rochelle

Is opening week a good time to hunt turkeys in missouri or is it better to wait til late season?

Lilhunter

it depends on the spring and the weather. The 2 times I have been there (and 4 season in Mn), the first time spring was late and the toms were pretty responsive. THe last time I was there (spring of 00) it seemed like all the toms had hens and wanted NO part in my calling. It didnt matter if ya sat all day and didnt say a word or called till your mouth fell off, heck for that matter it didnt matter even what call I used, slates, boxes, diaphrams, wingbones. They would answer every once in awhile but to heck if they wanted to come! It seems like just as the buds pop they get really responsive...if the leaves are out in force, the toms have hens and chasin in the later part of the day 10-1 is better. If spring isnt greening up, keep it sutle near a feeding place be it fields or woods. Also find some private land in the afternoons or go a couple days early JUST TO BE SAFE! We had 2 incidents on state lands both of us almost go shot. My partner had a tom he was callin get shot at, I had some guy come in like rambo on my dec (funny as heck to watch, spook as heck to be a part of!) We found state land and the very first morning we had a tom, heck it was the smallest peice of woods I have ever hunted surrounded by state lands with a creek going through. I sat facing that creek he sat facing the edge of the field, that tom came in with a couple hens and plopped right in front of his copper plated #6's! For the rest of the week we couldnt get a tom to show up...it sure was fun though, hearin the birds gobbling, all the dang forest birds (completly different then Ak....almost noisy) and my favorite bird..the whipoorwill lulliby (well after the first nite I wish I had my shotgun but thats a diff story altogether <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!

scottsman

rochelle.. I like the first part of the season the birds aren't near as call shy as the latter have.

RICHIE3

I think that it is easier in the first week. I hunt both private and public land, some will say that private birds (not pressured) are easier than public birds. I like to hunt public land birds, for me they are easier to call in, in my opinion. I don't know if it is all of the other hunters that go there are lousy callers, or I'm just a good caller.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>LOL Just kidding, but I have had better luck calling birds that have heard it all than birds who haven't.