This is a little lengthy, I apologize. Just hoping to get some insight from fellow turkey hunters out there. I reside in Utah, where you have to draw a tag, so I have been purhasing OTC tags for the past 3 years in Colorado. I've been hunting this particular spot in SW Colorado for the past 3 years. It's around 8000 ft in elevation.
Anyway, this particular area is dominated by Ponderosa Pine with quite a bit of oak brush. There is quite a bit of water in the area, in the form of old stock ponds. There are 6 ponds that I'm aware of within 5-6 mile radius. There is always quite a bit of sign (tracks) in this area, but I have yet to call in or run onto a mature bird. It receives very little hunting pressure, I have yet to run into another hunter in my three years hunting this area. I was down there a total of 6 days last year (May3-5, then again May 18-19) (3 hrs from where I live), and managed to call in a couple different jakes, and had an interesting experience with a young jenny. She flew down off the roost one morning with another hen, and came within about 10 feet of where I was calling and proceeded to lay down by me. I was sure she would take off when I got up to move to another location, but she actually followed me. I'd setup at my next stop and she would just eat, and then lay back down. It was quite odd.
Anyhow, I just got back yesterday from this same area. We were the first vehicle into this area, as there were still a couple of small drifts in the road in a couple of spots. (snow was completely gone for the most part) Was there Friday through Sunday, and did not hear a gobble, or see a tom the entire 3 days. It was quite windy each day. Had a lone hen come by our setup on Saturday morning first thing. That evening we ran into 3 jakes and a hen running together just feeding. The jakes were strutting around. But again, ran into quite a few tracks, but no toms, no sounds, no nothing. Although it would have been difficult to hear at any significant distance due to the wind.
I am becoming extremely frustrated, and not sure what the hell to do. As far as calls go, I've utilized my entire arsenal. (owl, crow, coyote, boxes, slates, diaphrams). You name it, I've tried it. Is it possible that mature birds are just passing through this area at times, and are gathering hens, roosting, strutting, and spending a majority of their time in different areas? It seems that there are quite a few young turkeys in this area, or at least that's all I have seen in all my time down there. With the Ponderosa being the dominant and pretty much only tree type on the mountain, their roosting possibilities are endless it seems.
I just keep thinking to myself, that I am missing something. I don't know what to do. Without ever hearing a mature bird, it's hard to keen in on any type of pattern. Is there a method to their madness???
I'd love to hear any experiences you guys have had with Merriam's or just similiar experiences in general with any turkeys.
My experience with Merriams in the Black Hills is that they are very nomadic. The tracking studies found that they frequently cover 12 miles a day. Just because there is sign doesn't mean they are still around. I'll be hoofing it looking for birds and checking back every so often to this spot if it looks like they spend time there.
I've been caught up in that hunting sign trap and it ended up being very unproductive. Gun and gun seems to work much better for me with these birds.
Tough Merriams - Need Advice
