Safe distance??

[wi_buckstomper]

How close to the birds do yo all get?? Is 75-100 yards too close if you approach in the pitch black?? Also depending on how cold it gets tonightthe ground might get a little crunchy with frost.Thanks for the advice.

[strutnbuck]

I try to get as close to them as I can, but 50-100yrds is ideal. Sometimes though, I have set up and had them in trees all around me. This morning I had one roosted in a tree 20 yrds from me, but old tom was about 50 yrds and flew right down on me at 10 yrds. It worked out nicely!

[tkycaller]

If the leaves are crunchy they will hear you a long ways off. Take your time. I think 100 yds is to close in this situation. Sometimes even if you get close they may fly down away from you. Better to hang back and try to call him over.

[Rob/PA Bowyer]

I agree with tkycaller. If WI is anything like PA, the leaves haven't filled in leaving the woods wide open and with crunch leaves, 100 yards is pushing the distance. Get his attention with soft tree yelps, move tighter when he hits the ground and be ready.

[maytom]

Double Ditto!!

[Arrowmaster]

Yeah I agree, crunchy leaves suck. I will stay back at least 100 yards on any set up...

[wi_buckstomper]

so even if its pitch black and a bird hears you a little bit but does not see you, will the birds get spooked and fly down away from you??

[tkycaller]

YES. They fly in the dark. Trust me on this....

[Arrowmaster]

Yes they do spook and it sucks. Heck they will scare ya back if ya get to close hehehehehehehe

[strutnbuck]

After reading ur guys posts, I agree! I'm still stuck in my Flordia mind set! Here we don't have to worry about leaves "crunching". You can move pretty quiet here with sand and in the cypress! But yeah, if your are up north, I still try to get close, but the noise leaves and such obviously would keep me at a distance!