Hunting on public land is tough. I walked down a trail past 2 hunters who were calling. I went another mile and heard a turkey yelping.I wasn't sure it it was a hunter or a turkey. My plan..to let a few yelps out and hide.I let a few yelps out and in the process of hiding the bird came straight for me. Of course it happened so fast he was gone just as quick as he came. Should I hunt that place tomorrow or let it rest for a few days?
Thanks,
Chuck7

Chuck

One suggestion - I do not call unless I have already picked-out, andamstanding next to, alarge tree or other object that I can set up from in a hurry. Sounds like you let out a yelp, heard the turkeys, then while scrambled for a place to sit down - got busted. When calling blind like that I always assume there is a turkey nearby and he could come running in quickly.

I wouldn't let the area rest, particularly if it is public ground. Somebody else may be there right now calling to these birds. Go get 'em.

Yeah, you might as well get right back out there and hunt.

Thanks guys,
Turkey hunting is over at 1:00 PM It takes me 1 1/2 hours to get to that spot from this computer. Not very much time .I'll hit it the first thing in the morning. I never realized how fast the bird would come after I called. It was my first bird I ever called in. He came in 15 seconds after I called.
I made me a little make shift blind and I'll be there before daylight tomorrow.
Thanks again for the replys.
Chuck7

So in the future when one is busted are you guys saying to just stay put until time is up??
C7

You can or you can move.

Remeber what has been posted. If you are trolling for turkeys (walking and calling ever so often) make sure you look & find a place you can sit down and I mean NOW!! Before you utter one call.

The lesson you just learned taught you that!

Now being busted! Okay the bird saw movement and skeedaddled! What direction did he take? Try to do an end around path and get in front of him again. To do this effectively you do need to know the terrain you are hunting. If you can and do come in from a different side - I change calls and use something I haven't used.

If you spook a bird - they don't remember all that long - but do get more wary! That is justtheir ever sokeen survival instinct.

Yes I would go back to that place and give it another try. Don't see anything then look for sign and try to find out as much as you can on that area. Yo ahve found a bird using that area!

Some of my better areas are so far back off the beaten path. But that what does make them good. The lazy hunter won't go there!


JW

Thanks JW,

I'll ditto JW's advice and just add a bit.I generally do not try to call spookedbirds back to thesame spot thatmorning whereI just spooked them or they busted me/partner. The same holds if agob comes in, does not present a shot, and leaves - I generally will not try to call that bird back to that spot that morning (we can hunt only til noon).Rather, depending on the circumstances, I'll move to a new locationfrom 50 to 200 yds away. Try to circle wide around to getahead of him as JW suggested, especially if the bird took to wing.I will sit "still" and quiet atmy new spot at least 30 minutes (sometimes longer) before I make a call (unless the gob opens up on his own). A good blind will help if you can't sit still ("still" means no movement except blinking your eyes - I've seen many a bird just raise their head just enough to peek into a patch of woods and just starebefore moving in).Just do the soft stuff (low volume yelps,soft clucks and purrs). Finesse and patience will sometimes workon spooked birds.

Gobswill get more wary (gobble less, and wait longer before moving towards calling) the more you or other hunters spook them, imho.Don't be afraid to give him another try the next day.

Andrepeating the above posts, never make a turkey call unless you are safely protected against a tree, and prepared for a bird to show up that instant.
-fsh