Safe distance??
 

How close to the birds do yo all get?? Is 75-100 yards too close if you approach in the pitch black?? Also depending on how cold it gets tonightthe ground might get a little crunchy with frost.Thanks for the advice.

RE: Safe distance??
 

I try to get as close to them as I can, but 50-100yrds is ideal. Sometimes though, I have set up and had them in trees all around me. This morning I had one roosted in a tree 20 yrds from me, but old tom was about 50 yrds and flew right down on me at 10 yrds. It worked out nicely!

RE: Safe distance??
 

If the leaves are crunchy they will hear you a long ways off. Take your time. I think 100 yds is to close in this situation. Sometimes even if you get close they may fly down away from you. Better to hang back and try to call him over.

RE: Safe distance??
 

I agree with tkycaller. If WI is anything like PA, the leaves haven't filled in leaving the woods wide open and with crunch leaves, 100 yards is pushing the distance. Get his attention with soft tree yelps, move tighter when he hits the ground and be ready.

RE: Safe distance??
 

Double Ditto!!

RE: Safe distance??
 

Yeah I agree, crunchy leaves suck. I will stay back at least 100 yards on any set up...

RE: Safe distance??
 

so even if its pitch black and a bird hears you a little bit but does not see you, will the birds get spooked and fly down away from you??

RE: Safe distance??
 

YES. They fly in the dark. Trust me on this....

RE: Safe distance??
 

Yes they do spook and it sucks. Heck they will scare ya back if ya get to close hehehehehehehe

RE: Safe distance??
 

After reading ur guys posts, I agree! I'm still stuck in my Flordia mind set! Here we don't have to worry about leaves "crunching". You can move pretty quiet here with sand and in the cypress! But yeah, if your are up north, I still try to get close, but the noise leaves and such obviously would keep me at a distance!

RE: Safe distance??
 

ok i have another question now, how close is safe when approaching on a atv?? My atv is not really loud but loud enough, is 300 yards far enough??

RE: Safe distance??
 

no.

RE: Safe distance??
 

It depends on a few things... How light it is when I'm trying to sneek in on him... How much folidge... I would say early in the season 100-150 yards... Later in the season you may be able to get as close as 50-75 yards...

RE: Safe distance??
 

last year on youth weekend i set up as close as about 35 to 40 yards away in the pitch black but there was no crunchy leaves it was a open hay feild were we had cover between us and the birds but id say 75 to 100 yards should be ideal not close enough to scare them if your carful good luck

RE: Safe distance??
 

I wont go any where near his roost anymore unless i want to scare him away from hens he might be with. I instead set up where i know he wants to go and wait there; field, strut zone, food sorse whatever. as for the ATV noise unless your hunting a farm where they are used to hearing them, plan on parking a good distance away. they might be love sick but they arent stupid. there are aftermarket mufflers that you can add on for extra stealth.