Help me kill these elusive gobblers!!!

gandilamont · 05-27-2005, 08:23 AM

OK, This is my 2nd year turkey hunting. We have found several toms but can't get them to come to us. The will gobble for about an hour in the roost (with us hen talking back). Then when they fly down the just slowly walk disapear gobbling the whole way. This is getting frusterating. This is the last weekend to hunt here in Oregon and I am leaving about mid day to give it another try. What am I doing wrong?

Strut&Rut · 05-27-2005, 10:06 AM

You are calling way too much when they're on the roost. Because you're calling so much, the birds are staying on the roost longer than normal, and basically shying away because the receptive "hens" never appear.

Try getting to within ~100 yards of their roost, setup in the direction they like to travel, and wait for them to hit the ground before calling.

The only time I get aggressive with birds on the roost is 1) very early in the season, and 2) when there is an aggressive hen roosted with the toms. Sometimes you can get the hen so PO'd that she brings the gobblers to investigate the intruder.

Just call sparingly and softly, clucks and purrs, until they get excited and seem interested. Then try a few quick series of either yelps or cutts, and then play hard to get with a few soft clucks/purrs every 10 minutes. Rake the leaves and don't call at all.

Best tip: get there well before first light and pick the most comfortable spot you can, with a good field of vision in at least 270 degrees. You may have to be patient, the birds may hang up at 50 yards, and you won't get another chance.

Good luck, and enjoy it. Trial and error is the best experience, IMO...

S&R

jepcho · 05-27-2005, 08:34 PM

Yeah strut and rut's advice was good. I'd try to get as close as you think you can on the roost without spooking him and call less. That is one of the biggest mistakes newer hunters make is calling too much. It took me till my 5th season to take one out and now I have a lot of confidence in my ability to kill birds. It just takes time in the field and learning and understanding more about the wild turkey. Just keep hunting them and sooner or later it will happen.