n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

i went out scouting today.....i was going to go out at first light to listen off the roost but the daylight savings garbage messed me all up and i sleept until 11...i was in the woods about noon...soon as i get on the hillside where the turkeys are usually but on the other side of it theres dropping everywhere...i was walking to the top and i rounded a bend on a trail and look ahead to see a lone turkey standing in the trail..when i seen it it seen me and flew off...then i walk up the hill and i hear a hen really close to the trail..i drop down just so i dont spook her...i was like what in the world i walked right by that turkey once and never heard it or spooked it?? then i see white..yes shes coming!! then i see a body...of a human!! a guy with a mouthcall! i talked to him and left him...i get on top and theres scratchings everywhere...i walk down the trail some and look ahead to see 3 or 4 turkeys scattering...these things just come out of nowhere!...i walked that trail and found alot of good sign and seen a few more birds...then i turn around to hear that guy again! he tried telling me he had a bird gobbling but i was no more than 100yds from the bird and didnt hear jack...i think he need a Qtip!! this guy must be new..i told him i dont preseason call and he looks at me like im a moron or something...his calling on both a mouthcall and a slate is horrible..hes up there with one of the worst callers ive heard....i know i should have just left after i kicked out that first bird but running into that guy i said i might as well see what else there is....i was on my way home to hear him again! this time i was resting on a log and i couldnt see or hear him wlaking and he was a good 100yds out and 2 turkeys were on a dead run away from his terrible calling...i cant wait to hunt these birds....even though its my 5th year hunting i hunted spooked birds alot of the time..and learned how to get them in....i wont hunt there much..just saturdays and when i feel " sick" ..just the way the turkeys walk them trails all day i am bound to see one..and the right set up and the right calls i think i got a good shot at one....that was my day of scouting..i dont know if its a success of failure but im thinking i will be alright..what do you think?? theres 2 wks and 5 days until season...i htink they will calm down..what do you guys think?

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

Sounds like a good day to me. All my scouting trips have resulted in just sign and heard one key key.Haven' t seen an actual bird. As to hunting it, I' d go back and hope your buddy(mr. bad caller) is out there and you can use him to drive all the birds your way;)

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

It' ll probably calm down, unless that guys in there more, and calling away with those hen calls. I just don' t understand some hunters! Walking & calling before season, nice!!!! What I wouldn' t do is be in there if know he' s around come seasons open. Probably be a good chance he' ll mess you up, and that really makes one mad. I like to have several spots to hunt for toms. If someone else is there alreadly I move on to another spot. Its just not the same trying to hunt for Tom' s within 100-200-300yds of another hunter. It just messes up the birds. I don' t know how many times I' ve still had guys come in after I was there first, and messed me up. 1 time I had a tom working in, that wasn' t far off the road, 150yds. I hear a noisy mufflered truck stop, yelp,yelp,yelp from the road. Tom gobbles to them. They keep calling and calling making him gobble. I called back, but did no good. They turned him on me. He shutup, and they drove away. Totally messed up that deal on me. I just wish other hunters would come to realize you have to be more respectful in the turkey woods. It does no good for anyone to move in on another hunter. To sneak in, cut off, work the same tom. It only makes the turkey woods tougher later on. Sometimes it does happen unknowingly. I' ve walked upon a hunter or two, having no idea anyone else was around, no vehicles. I always apologize, and feel like an idiot when I do it. Hate to ruin anyone' s hunt. But doing it on purpose is just plan being disrespectful in my book.

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

how many days out of the season do u feel " sick" ? my mom lets me go out in the wee morning hours but i have to be back in order for school which is at 8:20[:' (]
i am hoping that because i am a senior my mom will now that my classes are so stupid that i dont have to be there for them, and does ur teachers really think u are sick or what, some of my teachers know that i am a hunter and prob know better, good luck, who_else

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

thanx guys..like i said..i wont be back there too often..maybe a few days..it should be a nice day out when i am back there..if not i got a few square miles there and know theres birds all over it...who...when i was in junior high i missed almost 20 days a year for a few years and was really sick maybe 3....my parents are pretty leanient on letting me skip for hunting fishing...or just because i dont feel like going..i keep up the grades and dont have a problem or theyd make me go..now that im in highschool the last 2 years i still miss atleast 10-15 days a year...but not all at once how it used to be..i used to go for the first week of turkey..then come home for a week and then go back for another 3-5 days..usually 4 or 5...most teachers dont know about turkey hunting or anything and they cant say a word to me anyways....but when i am back telling stories and showing pics they learn! lol...my dad just switched his days off now and its thursday and friday instead of friday saturday...looks like i will be " sick" them days this spring if hes going hunting...i remember 5th and 6th grade i wasnt in school on a wed or thursday in may both years...wonder what the school thought!! lol...i cant wait...

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

I went out a little late yesterday too and ran into a group of 3 jakes. Didn' t spook ' em too bad, I just hunked down and they ambled off. Now we' re getting more snow. [:@] Talk about dampening your spirits!

PBB

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

I take it that you hunt public land??? I hunt public land also and this $#@! goes on from March till May and is something I have to deal with every year[:@] Look at it this way. When you bag one of those weary gobblers you know you did something that a lot of people cant do!!! Good luck with those educated gobblers:)

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

Sounds like you have some good leads. I' m sure you can bring in a Tom come opening day[

RE: n off the roost but interesting day.....
 

yes most of the land i hunt is public...i cant wait...even to call one in..just to know i am better then most of the weekend warriors...if it was deer hunting id definently use that guy to help me out....and when im bow hunting my stand will be strategicly placed so him and his buddy kick the deer right off their beds to me...he told me where his stand is and its not 100yds from where i know of 2 bucks beding all fall...the one thing i gota do to bag one of them birds is stay awake and alert...i know when they are pressured the like to come in silent...last year my dad had one do that to wake up and look beside him to see a mature long beard looking at him about 6-8ft away..i watched the turkeys head turn and then my dad woke up to see it and he screamed because it scared him and then i heard PUTT then click...then flap flap flap..DEVIN! did you see that turkey!?!? i was set up 50 yds to his right out in front of him and turned around to see why he wasnt calling or anything...what a site...wish i had a video camera!...i think i have the smarts to bad one of them birds...i will be back there the second day i think if the weathers nice...hunt the first day with dad...and if i still have my tag go after one of them guys...playing " sick" of corse lol...thanx alot guys...ill be sure to tell you how i do...