How do you deal with call-shy birds?
01-08-2002, 08:10 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rural Kansas... Where Life is Good
Posts: 4,139
How do you deal with call-shy birds?
To the beginner who watches turkey hunting on T.V. it make seem every bird can be called in. It's not anything like that in Ks. There's some birds here on my hunting spots that just won't call in, regardless if you're a 10 time national champ caller or not. I've threw every call in every way at every time, and some just won't call in, if anything will get spooked. I'm sure you guys have birds like this. I'm getting opinions on what you guys do on situations with call shy birds?
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01-08-2002, 08:41 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Watertown South Dakota USA
Posts: 25
RE: How do you deal with call-shy birds?
On call shy birds I find that being quiet is best. Once he answers I shut up. Cluck once or twice every 5 minutes. By the watch! No more. Three or four yelps every 20 minutes. No more. Buy the watch! It works...sometimes.
01-08-2002, 09:03 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati oh USA
Posts: 626
RE: How do you deal with call-shy birds?
3 methods
1. hunt with a buddy & have the caller setup behind the shooter by about 30yards. if the birds start walking away have the shooter try to circle ahead of the bird & setup while the caller keeps calling & trying to get the bird to sound off. If all works well the gobbler will walk right into the shooter without knowing they are there.
2. find the roost & his strutting or feeding zone & setup between them. get him while he's making his move to the strut or feeding zone. not a lot of fun since you don't call but man it can work on hard hunted birds!
3. locate him in the morning test him with some soft calling & then shutup & wait, and wait & wait. it may be a few hours or even the afternoon but sometime he may come back. while waiting do some simple clucks & purrs but not a lot maybe every 15-20 mins. or so.
in all methods you have the play the bird on his terms & not yours.
1. hunt with a buddy & have the caller setup behind the shooter by about 30yards. if the birds start walking away have the shooter try to circle ahead of the bird & setup while the caller keeps calling & trying to get the bird to sound off. If all works well the gobbler will walk right into the shooter without knowing they are there.
2. find the roost & his strutting or feeding zone & setup between them. get him while he's making his move to the strut or feeding zone. not a lot of fun since you don't call but man it can work on hard hunted birds!
3. locate him in the morning test him with some soft calling & then shutup & wait, and wait & wait. it may be a few hours or even the afternoon but sometime he may come back. while waiting do some simple clucks & purrs but not a lot maybe every 15-20 mins. or so.
in all methods you have the play the bird on his terms & not yours.
01-08-2002, 09:08 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calif
Posts: 1,894
RE: How do you deal with call-shy birds?
Like Old Dog I tone it down a whole bunch,in fact I wont even yelp to gobbler that I believe is call shy, do to hunting pressure.Along with this I make a concious effort to set-up as close as I dare possible to a bird like this so that he can hear me scratching in the leaves and calling ever so softly.Patience is a real key in your calling here and soft clucks and purrs are the ticket.You high ball a gobbler like this and try and get real aggressive with him you'll be waitin till the next day to hear him again.
01-09-2002, 06:30 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NewLowell ,Ontario ,Canada
Posts: 2,765
RE: How do you deal with call-shy birds?
The guys have some great ideas here <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> , I have hunted out your way ks and there is alot of open land , the birds like to come off the roost and head to the open. I could see this being a hard hunt because you have no terrain to work. I have hunted birds on these turms but had to setup on the small draws that run into the fields or the uneven areas in the field. Lots of times moving is the only way of killing these birds, different setups and getting in front of there travel routes...BT
01-09-2002, 05:42 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: St. Cloud MN
Posts: 354
RE: How do you deal with call-shy birds?
The guys have really nailed this one. Only thing I'd add is along with the leaf scratching I do purrs along with the clucks. Paint the picture of a content hen just taking her time feeding along. Sometimes if that don't work use whatever cover you have and try to head where you think they may be heading and setup.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
