Rookie Question
 

This year will be my first Turkey Hunt. Plan on scouting the area we will hunt.

My stupid question: What time of the evening do they go to roost. sunset? Prior? Complete dark?

Thanks in advance.

I'm open to any other tips you have. I'll be hunting western KS for Rios. Cold front with wind moving in for my hunt.

I know there are lots of birds as I've deer hunted the ground for years but never made the spring trip.

I've read up on the forum but most of the info seems to be for veterans. I need Turkey 101.

Josmund,

Be in the woods, one hour before sunset.

Find the largest group of birds and follow well behind; as to not spook them.


As the daylight dwindles you can close in on the flock a little.

By last light they will want to have already flew up into their roost tree.


Look for the best opening in the trees for their fly down area.

Expect to see the ground all tracked up and quite a few feathers in the area.

I consider the 3:30 to 7:30 time frame a good time to be out where you know they travel on the way to the roost area if your state alows afternoon and evening hunting. This is when and where I have had my best success with loner Toms and Jakes.

The answer to this question depends on a lot
of variables. Sometimes they fly up well before
dark ( especially rainy days ) at other times
I've seen birds on the ground when it was
nearly dark. My personal preference is
to stay out of the area where they are roosting
until nearly dark when visibility starts to fade
and the chances of spooking birds is less.
Then get within a couple hundred yards
and try to get a gobble by owl hooting,
this frequently works but not always.
Good luck!

Ditto what w123t stated!!!

I've often gone out in the late afternoon with a call. Once I would get a response I'd stop calling til' just before dark. Then call to him again to get him to answer(cackle or locator). By then they're looking to get off the ground. While the light is fading you should observe the area and pick out your route in. Get in early. Well before day break!

everyplace i different,but usualy before evening

For me the best time to locate the birds is in the morning.
I hunt public land in Fla, so we are done hunting at 1:00.
I get to the spots I want to check in the dark. Then I will walk and blow the owl call every 100 yards are so. Once I get a gobbler to answer I will mark the spot on my GPS and keep going, trying to find another one.
Then I will go into the area later in the morning to look around and find the best place to set up, and the best way in.
John

I try to go out a day in advance and scout to see where the birds are. Don't do any hunting then. Use a locator call to help find them. Look for sign like feathers, torn up ground, etc. Maybe you could see where they are roosting. Since this is your first hunt, why not try to set up in advance where you saw them hanging out the day before? This might be more successful than trying to chase them down just before dusk. Just get out well before daylight and set up your blind in and amongst trees but set your decoys out in the open, about 10-15 yards from your blind and wait for them to come in. Try to get set up with the sun behind you if you can. Good luck!