I've talked to many on this subject as to whether you should or shouldn't call to your birds while preseason scouting.We do quite a bit of videoing before season starts up and much of it is done by the aid of a turkey call.We always manage to harvest our birds come season too.I've also learned a whole lot through the years on how to talk turkey by my preseason scouting in calling in birds.Spooking them is one thing,but calling to them and watching how different birds react to your calling to me is a helpful tool in learning how to call to ole tom turkey.Obviously its not something I would practice everyday on the same flock of birds,but it sure appears to me as long as your not spooking them it has had no effect on alot of the birds we end up harvesting during turkey season.Whats your take?

I agree with you Bob,here in WI we only have a five days in a season.If that was the only time that you called to them it would take a long time to gain much experience.I think if you use common sense and don't go out there and light up the woods with calling it affects them very little.

I might try to get them to gobble on the roost just to see where they are. But if you call a big gobbler in and spook him, around here he will not come to your calls again.

I don't call while scouting but will use a locator call to get them to gobble. However I can see the benefit of calling and observing their reaction too. It would tell you if a specific call, sound, or rhythm is effective or not to that group of turkeys.

I've been fortunate to hunt areas that all the turkeys respond to my calling but have heard of areas that have a lot of call shy birds. Those are the areas I could see calling during early scouting to form a "calling game plan".

Who really knows what is going through a turkey's mind? I certainly don't. I believe that preseason calling is OK <font size=4>IF</font id=size4> you don't spook the bird. If you do you've just made that bird a lot smarter. Of course, that goes for in-season, too.<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

Romans 8:28

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Please don't call to my already high-pressured PA birds before season. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

In my opinion...
More often then not a gobbler knows exactly where the calling is coming from the first time you make a sound. This means that even if you leave the woods after you hear the first gobble the gobbler may well still come to where you were calling. So, like Edward said, when he shows up and doesn't see a hen you're just making things harder for yourself come season.

Just my $.02 worth.

Yea, I would say no to this on any birds that I hunt.

Ryan Tucker

..All depends if you like to hunt,hung up gobblers,or hunt gobblers that come to your calling come opening day you choose???????

..JESUS IS COMING BACK BE READY...

Edited by - totoe on 01/22/2002 17:41:55

No...........

May The Beard Be Long And The Spurs Be Sharp