Call Shy Turkeys, Blinds, and Mistakes

[Missouri CK]

I know there are a lot of different reasons why turkeys hang up but I'm starting to think I must be doing something wrong.  I'll take any advice the turkey hunters here on the Trad Gang have to offer. If nothing else just to put my mind at ease.

I've been hunting turkeys for about 8 years now.  I've called in a few birds and been lucky enough to shoot about five with a shotgun.  I've committed to the bow for the last several years and used my double bull matrix the last two springs.

My typical scenario is that I've done some scouting and have a good idea where the birds are working.  Sometimes I even put them to bed.  Get there just as it is starting to break day.  Owl call and hear gobbling and move toward gobbling. I get as close as I think I can without spooking the birds.  Set up putting out a jake facing the blind and hen facing away.  Make some light calls (under 5-10 seconds in duration) and maybe a fly down cackle at daybreak.  Most of the time the turkey gobbles back sometimes even multiple times.  Then the turkey shuts up and I hear nothing and see nothing.  In the last two years all I've had come near me are hens.  I don't think I'm over calling as I watch the clock and only call every 15 minutes and keep it fairly light.  Purrs and clucks unless I'm hearing a hen to which I just try to match her conversation.  I use a slate call for the most part.  I usually hunt from sun up until mid morning and then go back out around 11am and hunt until 1pm.
 
I might move 2-3 times a day to try different locations.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Chris

[Curtis Haden]

From what you wrote, sounds like you're doing it right.  The only think I would suggest is getting there just a little earlier...like 15-30 minutes BEFORE first light, and call even less.

IF you have a turkey gobbling on the roost (in response to your calls) then he KNOWS where you're at, especially if you're in a field edge.  You can get too close, even in the dark.

When I have a bird roosted, and he responds to a soft tree yelp, that's all I do, especially if I have a decoy or two out in front.  If a hen flies down to you first, you're home.  Big Boy WILL follow.

Good luck!

[Peachey]

Many times when they fly down and shut up, they are with a hen. Sometimes it seems like the hens will lead the tom away from another hen calling. I like to be there early like Curtis said, well before first light. Try staying out there till lunch time, alot of times a bird will start gobbling again around mid morning.

[Whip]

I sure feel your pain Chris!  Turkeys can be frustrating birds.  Seems like the only thing I know for sure is that you need to set up where they want to go.

Turkeys do wander quite a bit, but there are certain spots that they seem to favor to come out of the woods or cross a field.  Pay attention to exactly where you have seen them in the past and set up in those spots, just like finding deer funnels.

I used to have pretty good luck with decoys, but it also seems like the past 5 years or so they don't work nearly as well, and in some cases I know for sure the turkeys have definately avoided them.

Keep at it - nothing better than when it finally does come together!  I'll be watching for the pics!

[DeerSpotter]

we have to remember, repetitive memory, just like there is thousands of deer scent for sale, and hunters have the lure to buy them.  The deer have become a memory bank of scent.  And then they wonder why they don't work.

The same with decoys, do you suppose the turkeys have become used to the decoys, and we think they're dumb birds, maybe we better think again.

Like others have said " that's why they call it hunting"

Learn the habits of the turkey in your area, that is your best offense, their creatures of habit, they're not walking around the woods thinking
" hey that's a good-looking decoy" " I think I'll check that baby out"

           

Just be patient with yourself, and the turkey of course, and eventually he will arrow one

Pastor Carl

[DRR324]

Chris, I'm no expert, but this year has proved very difficult for me.  I think I was "playing" with them too much while on the roost- in hopes of firing them up.  I was setup a good 1/2 hour before daylight, and just at decent light- owl call, then hen yelp, every day- they would enter the field about 150-200 yards from me, even when I moved set up location.  Like Peach said- I think the hens were leading the toms away from me.  Spend one morning where you know they are entering your zone- and do nothing until you see them.  Set up early- but do no calling until you have a visual.  I wish I had a few more days- but my season is over.
Good luck.

[longbawl]

One little trick that has worked for me sometimes. Is lets say the birds gobbling to the north of your blind. Try calling out of the south end of the blind  try to make him think your not interested and are leaving.

[BMN]

Chris, sounds like you have a good game plan to me. The only thing I would suggest is stay out there during the mid morning time frame. I've had very good results during the hours of 9 to 11 am.

Bill

[swp]

Sit tight and try a different call (box, diaphram, etc.) every once in awhile.

[Steelhead]

Sounds pretty typical of a morning hunt this time of year.Gobbling on the roost.Collect some hens and breed and shut up with very little gobbling the rest of the day.

Some strutting in fields or strutting areas but no gobbling up in the morning.Especially where thier is a strong hen population.Small fields away from roads are often a good bet.If they come in it will mostly be silently.Its a patience game.

Hunting whre you know the birds are hanging out up in the morning and playing the patience game is often the only option.

I do like late season alot sometimes after many hens are bred out and sitting on thier nest and the gobblers are anxious to breed with no takers avaiable.If the morning hunt doesnt produce anything its time to cover alot of ground doing some cutting and running and looking for a hot bird.You would need to be able to get that blind set up pretty quick ofcourse in case they came in fast.

I like to fire those late season birdas up real good when thier lonely with say some cuts topped of with a series of 10 to 15 yelps rising in crescendo and finishing strong those last few yelps.Then shut up and just a few light clucks and scratching every 20 to 30 minutes or so.

[mnbwhtr]

I'll second that staying from 11-1. If a bird goes with a hen from roost I find they generally come back looking about 10:30 to noon.

[hill boy]

It's been a tuff year for most I have talk to.Very call shy and decoy shy.I feel your fustration,I have only killed a handful of birds myself and one thing I have learned is when one decides he's ready he will come no matter what.I also like to hunt late in the morning when they are with hens. Good luck

[wapiti792]

Well I'd say you are right where you need to be. To borrow a phrase: " Take the birds temperature". I called in a double this week for a kid and I. Her shot was good (20 ga) mine was not (recurve). Those birds WANTED to be talked to. No hens in sight. The little girl missed the first time and I called both toms back to bow range. If there were hens around they would have never come back.

I've killed a bunch of birds with a shotgun and only 2 with a bow. They all were different. Some hunts happened so easy while others drug on forever. Find the right bird and I think you could call them in while wearing a clown suit sitting on a pink toilet (sorry bout the visual), others are scared of their own shadow. That's what is cool about these birds. Keep at it! It'll happen...

[kennym]

Heck Chris,if it ain't workin,change up on em! Run 2 calls at once,figure their travel route and set up in it. In a day or two,things may change completely and birds won't be able to wait to come in! From past exp.,I can call a tom anywhere he wants to go!

[KentuckyTJ]

Like others have said sounds like you are doing the right things to be more successful than you have been in many years.

Assuming the birds are not getting too much pressure the only thing I can think of is you may be setting up too close to the roost.  I usually have to fight the urge myself of getting too close but if you are under 150 yards in my opinion you are too close. If they are flying down into an open field you may need to back off to 300-400 yards. Especially when setting up a blind. They may not be able to see you due to darkness or spring foliage but they may be hearing the commotion of you setting up your blind and moving all your gear into it in the dark.

Also a trick that's worked numerous times for me in the past is pre-season morning scouting.  What I mean is once you find a roost that they are using regularly, slip in a morning or two before and find out where they like to fly down.  I've found they are creatures of habit and usually fly down in the same direction and even once on the ground walk the same direction as they begin their day.  If you will try that and set up your blind 200 yards from the roost in their regular path of travel you will need to call very little or none at all. This is especially successful when the gobblers are in the henned up stage of the season.  Your die hard turkey hunters want to call and have the gobbler do his thing but I like to be successful and putting a good ol' ambush on a bird isn't beneath me.

Another little secret I've used is making your decoy move. I think our birds have been hunted enough and are getting wary of a motionless decoy.   Adding movement has seemed to help on those stubborn ol' gobblers.

Hope my ramblings are of some help and good luck to you.

T.J.

[baretraks]

The wild turkey should have been one of the ten plagues of Egypt!!!

I've hunted the filthy things for six years now, and to date I have killed one bird and that was in self defense. (He was going to breed whatever was making that noise!!!)

I'm in the same boat your in. I had a bird come in today almost running straight at me at about eighty yards across a field, slipped out of sight on the other side of a bluff, then disappeared into thin air. Never heard of or saw him again.

I did happen to catch a bearded hen on film as she come off the roost and started to feed in the field in front of me which was kind of cool since I'd never seen one before.

We all voluntarily contracted this sickness we call "traditional archery" for a reason. For me it was to put the "hunt" back in Hunting....

The way I figure it, the good lord made my first and only bird special in that it was stupid enough for me to kill it..... hopefully he made another one this year!!!

[woodchucker]

It sounds to me like your Toms are "busy" (i.e. with hens)

So.....Take a nap!!!!!

If you get there early and your calling doesn't produce a Gobbler soon after fly down,He probly has hens already with him (or VERY close by)

Just remember one VERY important fact.....If you call once,and a Tom hears you,he could literaly walk up and stick his head in your pocket if he wanted to.

If your early morning calling does not produce a Tom,lean your head back against the tree,close your eyes and take a nap for 2-3 hours. I know this goes againt all of the "aggressive calling" mindset but.....After the Tom breeds his hen (or hens) the hen will go off to nest leaving the Tom all alone with no lady friend to keep him company. The Tom knows where you were this morning and he will come looking for you.A few soft yelps and some scratching in between naps will just confirm that you are still there.

Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!  

[baretraks]

You could take a nap, or do what I did this morning and find a big ole patch of Muggins!!!!!!

[AkDan]

DRR (and I'm sure others as I havent read it all) has nailed atleast what I've noticed.

the more you call to them on the roost, the more they expect you to come.   It's natures way.  

I try and call once to them on the roost (unless it's super super windy I may call twice).  then put the call down till after fly down.

if you've done your homework you know abouts where they're going atleast sometimes.   If they go away they are usually with hens.  Give it time and sometimes LOTS of it.  

We've noticed most of our birds (MN NE and KS this year so far) have gone solo around 9-10am.   usually it's a much more productive time to hunt then first light.  Though if you can get where a tom wants to be a first light you could have the hunt we all dream of.  

really there's more to calling in birds then clucks and purrs..when to say "it" and how to say it at that time can be crucial to a bird coming or not...or better yet, saying nothing which I have to say is the BORING but usually more sucessful way to kill birds.  

Decoys themselves can and are really over rated.  They can and do work well at times.  And they can really really hurt you at other times.  

My advice...call less on the roost..take his temp on the ground and give it to him how he wants it.   He'll tell you.   Burn your jake decoy (have literally had them stop do an about face and run away with it...adult longbeards) ok not really but I hate the thing lol, and stay as long as you can....noon or later is even better....  And if you can hunt till dark...nabbm coming to the roost but stay away from the roost area if possible.   Birds are extremely easy to call coming to the tree when you're in there way or even near it.   Called my first black powder bird through two fences and acrossed a creek, had him walk within steps of my dad and myself, and shot him at 10 yards or so.   They can and will come!!!

Good luck and enjoy it.