The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming ...

[PalsPal]

and his either showing or the next gobble can be EXCRUCIATING!

I really, really wish I could hear drumming like a lot of you guys. I have heard it, but maybe only 3-4 times and they were close.

Anyway, I was on a high point, and he was over a lip (which was 40 yards from me) and way below me. He double gobbled to my call, and then one more time which let me know he was coming. The woods were very open, but I had a decent setup and had kind of laid back to lower my profile.

The next few minutes seemed like an eternity. I constantly scanned left and right, left and right, repeat. After I could stand it no longer, the little devil on my left shoulder convinced me to call again, and this time I'm glad I listened, because he had moved from my 12:00 to about 2:00, still just over the lip. I slid my hiney to the right and had the barrel pointed to where I just knew his head would appear any minute. It didn't.

I still scanned back and forth. Finally, after another eternity, I decided to scratch the leaves with my foot. I was immediately greeted with a half putt from my, now, 3:00. I glanced hard right, and he's standing there at about 40 yards. How I didn't hear him walking in the leaves, I'll never know.

He continued his half putting and started descending the hill, but slowly. I started cutting at him, and .... he gobbled :shock: ! But, he kept descending the hill, and even though I softened my calling he walked off :bash: !

Oh well, it was fun!

 

[tree_ghost]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

Same thing happened to me last week...and so goes the game and my increased lust for victory...Each situation is different and each bird has his own personality. I'm still trying to figure out how to categorize and approach each lol


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[Setterman]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

Honestly that right there is what makes this sport the best. It's exhausting and nerve wracking but amazingly exciting. It's why I rail so hard in part on the tent hunting decoy crowd. There's zero comparison.

Sorry it didn't work out though. I tell folks to listen for the spit if they can't hear drumming. It's louder and more noticeable. Although late season it seems birds strut less when they commit

 

[megalomaniac]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

Great hunt. It's cheating a bit, but I probably would have stood up and taken his head off over that lip. But I can't tell you how many times I've been picked off in the same situation. They are experts when it comes to just barely peeking their heads over a rise keeping the rest of their body concealed. And it's hard to find that tiny head when it isn't moving.

I bet you didn't spook him too bad since he just eased off and didn't completely bust out of there. Switch calls, and go back after him in a couple hours. He's ripe for the picking.

 

[bigasports]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

Sounds like a exciting hunt. It's hard to beat that kind of action.

 

[catman529]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

I love it when they answer quick and then go quiet. Often means he's headed your way


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[Andy S.]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

.......because he had moved from my 12:00 to about 2:00, still just over the lip.

........I was immediately greeted with a half putt from my, now, 3:00. I glanced hard right......

I assume you are right handed, which makes it hard for you to "turn" or "swing" right at the moment of truth. After a few of these instances as you describe happening to me years ago, with similar outcomes as you describe, I now always over compensate for where I think he will appear. I am right handed so I "swing" left way easier and smoother than I do right, so if I think he will appear at 12 noon, I always start with my barrel pointed at 1PM, due to the fact I can swing back left easier and smoother than right. This trick has helped me on several over the years that have tried to skirt me on my bad side (right hand side since I shoot right handed). My .02

 

[Boll Weevil]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

^ Andy's spot-on.

I rarely RARELY have birds walk right up my gun barrel; they're almost always coming past me looking for the hen. Without even thinking about it, I set up with my feet/knees pointed as much as 45 degrees to the right of a gobbling bird (I'm right-handed ).

Good luck on that dude next time!

 

[PalsPal]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

^I set up with my feet/knees pointed as much as 45 degrees to the right of a gobbling bird (I'm right-handed ).

I had readjusted to about 45 degrees, but just not enough. The only thing I can figure is he circled below me way right, came up to my level, and then back toward me. That's the only scenario I can comprehend how I didn't hear him walking in the the few leaves that are on that ridge top. There was no wind. Of course, he could have been tip-toeing !

 

[Boll Weevil]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

...and since he has 3 toes that makes him 3 times as quiet! They can be sneaky for sure but let us know when you put him the shade.

 

[elknturkey]

Re: The time between the gobble he lets you know he's coming

.......because he had moved from my 12:00 to about 2:00, still just over the lip.

........I was immediately greeted with a half putt from my, now, 3:00. I glanced hard right......

I assume you are right handed, which makes it hard for you to "turn" or "swing" right at the moment of truth. After a few of these instances as you describe happening to me years ago, with similar outcomes as you describe, I now always over compensate for where I think he will appear. I am right handed so I "swing" left way easier and smoother than I do right, so if I think he will appear at 12 noon, I always start with my barrel pointed at 1PM, due to the fact I can swing back left easier and smoother than right. This trick has helped me on several over the years that have tried to skirt me on my bad side (right hand side since I shoot right handed). My .02

This but I have my body pointed more towards 2 o'clock and gun pointed about 12 (where I think he'll pop up). Killed one this morning that started at 10 o'clock but before I could a get a shot I was turned as far right as I could go and that was with me already starting out with my body turned further right than I was anticipating.