Turkeys don't give a damn about my calls after flydown
05-04-2017, 10:50 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: So Cal
Posts: 55
Turkeys don't give a damn about my calls after flydown
Hi,
I am new to turkey hunting. I am hunting private land and I setup a blind at the edge of a forest looking out to a field, close to where the birds roost. I practiced a lot with a mouth call and on my first morning, barely before sunrise I made a very soft yelp and waited. 10 minutes later 3 gobblers fly down about 10 yards from my decoy (which was setup at 20 yards). I gave them a soft purr and they got super excited and went right for the decoy. One of the gobblers was really nice bird, I got turkey fever, and missed by an inch... This happened with my bow. The birds didn't seem to notice the arrow much, but after a few seconds they moved 10 yards away, stayed there for a min and left for other hens. The rest of the day, I didn't get anything else (I can only stay until midday). But the birds were around the field, walking around and feeding with the hens, all in one big group, I couldn't get them closer than 100 yards, they did not cared about my calls at all.
I went a second time, this time with a shotgun as my archery confidence dropped with that missed shot, and I don't want to miss a bird like that again. Set up in the same spot, made a soft yelp right before sunrise, nothing. Then I start hearing other yelps (hens) and gobbles. Made a yelp, got a gobble back. About 2 minutes later, a bird flies down, 20 yards from my decoy. He didn't seem to see or care about the decoy, and was definitely looking around for the hen that called. It was a little dark and early so maybe he didn't even see it. I made a very soft yelp and a purr, and the bird look all excited and looked around. Few seconds passed, other hens were calling, and he walked towards them. This was followed by calls and gobbles but not other bird came down, some flied right over my head. Woods just got dead silent and I could see the big group of birds (about 15 total maybe?, 2 giant gobblers and a few smaller). They stayed together in one big group and kept following the hens and feeding. They did not answer my calls, they would look around every time I called, and lose interest quickly. There was one big fat gobbler staying behind with the group that started walking towards me after I called, but then he stopped, and went back to follow the hens...
What's going on here? what should I do? Is it possible to separate this birds from the hen group? or am I only going to keep getting this morning chance?. Should I just call in the morning and then shut up and hope for them to come feed in my area? should I add more hens to my decoy setup?(I only have one). This is the first week of turkey season in VT, so it is early. Is this normal behavior for early season? Thanks!
There's a big possibility that my calls are not good. But judging by the fact that I was able to bring those birds, and every single time a look at them from my binos after I call, they put their head up, look kind of excited and look around. But then they go back to following those damn hens... I tune myself everytime before the hunt by listening to real hens videos, and every now and then when I am hunting. I don't think I am calling too often. My decoy must be pretty ugly.
I am new to turkey hunting. I am hunting private land and I setup a blind at the edge of a forest looking out to a field, close to where the birds roost. I practiced a lot with a mouth call and on my first morning, barely before sunrise I made a very soft yelp and waited. 10 minutes later 3 gobblers fly down about 10 yards from my decoy (which was setup at 20 yards). I gave them a soft purr and they got super excited and went right for the decoy. One of the gobblers was really nice bird, I got turkey fever, and missed by an inch... This happened with my bow. The birds didn't seem to notice the arrow much, but after a few seconds they moved 10 yards away, stayed there for a min and left for other hens. The rest of the day, I didn't get anything else (I can only stay until midday). But the birds were around the field, walking around and feeding with the hens, all in one big group, I couldn't get them closer than 100 yards, they did not cared about my calls at all.
I went a second time, this time with a shotgun as my archery confidence dropped with that missed shot, and I don't want to miss a bird like that again. Set up in the same spot, made a soft yelp right before sunrise, nothing. Then I start hearing other yelps (hens) and gobbles. Made a yelp, got a gobble back. About 2 minutes later, a bird flies down, 20 yards from my decoy. He didn't seem to see or care about the decoy, and was definitely looking around for the hen that called. It was a little dark and early so maybe he didn't even see it. I made a very soft yelp and a purr, and the bird look all excited and looked around. Few seconds passed, other hens were calling, and he walked towards them. This was followed by calls and gobbles but not other bird came down, some flied right over my head. Woods just got dead silent and I could see the big group of birds (about 15 total maybe?, 2 giant gobblers and a few smaller). They stayed together in one big group and kept following the hens and feeding. They did not answer my calls, they would look around every time I called, and lose interest quickly. There was one big fat gobbler staying behind with the group that started walking towards me after I called, but then he stopped, and went back to follow the hens...
What's going on here? what should I do? Is it possible to separate this birds from the hen group? or am I only going to keep getting this morning chance?. Should I just call in the morning and then shut up and hope for them to come feed in my area? should I add more hens to my decoy setup?(I only have one). This is the first week of turkey season in VT, so it is early. Is this normal behavior for early season? Thanks!
There's a big possibility that my calls are not good. But judging by the fact that I was able to bring those birds, and every single time a look at them from my binos after I call, they put their head up, look kind of excited and look around. But then they go back to following those damn hens... I tune myself everytime before the hunt by listening to real hens videos, and every now and then when I am hunting. I don't think I am calling too often. My decoy must be pretty ugly.
Last edited by entropy4money; 05-04-2017 at 11:32 AM.
05-04-2017, 12:05 PM
#2
Super Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma
Posts: 1,350
Change up the calls. Maybe use a few different ones as in box, slate and so on. Also slip in there and move your blind to where they seem to go after fly down. I would try that first then if that doesn't work try a few more hen decoys. Remember to stay adaptable to the conditions. Watch the birds and see what stage of the breeding season you are in. That might give you clues how to act. If the hens are being talkative try imitating what she is saying. It will piss her off and more times than not she will come in and bring mr Big with her.
Do the toms seem aggressive toward the jakes. A jake decoy may help. Most of turkey hunting is trial an error till ya find what is working at that time. If its not too pressured then they shouldn't be call shy yet. Also if you are allowed to hunt in the afternoon I have had most my luck beween 9 am and 1 pm.
If you have access to a turkey fan and no one else is hunting the area (safety) you could try faning a bird in. Get low to the field edge and raise and lower the fan making sure the Tom sees you. If he is aggressive he may come running. One of the birds I took this year I hunched over and walked slowly toward a tom and 6 hens while holding a fan in front of me. It took me 3 hours to cover just under a mile of wide open terrain but the hens eventually walked my way after I got within 150 yrds and the Tom followed about 60 yrds behind them till he met mr Winchester. Good luck and enjoy your time out there.
Do the toms seem aggressive toward the jakes. A jake decoy may help. Most of turkey hunting is trial an error till ya find what is working at that time. If its not too pressured then they shouldn't be call shy yet. Also if you are allowed to hunt in the afternoon I have had most my luck beween 9 am and 1 pm.
If you have access to a turkey fan and no one else is hunting the area (safety) you could try faning a bird in. Get low to the field edge and raise and lower the fan making sure the Tom sees you. If he is aggressive he may come running. One of the birds I took this year I hunched over and walked slowly toward a tom and 6 hens while holding a fan in front of me. It took me 3 hours to cover just under a mile of wide open terrain but the hens eventually walked my way after I got within 150 yrds and the Tom followed about 60 yrds behind them till he met mr Winchester. Good luck and enjoy your time out there.
Last edited by kellyguinn; 05-04-2017 at 12:09 PM.
05-04-2017, 12:17 PM
#3
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: So Cal
Posts: 55
Change up the calls. Maybe use a few different ones as in box, slate and so on. Also slip in there and move your blind to where they seem to go after fly down. I would try that first then if that doesn't work try a few more hens.
Do the toms seem aggressive toward the jakes. A jake decoy may help. Most of turkey hunting is trial an error till ya find what is working at that time. If its not too pressured then they shouldn't be call shy yet. Also if you are allowed to hunt in the afternoon I have had most my luck beween 9 am and 1 pm.
If you have access to a turkey fan and no one else is hunting the area (safety) you could try faning a bird in. Get low to the field edge and raise and lower the fan making sure the Tom sees you. If he is aggressive he may come running. One of the birds I took this year I hunched over and walked slowly toward a tom and 6 hens while holding a fan in front of me. It took me 3 hours to cover just under a mile of wide open terrain but the hens eventually walked my way after I got within 150 yrds and the Tom followed about 60 yrds behind them till he met mr Winchester. Good luck and enjoy your time out there.
Do the toms seem aggressive toward the jakes. A jake decoy may help. Most of turkey hunting is trial an error till ya find what is working at that time. If its not too pressured then they shouldn't be call shy yet. Also if you are allowed to hunt in the afternoon I have had most my luck beween 9 am and 1 pm.
If you have access to a turkey fan and no one else is hunting the area (safety) you could try faning a bird in. Get low to the field edge and raise and lower the fan making sure the Tom sees you. If he is aggressive he may come running. One of the birds I took this year I hunched over and walked slowly toward a tom and 6 hens while holding a fan in front of me. It took me 3 hours to cover just under a mile of wide open terrain but the hens eventually walked my way after I got within 150 yrds and the Tom followed about 60 yrds behind them till he met mr Winchester. Good luck and enjoy your time out there.
There are no signs of aggression between Toms and Jakes. It is early spring here. I was thinking maybe adding more hens than just one, to make it more appealing for them to come? I see signs of them eating where I am, and lots of tracks. I just really don't know how to get them to come towards me when they seem to be so obsessed with the real hens, which makes sense I guess. I am not allowed to hunt after midday.
Thanks for the answer, I think I am going to try adding more hens. They seem to be an abundance of turkeys here, and one hen decoy might just not be enough when there are plenty real. But again, I have no experience, so this is just simple guessing.
05-04-2017, 12:42 PM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: So Cal
Posts: 55
Thanks
05-04-2017, 02:37 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
I buy a guaranteed May license here in MI and don't even get serious until the last half of May when all the hens are nesting and the gobblers are by themselves. They will usually come to a hen call any time of the day then. Just have patience and hunt until the end of the month if you can.
05-05-2017, 03:27 AM
#8
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 470
This justs sounds like typical turkey hunting, some days it's a walk in the park, other days it's frustrating...if they are coming out to the field you are hunting in the AM, you have a great chance of killing one. I'd try putting some more hen decoys out, along with a strutting gobbler decoy, if you have one.
Another option, if possible, would be work your way through the woods as quietly as possible, and try getting in front of them, eventually they'll go back in the woods, and if you are set up in the right place, you may be able to ambush one. No, it's not as fun as calling in a gobbling bird, but it may help you fill a tag.
Another option, if possible, would be work your way through the woods as quietly as possible, and try getting in front of them, eventually they'll go back in the woods, and if you are set up in the right place, you may be able to ambush one. No, it's not as fun as calling in a gobbling bird, but it may help you fill a tag.
05-05-2017, 05:26 AM
#9
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: So Cal
Posts: 55
This justs sounds like typical turkey hunting, some days it's a walk in the park, other days it's frustrating...if they are coming out to the field you are hunting in the AM, you have a great chance of killing one. I'd try putting some more hen decoys out, along with a strutting gobbler decoy, if you have one.
Another option, if possible, would be work your way through the woods as quietly as possible, and try getting in front of them, eventually they'll go back in the woods, and if you are set up in the right place, you may be able to ambush one. No, it's not as fun as calling in a gobbling bird, but it may help you fill a tag.
Another option, if possible, would be work your way through the woods as quietly as possible, and try getting in front of them, eventually they'll go back in the woods, and if you are set up in the right place, you may be able to ambush one. No, it's not as fun as calling in a gobbling bird, but it may help you fill a tag.
05-05-2017, 01:44 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Waipahu HI USA
Posts: 2,915
Just a small bit of advice...I noticed in your signature lines that your 870 has a modified choke. Try putting a full choke in if you can. Or for even better range and performance on turkeys, an extra full choke.
Good luck, and keep at 'em. When you do bust one, it will all be worth it.
Good luck, and keep at 'em. When you do bust one, it will all be worth it.