question regarding opening day....need your thoughts

[geterdun]

Well, unfortunately, i cannot go to opening day here in Md (the 18th) because of a few school presentations and what not...the soonest i can go is sat. That is the 4th day of the season. Am i at a disadvantage by not going on the opening day? It doesnt matter actually either way because i cant go no matter what, but will that have an affect on anything? Should i use any different tactics that i wouldnt use on opening day. I guess it is still opening week, it just sucks that i cant go opening day. This damn school project is screwing me over, lol. Thanks for the help

[jalvja]

I don't think you're at a disadvantage at all.Wish I could just bring myself to sit home openin days.I really think the advantage is bein able to hunt mid week when alot of people are back at work.Least that's when I've had more success.Good Luck to ya.

[old longbeards]

nawwww....thats still real early in the season...three days isnt gonna make much of a difference...good luck on saturday!!..

[geterdun]

thanks, thats good to know. I didnt think it would matter, i was just wandering because i would like to be there opening day but, owell, whats 3 days gonne hurt

[TurkeyStalker]

Shouldn't matter..... Just go in with a plan and a backup plan and stick to them. Call soft and be still. Good luck

[Adrian J Hare]

Opening day is not always the best. At times the season maybe just to early and the birds could not be working proper. Yes some kill birds on the opener , but on the highest level the best hunting is after opening and the birds begin to nest.

Your not at a disavantage at all...BT

[ktbearpaws]

Sorry you can't make it opening day, thats a bummer
But ya gotta do what cha gotta do.
I have been in this situation before myself.
And if I were you,I would takeasmuch time as possible to find where several different birds were using.
This is a good idea anytime, but especially when you gotta miss those first days.
Alot can happen during those days, when you're not there.
Someone could kill the bird your scouting.
Hunting pressure could change bird patterns.
Your bird could walk in on another hunters call and become call shy.
Of course alot of this depends on if your on public or private land.
Anyway, if I were you, I'd have a backup plan just in case..

[geterdun]

thanks, that makes me feel alot better. when you guys say a back up plan....what exactly do you mean? Just a number of birds to hunt in case the first one was killed or something. I dont feel liike i have a specific bird or two to hunt. I mean i drove the roads and got a few gobbles back and i marked them on my map, but i dont know if that is the total process of scouting. I was just going to go back to those few spots the night before the hunt and see if i can get a gobble out of them on the roost, and then set up around there the next morning. Is this a good way to do it? I havent saw any birds or anything and i really havent found a roost site, but i know where a few gobblers are. Am i doing the right thing by scouting like this? thanks alot fellas!

[ktbearpaws]

Yea, you are right on a few things as far as marking the map and all.
You want to find as many different gobblers in different locations as possible.
Nothingwill make your heart drop faster than to have a gobbler, gobbling every breath and coming to you, only to hear a gunshot 50 yrds before he gets to you.
Or to get in the hollow your turkey is in and hear 3 or 4 more hunters calling your bird.
You nead to know where another bird is in this instance.
And if you get a chance to pattern your birds it will increase your chances tremendously.
What I mean by pattern is:
Where do they fly to from thier roost?
Where and when do they eat?
What do they eat?
Where do they strut?
Which way do they go when they hit the ground?
Not all the time,but most of the time, the birds will do the same thing everyday.