What would you do?
 

I got this message - and it is a good question.

What would you have done different?

Question..today I had a gobbler 50 yds behind me gobbling up a storm..I followed the advice you gave last year and did not over yelp..fact I waited a good 15 minutes after my last yelp..I didn't realize the bird was in a tree..After 15 minutes he took off and flown away out of his tree.

Should I have kept yelping until the bird was actually coming my way?

My Answer [AND yes I am guessing the hunter snuck in on this roosted bird.]

You say he flew out of the tree - did you sneak in and was he roosted? %50 yds can be way to close. He may have seen you come in. Or he may have seen some movement as he was behind you and was way cautious to come your way.

Did you have a decoy out? He may or may not have seen that, but my guess is (and it is guess) he saw you move as you where too close to the roost. The reason he flew away from you.

Now know that area well - he may come back to that general location. Try again to sneak in but come from a different direction if you can.

Once I m set up and I touch call and I get an answer I may add one more soft set later like you did. The main thing I have learned is taking a read on the bird......early season birds can be called to a bit more agressive while later season soft calling and sporadic may be calwhat you need.
But each bird is different......best thing is to pattern this bird. You found his general roost - now see if he is back in the general area. You did not spook him..

Hope that helps - is what I would do.

JW

Ps this is a good question to post on the Turkey Forum you may get lots of different answers but that is how we learn......I am taught lessons each yr! And I am 60!

AND I forgot to ask
Once he flew away did he Gobble again? Did he make any vocal voice calls flying out of that Tree?
Did you hear any hens?

Seams like at fifty yards he would know if the bird was roosted, at any rate I would not have called very much at all when a gobbler was roosted. I would bet the gobbler saw the hunter.

Thanks JW ..I am that hunter.:s4:.LOL I'm trying to get my son addicted to huntong so I can pass all my huntng stuf to him one day. I had shot a turkey in this exact spot 2 years ago..The area is a 50 ,000 acre WMA swamp..My son was concealed very good and I was ok...At 6 :45 after the owls stopped freaking out we hears one gobbler within 50 yds..We didn't know it but that gobbler was high in a hickory tree. As he gobbled we heard another about 100 yds away..

I could put no decoy out becaise around us was 2 feet of water the swamp is flooded. Yesterday we had the same thing happening and I thought I over called...so I promiced my son I would not call so much today..The tree bird must have gobbled 25 times.I had been returning yelps with scratching of leaves mixed with cutting...He was going crazy with the gobbling..remember all this time we are thinking the bird is on the ground..I remembered JW s advice last year about overcalling..whch worked for me last year.when .I called one in at 20 yds..so I stopped yelping and was playing hard to get..about 15 minutes later we hear the flapping of wings ..our bird flew away..BUMMER !!!

I told my son I have another good spot about 1 1/2 miles away..while heading there we found a stranded female hunter...I told her if we didn't run into her party I would drive her to her vehicle..When we arrived at my 2nd spot an elderly gent had killed a monster turkey..I ran this same question by him..He said ,",You should have not stopped yelping..yelp until you know they are coming your way..then stop yelping and have gun ready."

I've been hunting that area for the last 5 years and there is always a turkey roosting there..except for last year when the swamp was dry...I probably need to set up at a different location,,

I will admit..since we thought the turkey was on the other side of thick brush..I was not as concealed as I should have been..The turkey probably saw me as well...as I was scaping the leaves around me..} -:

Here's a reply from one of the best turkey hunters in the state of Missouri..an older member here who no longer post..His screen name is Strut..
I doubt if you did anything wrong, some of them just won't come in, especially if its a little rough between you and him, it don't take much for one to hang up a little water, or a tree top, a fence is the worst thing to have between you and him seems to me, I usually wait 30 minutes or so after the last gobble before moving any at all, some of them shut-up and sneak in quietly and I mean they will bust you in a jiffy if you move cause usually they won't be coming from where you last heard them, when they shut up on you be real sharp eyed especially to each side. It almost seems like evert hunt calls for something different in tactics you use, some I call alot to if he likes it and some I don't call very much to, but If I have one that likes my calling I will let him have it LOL, I love to hear them boys GOBBLE. God bless.

Randy

Not to knock you Chuck, or maybe I misunderstood. But believe you said knew a turkey usually roosts there, except last season. Thats where preseason scouting can help come into play, and figuring out your setups better.
More times than not whenever you get too close to a tom when setting up, whether on the roost or on the ground. Your hunt is over before it even begins. The birds can hear very well, and any walking noises will put them on alert to your position. They may not see you, and will answer your hen talk. But getting too close is the reason for both end results as explained. I mean think about it, a roosted tom hears some unusual walking nearby, then hears hen talk from same location. It just isn't going to work!
I've had to learn this the hard way myself.

I beleive you are right sir..I plan to set up farther away tomorrow.
C7

Folks I can handle criticism so bring it on..I consider you all more advanced than me..and I take all your remarks very seriuosly and helpful
I'm still a newbee..
I only got 2 turkeys under my belt..
However: I love turkey hutning { -:

Chuck,

There is a few more questions you could answer to help us out here. Did you set up well before light? I'm guessing since he was gobbling like that off the roost that you didn't spook him right off the bat. Now he could have very well caught your movement when there was more light for him to see. Did he "alarm putt" before he flew out? Did he continue to gobble after he flew down? If he did you didn't bust him. I've had the same thing happen to me a few times. I've roosted birds the night before and snuck in well before daylight only to find myself way to close on the first gobble of the morning. Out of those hand full of times I was within 50 yards did I ever have the bird pitch down right in front of me. The other times was the same result as you had this morning. I think they sense something just isn't right and they fly down the other way. This is why I chose not to set up until I hear the bird for the first time. Of course I can do this in IL. because we have a lot of field gobblers and it is easy to relocate on them. Seeing how you are hunting a large forest it may not be an option for you. Keep after them. This is how we learn. I've probably made more mistakes than I have made right decisions over the years. Anyone that tells you they haven't while chasing these birds are blowing smoke. From every mistake I make I always learn a valuable lesson.

Chuck,

There is a few more questions you could answer to help us out here. Did you set up well before light? yes sir..one hour in advance?I'm guessing since he was gobbling like that off the roost that you didn't spook him right off the bat. exactly..he gobbled about 30 times at least..he was going crazy..Now he could have very well caught your movement when there was more light for him to see. probably did..Did he "alarm putt" before he flew out? Did he continue to gobble after he flew down? yes..I was talking with him after he flown 100 yds..then after 5 gobbles he stopped altogether..If he did you didn't bust him. I've had the same thing happen to me a few times. I've roosted birds the night before and snuck in well before daylight only to find myself way to close on the first gobble of the morning. Out of those hand full of times I was within 50 yards did I ever have the bird pitch down right in front of me. The other times was the same result as you had this morning. I think they sense something just isn't right and they fly down the other way. This is why I chose not to set up until I hear the bird for the first time. Of course I can do this in IL. because we have a lot of field gobblers and it is easy to relocate on them. Seeing how you are hunting a large forest it may not be an option for you. Keep after them. This is how we learn. I've probably made more mistakes than I have made right decisions over the years. Anyone that tells you they haven't while chasing these birds are blowing smoke. From every mistake I make I always learn a valuable lesson.
Appreciate the reply partner..and I appreciate all the replies as I am here to learn..fishing is a different story ..been doing it for years..pretty narrow minded there..but turkey hunting..I'm new and apprecate all help { -;
C7

After reading the rest of your answers to my questions, I really don't think you busted him and I really don't think you did anything wrong. He had his mind made up where he wanted to go when he flew down and he did just that. Now you know where he likes to go. Of course he will fly the other direction in the morning. Lol!! That's why I love Turkey hunting.

man ive said this tons of times in fall 08 day put me on a stump and i doe came out behind me i stared her down for what seemed like hours. i wondered if dad would be upset if i shot her ( i usually ask first) when i told him about her he said WHAT! what do you mean you didnt shoot! my nose was all bent out of shape that day. I shouldah give er a blisterin!