Turkey techniques in the jungle

[fairchaser]

Followed two gobbling turkeys into a swampy area with very thick understory and some standing water. Occasionally I would call lightly and they would gobble back but not cut me off. I kept moving a little closer as the visibility was nil. I would keep up with them from their gobbling but I never saw them. I got within about 60 yds but could only see about 20 yards. I was at the red zone and needed to move about 3 yds closer. If I sat down I'd only be able to see a few feet, so I was just gonna hide behind a tree and call and wait but when I took that last move I heard wings pop and it was over. I waited a bit and called but heard nothing. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they can't see you!

What should I have done?

 

[MR Yote]

Them swamp birds are about the hardest to hunt I ever had any dealings with. Good luck to ya next time.

 

[Setterman]

Be patient. Once you're inside 75 yards call sparingly and make them want to come find you

 

[Boll Weevil]

If you were calling, they were occasionally gobbling, and you kept getting closer as far as they were concerned everything was working exactly as Ma'Nature had intended. The hens typically go to the gobbler so by following them and calling, you may have simply reinforced what is already programmed in their walnut sized brains. Next time maybe try to get in tight before ever making a peep, call very little, and like Setterman says make them want to come find you.

 

[Roost 1]

Get ahead of them.....

 

[fairchaser]

Get ahead of them.....

In retrospect, I should have circled way out ahead and maybe read the terrain to figure out where they might leave and set up and called but there is so much vegetation it's not practical to even sit down. I thought I had enough cover to sneak but you need terrain too. Their view at 2 ft is different than mine at 6 feet. Plus they can see better. It's amazing how a shotgun blast next to their head with their buddy flopping doesn't affect them as much a a flicker of movement 60 yds away.

 

[Mike Belt]

Yep. Amazing some of the stuff that doesn't phase them while the most minor things seem to get their attention.

The only bottomland hunting around water I've done was along some of the sloughs that run through the Tulley bottoms. Those bottoms used to flood some springs and I've turkey hunted from a boat while trying to find dry land. I heard that under those conditions they may spend the entire spring in trees???

 

[Roost 1]

I've killed them wading in swamp water up to the their chest.... Those birds always had a unique smell to them as well... :shock:

 

[TheLBLman]

Sometimes turkeys can be more adaptive then we might think.
It's certainly plausible those turkeys were sitting in a tree rather than standing in water,
and that elevation could have made it easier to see an approaching human.

I've quite a few times over the years (both within and outside swamps) seen turkeys fly up for what appeared to simply get a better view. Also, until a few years ago, I'd never have imagined turkeys would adapt to utilizing such heavy cover (and not talking about for nesting, simply feeding & hanging out). And of course, those birds more accustomed to negotiating high water, like deer, don't seem to mind so much as their upland brethren.

 

[fairchaser]

Sometimes turkeys can be more adaptive then we might think.
It's certainly plausible those turkeys were sitting in a tree rather than standing in water,
and that elevation could have made it easier to see an approaching human.

I've quite a few times over the years (both within and outside swamps) seen turkeys fly up for what appeared to simply get a better view. Also, until a few years ago, I'd never have imagined turkeys would adapt to utilizing such heavy cover (and not talking about for nesting, simply feeding & hanging out). And of course, those birds more accustomed to negotiating high water, like deer, don't seem to mind so much as their upland brethren.

For sure and much more difficult to crawl GI Joe in ankle deep water. Patience is hard for the run and gunner like me but knowing when and where to move and when to sit and call is the magic sauce of a successful turkey hunter.

 

[megalomaniac]

In the thick stuff, Setterman is exactly right... make them come to you when inside 75 yards... and if it's that thick... they will (unless they are pansies... and no one wants to kill pansy birds)

 

[fairchaser]

In the thick stuff, Setterman is exactly right... make them come to you when inside 75 yards... and if it's that thick... they will (unless they are pansies... and no one wants to kill pansy birds)