ATV's and listening for roosting turkeys

DougMD · 02-21-2005, 10:26 AM

Do ATV's spook turkeys similar to the way they spook deer or differently? I was thinking about using it to drive away from camp to listen for gobblers on the roost right at dark in the evening, but wonder if doing so would drive them away and do more harm than good. Just curious about anyone's observations on this.

Thanks!

hawglips · 02-21-2005, 12:05 PM

I can never hear them gobble over the sound of the ATV.

1950KID · 02-21-2005, 01:47 PM

don't go too close

Mr. Longbeard · 02-21-2005, 02:47 PM

Hey Doug. I may have asked you this before

What part of Md do oyu hunt...

soarkrebel · 02-21-2005, 03:10 PM

Personally i don't use atv's during season or at least the first two weeks. i started this back when i had some guys from texas hunting with me. they joined more to joy ride than hunt. i got irratated and put a stop to them 2 weeks before and 2 weeks into. now does it?
i think if you had a bunch or even one running around your hunting grounds it would make it hard to hear a gobbler and get his location.
Heck i bet a gobbler would even hammer off at an atv . but how you gonna hear him??

DougMD · 02-21-2005, 03:32 PM

I was referring to driving somewhere away from camp an hour or so before dark, then stopping the ATV, turning it off, and going to sit on a log and listen for them during that last hour of light. I never intended to leave it running and drive around during prime time trying to listen for gobbles. For that purpose, would it work ok? If turkeys are more skittish than deer, I can imagine pushing them away to where they choose to roost elsewhere and I'll never hear them, but want to know what you guys with experience have to say about it.

Mr. Longbeard, I've hunted Calvert County for turkeys a few times without ATV's. I was referring to West Virginia with an ATV.

Criggster · 02-21-2005, 03:34 PM

When asked this question I always relate this story. I was on my tree stand near the top of the ridge and the head of a hollow. I got in before daylight and sat there for about 4 hours and saw a few deer. I looked down into the hollow and saw a couple of turkeys. I looked at them through a pair of binoculars, and saw that they were big gobblers

I watched the pair of gobblers walk around and scratch a little in the leaves. They stayed within the hollow for about an hour and a half. A four wheeler on another property came by perpendicular to the hollow. It was within hearing distance and behind me towards the ridge. I turned towards the turkeys to see their reaction. They turned and walked away down the hollow. I wasn't suprised, except they were over 300 yards from the four wheeler!

Mr. Longbeard · 02-21-2005, 03:44 PM

Buy yourself one of those stealth exhaust...

DougMD · 02-21-2005, 04:43 PM

Criggster,

Thats's what I wanted to know, thanks. I guess I can walk it and have my buddy pick me up. It isn't worth several hundred dollars for the stealth exhaust.

Mr. Longbeard, whereabouts do you live & what counties in Maryland do you hunt for turkeys?

Mr. Longbeard · 02-21-2005, 04:55 PM

I live in Baltimore Co. I do most of my turkey hunting up in Savage River State Forest now!!!