Don't take this the wrong way, but Ive got to ask: If the population is really that low where you are, WHY ARE YOU HUNTING THEM? Its ultimately up to US as hunters, to decide what our resources can support. Im thankful to TWRA, NWTF, Jack Murray, and countless others for bringing the wild turkey back. Its up to us to help ensure they survive. If my areas were that low on birds, theres no way I would consider killing one and I wouldn't allow anybody else to hunt on the properties I control. Personally I would quit, hunt other areas, other states, etc... and hope my area isn't too far gone to rebound.
I tried moving to a rough mountainous area to escape pressure but it's worse here!
I cut my teeth hunting public birds, at Catoosa to be more specific. If you can consistently kill birds there, you can kill them ANYWHERE. What I learned was that just because he shuts up at your first call doesn't mean hes not coming. Id be willing to bet youre walking off leaving birds that you could kill with a little more patience. An HOUR became my standard time limit to stay put and stay alert after calling to a bird that I KNOW heard me. Youd be surprised at how many times an hour later youd hear the "phtttttt-uuummmmmm" of the one you thought was gone shows up looking for you.Since getting the bird in Indiana on Wednesday, I've hunted 3 different public lands in KY. I have found birds on them all but even during the week, people have been parked everywhere. I normally kill a high percentage of gobblers that I work, not here so far. Every one I've worked has shut up as soon as I make the first call. I've got within 60-75 yards of 4 different birds and can't get them to come check me out, just get ignored. I am not used to getting it handed to me like this
I've waited hours and hours, literally close to 3 hours on several of these. I've killed many public land birds all over, including many of the hard to kill public lands. These things just know the game it seems. Back at it one more morning tomorrow though. I thought I had one in the bag yesterday evening, it was actually gobbling great, then I saw a bear headed up the creek bottom toward it, total silence after that. I gave it til dark.
Because I LIVE to turkey hunt! Down here, turkeys are in pockets.. a few here, a few there. Find the right pocket that year and the hunting can be decent. I've just had a run of bad luck not stumbling into the right pocket. Or I've been around them and they haven't made a peep (birds here in general are much less vocal, and usually don't respond unless you are within 100y from them)
You rubbed them out, didn't you?
Hell yes I did!You rubbed them out, didn't you?
Snow in the first pic???
Yeah. I think those hunters have made their way north from TN. We have seen several Arkansas hunters this year on public ground in TN.
Yes, the strong cold front that pushed through Tuesday afternoon brought 2-3 hours of wet blowing snow as the temps plummeted, with some of the elevated snow lasting overnight. That pic was taken Wednesday morning.
Have to agree with these thoughts, at least regarding most turkey hunters, in that they tend to give up too quickly on a bird. Once I'm positive he responded to my calling, rarely am I going to look for a different bird.
