What Will Work on These Birds?

[redmag]

I have been hunting in WV and VA for a couple weeks now and have found it hard to get a bird to come on in. The woods are wide open, no bushes or anything. I have seen several at 60-100 yds strut and answer my call but won't come the rest of the way. I use a buckwing decoy and this AM I moved about 50 yds from the decoy to try and bring a bird back to where he was and even I had a hard time finding the decoy (doesn't seem to stand out). What do you guys try in this kind of open woods?

Jim

[NHdeerhunter]

If you have a hunting partner, try to have him set up behind you about 30 yards and call from there. That way you will be between him and the birds so when the birds are hanging up from his calls you will be within gun range of them. It is very imperative that you are well concealed and that you do not move at all. Their eyes are amazing and they are very paranoid birds, it doesn't take much to spook them. Also, don't over-call because the tom wants the hen to come to him. If you call sparingly, he will get anxious and come looking for you. Good luck!
-Chris

[JoeA]

Redmag,
Do you know where they're coming from? Try getting in between them and where they want to be. You might try placing your decoy (hen) where they were strutting. Then find a tree to the side, between where they're coming from and your decoy.
The idea is that they'll look towards the decoy.Use soft calls, and scratch the leaves & ground. Once you hear them coming your way, shut up and let them come looking. Look sharp with your eyes, not your head. You may have a sub-dominant bird try to sneak in silent.

Good luck.

[wingchaser_labs]

Sounds like your getting the birds to come to your calls anyway. Well in the turkey world the hen is supose to come to the toms so that is why your toms are hanging up once the see your decoy at 60-100 yards. I'd say you should invest in a jake or a strutting decoy to go along with your hen. If these dominant toms come looking and see your hen is accompanied already those dominant birds will usually close the distance and be lookin to chase your tom deek off or have a lil confrontation with it. Those tom and jake decoys are deadly when you have big muture birds around. They won't work however on your 2 year old bird though usually. They will turn and run nthe other way when they see them but I would say in your situation you don't have any of these birds comin to you cuz if you did they would come in to your hen deek and try to take her off before the big boys come lookin. WCL

[SwampCollie]

ORIGINAL: redmag

I have seen several at 60-100 yds strut and answer my call but won't come the rest of the way.
Jim

Stop calling so much. If they are strutting, then they are hoping the hen will come the rest of the way. If you have been aggressive on the call, then the gobbler will assume the hen is hot and will come to him. Thats why he is strutting and gobbling. Usually if they can see the decoy at a distance, and have an open area to strutt, if its just a single hot hen then they will stop and let her come the rest of the way.

I'd nix the decoy and just scratch the leaves. When the bird starts getting closer, quit calling! Put the call down, pick the gun up and scratch the leaves, gobblers cannot resist it.

[buckmaster_27]

what you can try is if the bird answers you and slowly make his way in and holds up.try a few yelps and if you can try a gobble or 2(its hard not to be seen)but if the tom thinks theres another bird in his area he may come right in.this works good if your in a blind.

[krabbiepatty]

ORIGINAL: SwampCollie


Stop calling so much. If they are strutting, then they are hoping the hen will come the rest of the way. If you have been aggressive on the call, then the gobbler will assume the hen is hot and will come to him. Thats why he is strutting and gobbling. Usually if they can see the decoy at a distance, and have an open area to strutt, if its just a single hot hen then they will stop and let her come the rest of the way.

I'd nix the decoy and just scratch the leaves. When the bird starts getting closer, quit calling! Put the call down, pick the gun up and scratch the leaves, gobblers cannot resist it.

I agree...i put my decoys in the shed and killed 2 birds in 2 days