Years ago i was set-up on 3 gobblers waiting for fly-down when all the sudden they busted out of the tree and sailed down the canyon out of sight in the pre-dawn darkness.I couldn't believe it because it was still to dark for them to be pitching out of the roost.Moments later I witnessed 2 guys sneaking up to the roost tree the birds were just in explaining why they busted out and flew down the canyon.Totally dejected and P-off I sat there wondering what in the heck I was gonna do now.There were no other birds making any noise around so those 3 gobblers I figured were the only game in town.Hoping those guys would pack up and leave with silent woods, I eased out the ridge adjacent to the canyon those gobblers flew down and just sat down and waited.I sat there falling in and out of sleep for about and an 1 and a half and decided to send a few soft yelps down the canyon and a couple of clucks.I knew the birds had been hunted pretty hard so I decided to use the passive approach knowing they had been hit with all the hard aggressive stuff earlier in the season.I sent a couple of soft yelps followed by a couple clucks down the canyon only to be greeted by silence which didn't surprise me after what had happened on the roost.About 10 minutes later after i had made that call I heard it,(ppffttvrrooommm).I heard it the first time and I told myself no that couldn't of been.Than I heard it again and boy did I come to attention.I whispered to my huntin partner did you hear that and he said no.I said to him listen I hear a bird in strut.He then nodded his head,and in a matter of minutes those 3 gobblers were in our lap and we took a nice 2 year old bird.I told this story to make a point that might help many here in hunting ole tom turkey. Good hearing truley is an advantage to those that have it, and use it in such a way to help them be a more successful turkey hunter.The key is knowing what to listen for while your in the field.I really believe if a hunter would practice using his ears instead of his legs and eyes we'd have alot more turkeys that were less spooky.Anytime I set-up on a gobbler i use my ears more than anything else.Hearing tells all.It tells you where he's at,how far,which direction he's choosing to come in,and the effect your calling has on him with the intensity of his gobbling and strutting.All these things the hunter needs to know to make his adjustments to that particular gobbler in getting him to come in.If you turkey hunt enough you will encounter those quiet days and often times the woods become silent after fly-down.This is the time when I put my ears to work and instead of listening for primarily a bird to gobble,i listen for drumming,other turkey talk,and scratching.Patience will also make you a better listener.Alot of todays turkey hunters make the mistake of walking around their turkey woods when things go silent.And in return end up spooking birds or leaving them behind.I killed a monster gobbler 3 years ago by just using my ears.He gobbled only twice on the roost but when he hit the ground he was in fullstrut till i shot him and being able to hear his drumming gave me the opportunity to get positioned in front of him and work his hens right to me.Practice using your ears instead of your legs and eyes,and with a little patience you'll be surprised at what you can hear in your turkey woods.It may not be that bird gobbling hard but it doesn't have to be to get the drop on ole tom turkey.Hope it helps!BG2. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - bobgobble2 on 02/27/2002 10:17:46

Very well said! Hearing plays a huge role in turkey hunting. Patience is the next biggest thing in my book.

Very good post Bobgobble.!!

EXCELLENT, BOBGOBBLE2 !!!

Good post,BG2

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Bobgobble2,you never cease to amaze me.LOL!

I have a couple stories to further illustrate this point. Two years ago, after a couple un-successful setups just after fly-down, I wondered onto this ridge where I thought I had heard some gobbling earlier on. My first few yelps on my mouthcall and slate weren't answered, which left me thinking that whatever was here earlier had left the area. Half asleep, I called off and on and then heard that sweet sound. Phhhtt-Vvvroooom. At first I knew that I was just imagining it, then it happened again and again and I could hear him walking in the leaves. I knew I should of taken advantage of hearing this earlier on and positioned myself where I could get a shot, being that he was coming in directly behind me. I shivered as he walked out only 7 yards to my right, and I'm right handed. He broke into strut and turned the back of his fan in my direction, so I slowly eased up my 870. The gobbler turned around and I zeroed in on him left-handed and shot him less than ten yards away.

This shows a couple points. If you think you heard a gobble or a tom strutting, you probably did. So act on it as soon as possible. Another point, practice shooting both right and left handed so when that tom pops up out of nowhere, you can make a switch in case you can't turn your body around in time.

Story #2: Last year after many turkeys had been shot off of my grandpa's land, I was the only one who still had to fill my 4th(last) season tag. After a few days of nothing, I decided I was going to hunt normally, and if nothing came of it, I was going to slip into the roosting area just before qutting time. I hadn't heard a gobble all afternoon as I got positioned near the area the turkeys had been roosting. I called and nothing... then just before it was time to pack it up, I heard something walking coming from over the hill. I knew it had to either be a turkey or a deer so I held tight. The night was so quiet, I could hear it from a long way away. It never gobbled, but a tom and 2 hens crept over the hill and I shot the gobbler at 25 yards. That shows you to listen for sounds besides gobbling and never, ever to give up. It was the last day of the season.