OK, I admit I've done my share of educating this bird. Since there aren't many birds in my area to hunt, and it seems like less this year than in recent years, I've been spending some days going after a gobbler I first tangled with last year and actually missed 2 times. I've acually named him the "Spring" Gobbler because his territory is next to a spring that comes out of the side of a mountain.

Yesterday, I decided I would go down to the spring area and set up some bobbing head decoys and call sparingly to let him know there were some hens in the area, and then let him come look for them. In looking over my notes from the last few years, I didn't expect any gobbling from the roost. To my surprise, as I was sneaking into position at 5:30 AM, he began to gobble about 100 yds. to the south of the spring. I set up within about 100 yds of him, setting out my hen and jake decoy, got all set as he was gobbling his head off, and when I figured he was ready to fly down, I just clucked, purred and yelped softly. He went nuts! I was determined to keep quiet and let him come looking. I've learned that he knows the hens in the area don't scream their heads off. Well, he proceeded to gobble in the same spot from 5:30 to 7:30. I did cluck and purr and scratch the leaves a few times, but he would not give an inch. After 2 hours of this, he headed directly away from me into the middle of some private property. I picked up and moved to where he had been and set up again. I then replayed what I had done earlier, but I never heard from him again.

So, what can I do to outsmart this educated bird? Should I try to get between him and the private property and not call, hoping to cut him off on his way over there. He does have a habit of going there every day. As you can tell, I need help. I did try to find another bird later in the morning Sat. toward the north, but did a lot of walking and got no answers. I returned to the same starting area at 11:45 just to see if he came back, and he answered me from the middle of the private property! I said, see ya later.

Help!!

Thanks,

Box Call

Sounds like a idea... Is this the only bird in the area???

As I stated above, there are very few birds in the area this year for some reason and those that are there seem to be older and wiser! Not sure if the hatch last year wasn't too good or what, but it has beenreally slow here. I scouted for weeks in this area before the season as I usually do, and the most I heard gobbling at one time in any morning was 2. On the first day I got one of these to answer me about 200 yards away at about 9:00, and he would not come my way either. After trying to move on him, I think I ended up spooking him.

Last year I had very good success in just going to this area and calling every 15 minutes or so and waiting them out. Even if I didn't hear any gobbling on the roost, I would usually be able to get one to come in looking and would eventually hear a gobble as he got closer. I did shoot one that came in silent also. So, to answer your question, yes there are some other birds around, but if I try to move and call, they are used to that game and just don't answer because they know it's not real. And if I get aggressive with the calling, they seem to know that is not real also, so they keep their distance.

Since I sort of have the "Spring Gobbler" patterned is why I thought I might be able to ambush him or something like that??

I'll be going up to Pa. to hunt with my cousin this weekend. Hopefully, we'll have more cooperative birds to hunt up there. I was up there for the first day and we did get one and had about 3 othersgobbling around us.

That's what I would do,
Sound's like a pattern hunt(Read my post, Smart old Bird)
If you know what his travle pattern is set up in front of him and don't make a sound,And don't put any decoy's out,They Key on those also.
Good Luck To You

Thanks for your suggestions Mr. LB and 9th Tine. The next opportunity I have to go out down here, I will try to get between him and where he usually goes, no decoys and no calling... Hopefully, he will come close enough to introduce himself to my Winchester #5 extended ranges. We will see!!

Box Call

I would try to ambush him as well. Especially if you know where hes going. How aggressive do you get with him? Also can you set up by moving around him while hes on the roost? Sometimes just making a different set up helps especially if you think he has you patterned. Mix it up try different calls to him. Change your pitch on your calls especially if your using a mouth call. Start of soft , get louder then end softly. If the turkeys are few and far between use some lost hen yelps. Dont be afraid to kekee and go into yelps as well.

cluck and ambush.......

I learned this season that no matter how close a bird already is you have to get as close as possible to have any effect on his travel route. I guided this spring and in 22 days my hunters killed 17 birds. I understand that this may be the only "huntable" bird in the area and the closer it gets to the end of season you need to become more aggressive. I've always heard get to at least within 100 yards when they're on the roost. That was BS this year. If you weren't within 50 yards you were going to listen to him all morning. Get in his face. Its very important not to call at all walking in to him. Take a few steps and listen for a gobble. During the midday hours if a bird gobbled we would get within 100 yards or closer if possible before I would even call. Get close, call soft and be patient. Try a different call too. Last year birds in KY liked the high pitched young hen talk. This year they would even stick their heads up when they heard it. Good luck.

Thanks all for your replies. I really haven't been real aggressive with my calling because that's when he seems to know something is up. The only time I have heard another hen in these woods this year has been with this same gobbler on the 2nd day of the season. I started cutting to try to get him to come to me a hen with him started cutting back. I tried to make her mad enough to come and shut me up, but she wouldn't do it. We have to quit at 12:00 here, and I ran out of time that day. I have usually used the soft stuff on him.

Another problem I have with trying to get real close is that it has been extremely dry in our neck of the woods this spring, and you sound like an elephant anytime you move. We are supposed to get some wet weather starting tomorrow, which may help in that regard. I like what you all have said, and I think if I can pinpoint wherehe is and get real close on the side that he escapes to his private property haven, I may have a better chance.