Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Anybody from Illinois been out in the woods yet and heard any Gobbles? I am planning on going out this weekend to look and listen. Just wandering If anyone has done been out there.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

I take it no Gobbling in Illinois yet! I went out and heard one gobble way off in the distance but I heard what sounded like quiet a few hens.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

i havent heard any gobbling, i need to go out and do a little scouting and listening also; most times i am out in the woods this time of year i'm looking for sheds and have my dog out with me so i dont see or hear much, i am however getting a little anxious for season to start.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

My g\f went outside her house this morning and saw 3 toms across the field. She shut her car door and one of them flew up in a tree and one gobbled. She called me as soon as all that happened. Made my day. I didn't know there were turkey there yet. I saw some prints in late January when there was still snow on the ground but I was unsure if it was turks or pheasants. Now I have a couple places to hunt this year!

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Last Tuesday morning there was gobbling here along the Illinois River. I have been out once since then and found quite a few sheds but no gobbling. A friend last week also heard Toms around his house in Princeton, IL.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Hey they are starting to gobble, that is pretty exciting news.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Me and my dad had a big gobbler within about 75yds of us and he was gobblin hard on our barred owl call and that was just last weekend

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

A friend & I had a Tom and a hen within 5 yards and he wasn't gobblin!! We were walking up a hill towards an open field and about 12 turkeys took off flying and running. But these 2 hung out there and were trying to go through the fence...just bouncing off of the fence like a pen bird would. They finally realized they better go a different direction.

We heard plenty of hens that day, but gobbling.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

haven't heard any my permit is for 3rd season starting april 16 in southern Ill won't be long now.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Went out and did some scouting on my second potential spot on Saturday. Same result as the first property. No sign anywhere. And didnt' hear a thing. Did manage to find a small 5 pt. shed though.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

I have 1st season in Southern Illinois and can't wait. I taken off work and everything, gotta love it.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Hard core duck hunter here giving them gobblers a shot for the first time this year in the 3rd season Jackson county! Hope it goes good my rookie season!!!!

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Dedduc I like abit later in the season the hens are starting to leave the gobblers some in mid morn so they are out trollin for new girlfriends don't leave the woods to early hang in there and keep after em' now that the bug has bit all you need is a bird to seal the deal GOOD LUCK

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

As you all know today was opening morning and boy was it hot. My first stand I called in 3 hens and then 5 jakes came in behind me, the only thing that did not come in was the boss tom strutting 70 yards away. Then I went back to the house and got my two little cousins to hunt with. Walking out to our setup these 2 gobblers gobbled at our footsteps, so we set up as fast as we could. I did a little calling and they were on top of us in 3 minutes, then my little cousin delivered the kill for his second turkey ever. I dont know if the season can get any better from here, but I do need to get one for myself!

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Congrats Joe! Glad to hear the hunting is good. Just remember to leave a few for us late seasoners. I'm not going till 5th season when school gets out. Good luck the rest of the season!

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

well i went out again this morning. first stand showed nothing but a hen and a coyote. then i went back down to where my cousin got his gobbler. I started calling a little and about twenty minutes into it i saw one coming from my left side, not where i expected one to come from. he came in, looked at my decoys, and for some reason just walked up the other side of the draw. So i was not happy about that. after he left i crawled to the edge of a nearby field and saw a tom by itself about 200 yards away. I honestly didnt think he would come in, but i decided to make a few yelps at him anyways. well wouldnt u know it he turned and started walking right towards me. So i crawled back and set my decoys up on a little trail and layed behind a fence about 15 yards away. From where i was setup at i couldn't see into this field so i didnt know if he was still coming in or not. Well after about 45 minutes of calling off and on he came in. He stood about 5 yards away from my jake decoy struttin, spittin, and drummin. I thought he was gonna attack the decoy, thats when i put an end to it with my extra full choke tube. 1" spurs and a 9" beard. things couldnt get any better than this.

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Went mushroom hunting this AM in Greene County. Several gobblers were working, even in the late morning. I also kicked a hen up off a nest.

I have been seeing gobblers working in fields on my way to work.

It is an exciting time of year!

Good luck!

LLBUX

RE: Gobbling Situation in IL?
 

Birds were pritty quiet Saturday. They made me work for it but I did get mine.

19lbs. 9" beard .70" Spurs.