Turkeys “safer at home”?

[fairchaser]

This is a strange turkey season. The first week was red hot but the last two weeks have been almost dead quiet. I know part of the answer is hunting pressure and part of the answer is that we removed a large number of birds from the flock.

But, Is it over? Or, are turkeys practicing "safer at home" quarantine? I hope they follow the same rules and open back up May 1. There is nothing more frustrating than getting up at 3 something and hearing nothing day after day.

 

[Wrangler95]

Gobbling has slowed a great deal here in Clay County also,just hoping now to hear one to work!!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Pressure is rough this year. I'm on public in Illinois. Usually there is hardly any pressure, this year though, it's getting hunted a lot.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I haven't heard a gobble since opening weekend. I have basically been the only one to hunt our place, so I know it isn't the pressure from their lack of gobbling. This is the 2nd year in a row it's been like this

 

[fairchaser]

I haven't heard a gobble since opening weekend. I have basically been the only one to hunt our place, so I know it isn't the pressure from their lack of gobbling. This is the 2nd year in a row it's been like this

Did it ever get any better in May or was it just as quiet? I'm wondering whether it's time to start crappie fishing instead.

 

[Gravey]

I've only been to the lease 3 times because it's an hour and a half away but have heard birds every time. Yesterday a buddy and I went. He never heard a bird and I had one on fire for 2 1/2 hours until he got too close and I killed him.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I haven't heard a gobble since opening weekend. I have basically been the only one to hunt our place, so I know it isn't the pressure from their lack of gobbling. This is the 2nd year in a row it's been like this

Did it ever get any better in May or was it just as quiet? I'm wondering whether it's time to start crappie fishing instead.

Honestly, I was so fed up by May, I quit hunting...so I don't know?? Like you said, it's very frustrating getting up numerous mornings to silence in the woods. I had 6 mornings last year with almost 700 acres to myself. Didn't hear a gobble and I saw one hen that entire time. Not sure why it's been like this lately

On a brighter note, the crappie fishing has been great. Been catching them since January. It's always a good change of pace.

 

['borohunter]

Seems consistent with what I've seen. A LOT more hunters in the woods on public property this year - not that I blame them. I'm out thee too

 

[muddyboots]

I haven't heard a gobble since opening weekend. I have basically been the only one to hunt our place, so I know it isn't the pressure from their lack of gobbling. This is the 2nd year in a row it's been like this

Did it ever get any better in May or was it just as quiet? I'm wondering whether it's time to start crappie fishing instead.

For me it just gets harder.

 

[Huntaholic]

Yep, its over. Might as well start fishing or something else.

 

[megalomaniac]

I have full confidence one will gobble if I can ever locate one here in MS. I'm getting tired, been at it hard since Mar 8th, plus 2 weeks of scouting prior. Havent heard a bird or cut a track in 3 weeks here. About 50 miles since my last MS bird. But I was after them till noon today.

Plus, late season is the time to kill the long spurred old warriors after hens are setting. I have noticed I don't get many good afternoon hunts in late season, but morning hunts are just as good... IF you can find a bird. But geez, they've been hammered this year and finding one is a total needle in a haystack even at the start of the season, much less the last few days.

I even set up and blind called sparingly for a couple hours, and I almost never do that. I'm tired, my family is tired, but Imma push through the last 5 days of south MS season

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[fairchaser]

I have full confidence one will gobble if I can ever locate one here in MS. I'm getting tired, been at it hard since Mar 8th, plus 2 weeks of scouting prior. Havent heard a bird or cut a track in 3 weeks here. About 50 miles since my last MS bird. But I was after them till noon today.

Plus, late season is the time to kill the long spurred old warriors after hens are setting. I have noticed I don't get many good afternoon hunts in late season, but morning hunts are just as good... IF you can find a bird. But geez, they've been hammered this year and finding one is a total needle in a haystack even at the start of the season, much less the last few days.

I even set up and blind called sparingly for a couple hours, and I almost never do that. I'm tired, my family is tired, but Imma push through the last 5 days of south MS season

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I friend of mine near Holly Springs has a turkey Mecca. Often you will hear 8-10 turkeys in every direction. He hasn't killed a turkey this year and said it's the worst season he's had in years. They just won't gobble.

 

[cowhunter71]

Over dude. Tell your friends. No offense, but it sounds like you would be better off sticking to deer hunting.

 

[fairchaser]

Over dude. Tell your friends. No offense, but it sounds like you would be better off sticking to deer hunting.

I probably would if I didn't like chasing them so much! I have to remind myself that I'm trying to outsmart a bird brain that is scared of everything and is fighting for its life every day. They should win most of the time. I'm glad it's difficult. I love the challenge but it can be frustrating at times. But, I will chase them until the bitter end. Then they can forget about us until next year. But, they won't!

 

[cowhunter71]

I reckon I underestimated you. Breeding season will last on into June. Stay hard at it, at least until May 17th Good luck, but you can still tell your buddies that it is "over"

 

[tn24]

 

[megalomaniac]

I have full confidence one will gobble if I can ever locate one here in MS. I'm getting tired, been at it hard since Mar 8th, plus 2 weeks of scouting prior. Havent heard a bird or cut a track in 3 weeks here. About 50 miles since my last MS bird. But I was after them till noon today.

Plus, late season is the time to kill the long spurred old warriors after hens are setting. I have noticed I don't get many good afternoon hunts in late season, but morning hunts are just as good... IF you can find a bird. But geez, they've been hammered this year and finding one is a total needle in a haystack even at the start of the season, much less the last few days.

I even set up and blind called sparingly for a couple hours, and I almost never do that. I'm tired, my family is tired, but Imma push through the last 5 days of south MS season

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I friend of mine near Holly Springs has a turkey Mecca. Often you will hear 8-10 turkeys in every direction. He hasn't killed a turkey this year and said it's the worst season he's had in years. They just won't gobble.

I've yet to hear a single roost gobble the entire MS season. But when I've stumbled into their bubble on the ground, they've gobbled great and worked in perfectly. But I don't expect one to answer me if he's more than 125yds away or so.

I just cut my first gobbler track in 3 weeks a few minutes ago. Made since last rain 2d ago. So I'm parking for a while at the edge of the fresh burn and the closest hardwood drain hoping he is still close.

On my TN farms, they gobbled great for me, no different from prior years. I would even get courtesy gobbles on the ground from Toms 500y away that had hens.

In unhunted populations, right now is actually the peak of gobbling activity. Ofc, hunting pressure is a huge factor in shutting them up. My friend has a tom on his farm he won't hunt, since he's the only male in the area. He is still gobbling like crazy every day, even though all his hens are setting.

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[JCDEERMAN]

700 acres to myself again this morning. Not a gobble and not a sighting. Covered close to 3 miles :shock:

 

[megalomaniac]

Lol, I jinxed myself. I followed the fresh tracks, stopping and calling lightly every 200 yards for 15 min. After 1/3 mile, I hit a cluster of tracks in a drain. Again called softly, waited 15 min, then followed the tracks. When I came up out of the drain, there was a tom at 50 yards with cherry red wattles and white face coming straight to me. I hit the ground and rolled to the side, clucked a couple times hoping he didn't get a full look, but when I peeked back on the fire lane, he was gone. I looped around the area and set up and called softly for an hour, but couldn't get him to strike. Oh well, at least I laid eyes on a male bird for the first time this season on my lease (couldn't even tell if he was a gobbler or just a jake). I have some time Wed afternoon to get back on him, hope hes not just passing through.

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