how are the pa turkeys doing
 

now that the seasons here , i haven't seen any , at allthis year , any news or pics ??

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I shot one on Saturday at 11:00. 8". Tons of hunters out there. I was hunting Michaux State Forest.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I hunted northern Bradford county on saturday.Had 2 gobbling good on the roost but they had hens all around them.Once they hit the ground they gobbled once and that was it the rest of the morning.Just gotta hit them on the right day.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

i found myself with 2 longbeards going NUTS on the roost. an honest 100 gobbles or so EACH. they never shut up. my setup was bad and they didnt like it and flew down a 50foot highwall across a creek...by the time i crossed the creek they left...

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I just dont get the birds......i had around 10 different birds going off the roost ( including jakes) on a hillside infront of me, but as flydown came they slowly all calmed down til nothing......every once in a while one bird would gobble on the hill after about 7..... next thing u know i get a text from my dad who was at the barn which was up a hill behind me overlooking a field......he said one tom was displaying for 3 hens all over the field.... i walked through that field to get to where i was.... making a move a hen spotted me and took him away....

If anyone has ne thoughts please PM me on how to get the birds .....the one has been seen multiple times in that top field , but he never makes a peep.... ne suggestions r welcome lol...

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I hope to get out tomorrow for my "opener"

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Sat. AM not many birds gobbling at all and when they hit the ground nothing. I moved around and covered a lot of ground and finally around 10:30 I had 7 gobblers come in after some hot & heavy cutting for extended periods of calling. But as they say.......what can go wrong, will go wrong! BUSTED......... They came in front behind me and never made a sound! I had worked my way to a tree line that separated 2fields (1 big open and 1 smaller with the hardwoods only 60 yards away) and as luck would have it I was watching the smaller field. When I saw them they were 45 yds away but you probably can guess the rest. Oh well it was fun anyways and it was my first year using a mouth call exclusively and I guess it worked.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I tried 3 different spots and heard nothing....in the afternoon I was out groundhog hunting and had two hens come across the field but no long beard

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Birds gobbling all morning in every direction. finally coaxed a couple in and they started fighting. After the fight they came up into range, but cut to my left. Had to swing my gun up and around a few trees, made a 25 yds shot on the 2nd bird as he just started to escape. 9" beard, 21#, 1" spurs. Pics later.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Congrats on the birds rybo and fats!!!:D

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Thanks BT. How's things been for you in this short season so far?

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Nice bird....Good job. I'm gonna keep on getting out there. Will be better later on in the NC area of PA I like to hunt best.
If all else fails, we've got a nice pre- plucked, cleaned Butterball in the freezer. Even has the pop-up button. Little or no pressure here.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Between family obligations anda few bad days healthwise, I havent gotten out yet:(. Maybe this weekend:)

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

my two sons each got one.10 inch beard and a double beard with long one being 7 inch.
I called a huge one in that came silent.It's beard was real close to dragging on the ground.He didn't present a shot and didn't hang around long.Still time left.

I hope you're feeling better BT.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

sure you all seen him a couple times by now...but im proud of him...EVERYONE has to see him ;)

5/3/07 8 AM SGLs in Venango County.

8 1/2 an2 4 1/2 inch beards, 5/8ths inch spurs. not monster...but im dang proud of him....full story and more pics on the turkey forum

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

Shot my bird on cinco de mayo 5-5-07.... double beard 10" and a 5" with inch and a qtr spurs and 21 lbs.....

The toms seemed to be getting fired up later in the day this last week , around 9-930...maybe once the hens went to nest....idk

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

doublelung,
nice bird! I was out out in 3 different areas around Irwin on the opener and did not hear a peep or a shot. Hunted up in harrisionville(harission something), and two spots in rillton. prob won't be able to get out again either

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

U may be thinking of harrison city , that is where i actually live , but on the opener i had probaly 7-10 diffferent birds going off the roost .... i hunted about 3 miles away tho from my house . but i have heard them in the morning when i get up , down behind the house in the valley gobbling..... there still out there fellas

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

my buddy lives in the development across the street from the irwin sportsman sign. you come under the railroad bridge, past the butcher/meat place on the left and take a left right after that...you might know him....Rick Boyd?

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

no but i know exactly where u mean , sandy hill rd. i got a few buddies that live down that rd. but yea theres birds all over the twp.

RE: how are the pa turkeys doing
 

I think most hunters played those games before with these tight lipped PA birds. One thing I've been doing more in the past several years, with some productive results, is setting up by a field where you see turkeys on a regular basis, and just sit there and wait them out without calling at all. Hopefully they will eventually work there way right into your lap without ever knowing your there. As much pressure as these birds usally get in most areas, sometimes it's best to play thier game, the quiet game, and just set up where you think they're going to be, or want to be. I know it's not as exciting as calling one in, but sometimes you have to dig deep into your bag of tricks to become successful.But it also depends on the birds mood. That same bird that was quiet and shy one day might come running into your calls the next.
One other method that I believe wouldproduce good results is this: How many times have you called to a bird that just goes the opposite direction. Answer: Have one hunter on one side of the bird doing the calling, and another hunter on the opposite side of the bird not making a sound, until that is, the blast of his gun! I've heard so many hunters experience this exact scenario where they call and call, and just have the bird walk directly away from them.It just might bewhat it takes to tag one ofthese call shy PA gobblers.
Where I hunt in PA, the birds get atremendous amount ofpressure, so sometimes you have to get creative with your strategies.

Good luck everybody, and be safe out there.