Alright - I have never gone Turkey hunting but I would like to start. For starters though, I keep hearing all kinds of folks saying these birds are difficult to find, real cagey, smart as white-tail, etc. OK - Well - Then how come I darn near gotta kick 'em outta the way to get to my dear stand? I mean they don't run, they roost right on a branch above my ground blind. They come strutting in right under my treestand doing the best impersonation of a white-tail -causing me to draw, cluck and yak at each other like they never even looked at me. And when I got down to go one afternoon, I had to walk right through a whole flock that had sourrounded my tree - sheesh. I imagine that as soon as I buy a tag they will evaporate -but .....

Well 3,I know exactly what you're sayin.I can't explain it but somehow them dang birds just seem to know when you're huntin em and when you're not.Give it a try,I think you'll like it.By the way Welcome to our little flock here.

Thank you, I'm heading out on the second to get my tag application. Hopefully it will go better then deer season this year.

Regards and good luck in the new year.

Good luck.

Kicking around young poults in the fall is alot different than hunting alert adult toms in the spring. In the spring, you are dealing with the birds who lived through the winter. They seem to be aware that they are vulnerable because they are announcing their presence. They are vigulant. I've heard alot of guys express the same thought as you did. They were soon educated. In the spring, a tom is 20 pounds of eyeball. Good luck.

I'll second what the others have said. I get that all the time from guys who hunt deer but not turkeys. It's a whole different ballgame in the spring turkey woods.
We've driven by them in fields where they were over a quarter mile away and have gotten out of the truck. They immediately make a beeline for the woods cover. I think you'll find if you are like the rest of us that it is quite an addicting bird to hunt. I've hunted deer for 30 years but my anticipation of the hunt is much greater for turkey hunting than it is for deer.

I'm sure all of you folks are correct, the flock of birds I walk through in the fall will not be the same in the spring - Still it sounds like it should be fun, and will give me an excuse for buying a new bow this fall with a shorter draw length for use in my ground blind. It is hard for me to imagine now though how these birds will be to the point of nearly pests in the fall, then turn into vapor for the spring.
I have had deer do this though. I squirrel hunt in the early fall to provide a good stew, scouting, and to get myself slowed down to woodland speed for archery deer opener. I see lots of deer crossing the road, hanging out on the feild edges, and in one case nearly stepping on me - No kidding- (I fell asleep waiting on a particular squirrel that annoyed me the year before. 7 point walked by my head about two feet away and never even noticed - I did manage to be there when he came to rub the same pine on opening day that year) These same deer were no where though this year, but that is what keeps me comming back. Trying to be where they expect me not to be. Guess it will be the same with Turkeys.

Happy New Year to all -