will never get it. They walk through the woods just like they were wa;king down main street. That wont work! I walked up on several deer sunday morning within 40 yards that never knew i was there before i found the gobbler i killed.
 
Man years in the woods. When i first started i would try to walk and sound like wildlife. Concentrate on setting feet down softly. Move branches out of the way so they dont crack or make that noise when they rub across fabric. Pick your route. I look for things to step on to be quiet. If i am still hunting i move in intervals. 15 yards and watch. 10 yards and watch. Depends on terrain. If a bird is gobbling i go straight to where i think i need to be and sit down or alot of times i kneel down behind a tree. I dont fool around with a gobbling bird. I go to where i want to be. They expect to hear a hen and lots of time they will gobble at me walking. Most of the time that is a dead bird. You can get away with more things moving than most people think. Occasionally you may bump a bird but it will kill more birds than it scares off. i personally do better when im super aggressive. Hope this helps. JMO
 
muddyboots said:
Its very hard to explain. I cover ground for lack of better words "light footed". Yes i make some noise but it nothing unnatural about it. I can cover ground fairly quickly and not alert things to my presence. My wife picked it up in a very short time but i have other people i know who will never get it. They walk through the woods just like they were wa;king down main street. That wont work! I walked up on several deer sunday morning within 40 yards that never knew i was there before i found the gobbler i killed.
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I know what you mean. I have always been able to walk with a purpose yet leaving a light foot print. It is definitely a skill you just get over time
 
As far as breaking twigs, I don't. I carry that from still hunting deer (and a hefty amount of survival training from my former special forces dad, ha!). I still don't know what to do about how crunchy it can get when I'm rushing for a setup when I hear a gobbler. This afternoon I had several going nuts on me. I ended up having to leave because of time (had to get home), but I don't know whether I was too noisy or not. It was really thick, and in my rush to get where I needed to be, it was hard not be a little noisy. Oh, well. At least I know where I'll be going in the morning.
 
REN said:
muddyboots said:
Its very hard to explain. I cover ground for lack of better words "light footed". Yes i make some noise but it nothing unnatural about it. I can cover ground fairly quickly and not alert things to my presence. My wife picked it up in a very short time but i have other people i know who will never get it. They walk through the woods just like they were wa;king down main street. That wont work! I walked up on several deer sunday morning within 40 yards that never knew i was there before i found the gobbler i killed.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I have always been able to walk with a purpose yet leaving a light foot print. It is definitely a skill you just get over time
Click to expand...

Agree with both! This is how I travel both turkey hunting and squirrel hunting.
 
Walk stop look listen ,pick your next spot ,walk stop look listen. I was taught from at a young age to take 3 or 4 maybe a 1/2 doz steps at the most.Stop look around ,then listen and pick the next spot to walk to and the quietest path to it.Always try to stop by a tree or a bush something to break up your outline. Men are the only critters in the woods that walk with a steady rhythm. crunch crunch crunch. All other critters may make some noise but they are always stopping to look and listen. There is no steady rhythm. It is easier than it sounds.With a little practice it becomes 2nd nature.
 

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