Help us with this gobbler!

[jonsimoneau]

I've got some good turkey tales to tell about today but I'm in a hurry so I'll wait till tomorrow for that. But here is the situation we need help with. We know where a bird roosts routinely. We went in this morning and were setup about a hundred yards from his tree. He was the first bird to start gobbling. He pitched down with a hen which was not good news. But he did see our decoys. Dave smith half strut jake and a hen. He would not come in. I know it's mostly because he was with a hen. I tried calling his hen in but was unsuccessful. He stayed with this hen all day. She did not go to nest. So what should we do in the morning other than hope he is not with the hen?  I was thinking setup in a slightly different location and set the decoys up with the jake breeding the hen to try and make him jealous. We think the bird is a two year old. Any other ideas?  I thought about just using a hen decoy only but figured that would probably not work since he is already with a hen.

[Longspur77]

I would go set up the way he traveled to this morning with the jake set up breeding. He has got to have a strut zone. Find that and you got a shot especially up in morning. He will eventually leave hen, we hope   .keep us posted

[Dirtybird]

I would go the spring jealousy route as well.  It has worked in the past on tough gobblers for me.  I'm working one in almost the same scenario right now.  I won't give him another go until thursday.  Good luck on your bird.

[shortstroke 91]

Try the old gobble, make him think there's another tom out there trying to lure his girlfriend away.

[ChuckC]

Last resort. .  Set up in his path and let him work past you.  Maybe even set up your decoys 50 or more yards beyond you (past you, not that far out in the field.)
ChuckC

[KSdan]

Scare the crap out of him after he is with his hen.  Get them to separate.  Watch where he goes, set up in that area and start lost hen calling.  

If all else fails. . . lots of tick dope for crawling through the jungle, some #6s, and the best turkey call in the woods- BAWAAM!    

[jonsimoneau]

I just got done setting up the blind under the cover of darkness where he walked through yesterday. Gonna go with the jake breeding the hen scenario. Hopefully the bearded hen he was with this morning found a new boyfriend this afternoon!   Ksdan. I like your idea too!  Except for the whole shotgun thing. What fun would that be?  Just messing with ya. Thanks for the advice guys.

[Charles Sorrells]

Consider this...since it is late in the season it is obvious that most hens are on the nest and the fact that the one you are dealing with is not on the nest could mean she is a Jenny (Jake equivalent).  This means she is going to shy from older sounding adult hens if they are off the nest they will be territorial. In calling raspy, as we all tend to do imitating older receptive hens. The Tom you are calling is likely had his tail fan ruffled by another gobbler too by this time.

Try a single hen decoy set-up and then Kee-Kee to him/them and maybe a few clucks.  What you are telling them is that one - you are alone, two - you are young and not a threat, three - appealing to their social nature and not the breeding nature to threaten the young hen.  He will respond to either as he has interests in both.

Might sound like a bit of an involved explanation, but I have done this for years and could fill a truck with birds killed this way.  If you try this let us know if it works.

Good hunting!

[meathead]

Go fishing in the morning.  Slip back into the area about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and see if you can catch him without a hen.  Should be more willing to come to a call.

[Ray Hammond]

I agree with Charles

The afternoon roost idea is also a possibility except that if you somehow mess up you might cause him to select a new roost tree

Good luck!

[overbo]

Call VERY aggressively.Cackle as hard and fast as you can at fly down.Then follow quickly w/ very aggressive cuts.I like a box call because of it's pitch and volume.Don't use the same call you have been using.
gobble,gobble

[Stone Knife]

Go in early ( in the pitch black while he is still  sleeping) and set up close in the direction that he heads most of the time hen decoy and only cluck a few times.

[J. Holden]

I know a trick my land manager shared with me.  Keep in mind he's from Nebraska.  He said when it's the llth hour for him and nothing else has worked he takes as many cow pies as he can find and rubs 'em all over his face and neck.  He says it works every time, except the time I tried it.  Hmmm...

Seriously though, I would try and set up in between where they flew down and where they left to yesterday.  No decoys and no calling.  It's worked for me in the past.  Good luck and keep us posted.

-Jeremy  

[jonsimoneau]

Thanks guys. We got in on him on the roost. Waited till he hit the ground and gave him some kee Kees and clicks. He was making his way to us slowly when his hen came in and intercepted him. Same hen as yesterday. She's bearded. We will see what the rest of the morning brings.

[Steve Leffler]

Jon, set up where he goes to.  Find his strut zone and be quiet.

[adeeden]

I would slip in right at dark and purposely bust him from the roost. Give him where he is alone in the morning that way, then slip in on him in the morning. He will be ready to hook up with a hen quick then. It's worked well for me many times on henned up birds.

[ChuckC]

Maybe stick an old turkey beard onto the chest of your hen decoy and let him think it is her.

ChuckC

[Coonbait]

If it was me I'd leave the calls in the vehicle, get in under the cover of darkness and be where him and her are going. Chances are as soon as you start calling she'll take him away from you. If they follow a pattern use it to your advantage. Good Luck, sometimes they are TOUGH to figure out!
Glenn