HuntingNet.com Forums - View Single Post - What do I do????
View Single Post
Old 03-26-2008 | 02:37 AM
  #4  
JW's Avatar
JW
Super Moderator
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,490
Likes: 7
From: Wisconsin
Default RE: What do I do????

Since you haad a few mornings - same area I assumw - you should have developed some general location they are roosted at. I would sneak in there way before 1st Gobble - find a comfy spot - sit down - sip a cup of coffee and wait for them to wake-up on their own. Once the Gobblin starts I get up and move in the direction of his hollerin as sneaky as I can. I only move more as U wait for him to tell me where he is. Each time he gobbles I sneak closer - I make no calls. Like others have told you - cut that distance down. If ya like to owl hoot to wake-em up okay - but again I make no sound once I start movinand try to be as quiet as I can. I move from tree to tree never standing out in the open to highlight myself. I move in the direction of that gobble. Once I feel I can move no closer - I pick a spot - get set but still say nothing. I wait for other birds around me make noise and the area to become adjusted to me. If I spook some game or break a branch or some other noise - I stop and won't move until he sounds off. Oh as I move I do look at likely roostin areas lookin for hens - I scan the canopy around me..... Once all is quiet - is close to fly down......I make the softest call I can possibly do. If he gobbles right away at me great - if he does not I will not call again till he does gobble. Then I do my soft call again - if he still don't answer I will get a bit louder the next time he does gobble and each time till he does finally hammer back at my call. But when you know the Tom knows where you are I won't say another word. I wait......

If I have snuck in and he is answering a sassy hen who is callin' I change and focus on that hen...and try to get in on that conversation. Most times tho I hear no hens so just wait..

Then once he is on the ground and moving hopefully towards me - I may answer his every other gobble - then may not. Each bird is different. If he gobbles at my calls but is moving away from me - you can do 1 of 2 things. Stay put and wait him out. Or move in his direction and here is where knowing the lay of the land helps - you might have a good idea where he is headed. However,I usually stay put.

Just one of the many tactics I may try -

Side note. I have found it is better for me to pattern a bird - I don't roost much. By doing this I spend mornings listening and pinpointing gobbles - keeping track of time they start gobblin all the way to fly down on as many huntable birds on properties I can hunt as I can. Then I keep circlin hopin to maybe get a glasson a few of these birds. Three days worth will give me a darn good idea where to start and a darn good idea as a back-up spot if I did something stupid! When I do this I am not callin' at all.

JW
JW is offline  
Reply