Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

Just wondering you head to your spot early before sun up and the nights crisp clear night.A full moon eluminates the woods and feilds. Now up here at times the moon will shine so bright the entire area will be lite up so my question is would they see you crawling to your spot and get startled off the roost?<img src=icon_smile_question.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;The Bigger They Are,The Harder They call&quot;

RE: Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

Rav I've always thought that a Turkey tucks his head to his side as (under his wing to sleep)if so he can't see you :D,, I would think if he heard you then he would be spooked , but I remember one time walking in to set up and looked up and there was a bird in the roost. I quietly moved off and set up well I never did get that bird in. He didn't want to gobble at all at first light either...BT

RE: Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

Yes turkeys will tuck their heads under their wing(s) to help them sleep better and it also keep them from losing their balance. I have walked into the woods early morning on a full moon ad it amazes me that you can see almost everything in the woods. Ive spotted turkeys in the roost and set up about 40 yards from them not spookign anything out of the roost. I try not to begin calling untill i hear the &quot;red bird&quot; sing. The cardinal is always the first bird to make noise, as soon as you hear him begin your calling, by that time the turkeys should be out of the roost and should have calmed down and forgotten about any noises they may have heard in their sleep. I have been very successful in the last 12 years of turkey hunting by following the simple rules that I go by. Ive tried calling before the cardinal would sign just for a research project adn found that the toms would head away from me, the next day I called right after the cardinals sang and the toms headed right to me.

Tony Hericks

RE: Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

Rav,you bring up a good point,turkeys dont see well in low light conditions and lets face it,they hear deer and other wildlife all night long,especially if you hunt an area that has livestock they can crunch and break brush around them all night long.Now does this mean its a good idea to blunder into the woods before daybreak.Absolutely not.I agree with BT here sound will get there attention in a hurry and if there not familiar with it they may relate it to danger!I approach the woods with stealth even in low light predawn situations!Stick to the shade,and move to your postion as quiet as possible!Darkness is a big asset to the turkey hunter as he can use it to get in close to a good set-up but the key is getting into it as quiet as mouse,and then once you get there staying quiet until he wakes up!Rav, I've worked my way into many a gobbler using the darkness to my advantage and there aint a sweeter sound when you hear chkkkvvvrroommmm!Because then you know he's not really aware your even there!!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Monarch isn't a butterfly it's the King of the Spring!

RE: Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

Thanks guys for the replys, i will remember that come this spring:)



&quot;The Bigger They Are,The Harder They call&quot;

RE: Full Moon Clear Night will startle a Roosted bird
 

OK guys,
In theory, I agree with you. Now help me fit this piece into the puzzle: I seem to have much better luck and response when the moon is around half full. WHY? I noticed this about 20 years ago and have confirmed it to myself each year that the skys were clear during that part of our season and there wasn't a big weather system passing through. Is it just a self-fulfilling prophecy because of my own expectations or has anyone else made the same observation?

American by birth...SOUTHERN by the grace of God!!