Poll, run and gun or sit and wait?
02-02-2008 | 09:23 PM
#24
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Where the ducks don't come no more
RE: Poll, run and gun or sit and wait?
Got to be flexible.
I have killed FAR more birds by understanding where I am hunting and the birds on that piece of property and holding what I got. Running and gunning in my opinion (as most people do it) will bump at least 5 times as many birds as it will bring to bag. Most of those birds hunters don't even know they spooked. Most turkey hunters these days (too many newbies) call way to much.. move way to much... don't know how to hunt the birds anyway.... and have no respect for laws or other hunters in the woods. New duck hunters much the same. Had to call the warden more times this year for people encroaching on my blinds (we have a 500 yard law in VA that is punishable by a class 2).
I'm not opposed to moving, and I usually do move once or twice throughout the morning. But most of you run and bumpers will learn with time and experience that if a bird responds to your calls... he will come in at some point... might be 11am... but he will swing by the area. I cannot tell you how many times when I was a kid that I'd set up and call in a spot until 830 then go move to a different spot.... and I'd find strutt tracks and drag marks later that afternoon where I had been that morning.
Turkey's need three things: Food, Water, and Hens. Food and hens are often found in the same place, because hens usually go to the gobblers. They will hang out in fields and the hens will come to them. In that situation, taking advantage of the fact that when doing a lot of what gobblers do in the spring time, they have to drink 2-3 times a day. Find their water.... game over.
I have killed FAR more birds by understanding where I am hunting and the birds on that piece of property and holding what I got. Running and gunning in my opinion (as most people do it) will bump at least 5 times as many birds as it will bring to bag. Most of those birds hunters don't even know they spooked. Most turkey hunters these days (too many newbies) call way to much.. move way to much... don't know how to hunt the birds anyway.... and have no respect for laws or other hunters in the woods. New duck hunters much the same. Had to call the warden more times this year for people encroaching on my blinds (we have a 500 yard law in VA that is punishable by a class 2).
I'm not opposed to moving, and I usually do move once or twice throughout the morning. But most of you run and bumpers will learn with time and experience that if a bird responds to your calls... he will come in at some point... might be 11am... but he will swing by the area. I cannot tell you how many times when I was a kid that I'd set up and call in a spot until 830 then go move to a different spot.... and I'd find strutt tracks and drag marks later that afternoon where I had been that morning.
Turkey's need three things: Food, Water, and Hens. Food and hens are often found in the same place, because hens usually go to the gobblers. They will hang out in fields and the hens will come to them. In that situation, taking advantage of the fact that when doing a lot of what gobblers do in the spring time, they have to drink 2-3 times a day. Find their water.... game over.
02-03-2008 | 06:52 AM
#26
Fork Horn
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: Yantis, TX
RE: Poll, run and gun or sit and wait?
ORIGINAL: txjourneyman
That depends more on the birds than on what I want to do!
That depends more on the birds than on what I want to do!
I'll also add that the sub-species you're hunting and the terrain has a lot to do with you're decision. As an example, In western Oklahoma, if you sit and wait after the birds have left the roost, you may be waiting all day for them to return to the area. These birds travels miles each day, scouting for food and loafing. In heavily wooded areas, such as you find the Eastern sub-species. more patience may bring success.
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