The last 2 years i have been hunting our flock on private land in SW PA, and they have eluded me for the time being ..... It seems that the gobbler is call shy , he will gobble his head off until you start to call , he will then go silent until almost nightfall , when i go to put him to bed for the next morning , then he will scream his head off at an owl hoot or crow call if early enough , but if i touch the hen call , he may gobble a few times , but then tends to shut up..... What is wrong with this bird , i think i have him patterned by now , he roosts in the same spot , and will either fly up hill , straight down , or across the valley onto another hill , but it is different every single time..... I have been able to get him into sight before , but i just cant close the deal on this guy ....... and to ice the cake , if im out taking a walk on say a sunday or our groudnhog hunting after noon in no camo or jsut a camo shirt and jeans , dont you know he will be standing within shotgun range , and not seem to give a care in the world that im there , so what can be done to fool this old gobbler , a teacher of mine hunted him a bit last spring , and agrees that they r the hardest birds he has ever went after ........ maybe i should jsut hunt him in street clothes and no calls? ANY INPUT?
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"Shots that are true....pass right through.."
Are you using friction or mouth calls.Are people messing with the birds before the season?What calls have you been using on him?
Are you calling softly or being aggressive?Calling alot or very little?
What time of day are you hunting him?Early morning,late morning or both?Not trying to sound like a smart ars but I think I can give you some tips if I know what these situations are.
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IF A FLY DIDN'T HAVE WINGS,WOULD IT STILL BE CALLED A FLY?
Sounds like he already had hens.Are people messing with him before the season?Are you using friction or mouth calls?Yelps,clucks,cutts,purrs?
What time of day are you hunting him,early morning,late morning or both?Does he ever gobble going away from you?Not trying to be a smart ars but with the answers to the questions I might be able to give you some pointers.
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IF A FLY DIDN'T HAVE WINGS,WOULD IT STILL BE CALLED A FLY?
I would focus pre season on simply listening and patterning him. DO NOT CALL TO THIS BIRD BEFORE SEASON.
As you indicated, usually most birds have 2-3 areas that they go to immediately after flydown. Identify those spots clearly before season. During season, once I knew his early morning hang out spots, I would focus on these areas. I would probably put up a decoy, and let out a few clucks and purrs and fake a hen flydown in this area and then shut up and watch carefully and listen for his flydown. If you identify his hangouts, and put the time in you will end up with a shot at him.
You kill these types of birds by being where they want to go, not by calling them in to you. Pattern him and spend time in those spots with VERY minimal calling and he should be yours.
A tactic you might want to try would be to get your teacher to go out with you one morning. You say he roosts in pretty much the same spot every day, so have your teacher go on one side of the bird, while you go on the opposite side of the bird. One of you should call to him on the roost, while the other should remain quiet until flydown. Then the second hunter should do a flydown cackle, simulate a landing, then wait a minute and begin scratching leaves. The first hunter should continue calling while the second hunter only scratches. If he's henned up or call shy, the quiet hunter may find the bird in his lap before too long, but if the bird is alone and in the right mood, the caller may just get his shot.
Pre season PA turkey tactics!!!
