this weekend april 2-3 is our youth turkey hunt in arkansas i was planing to take my son on his first turkey hunt. but the birds are not responding to calling yet. i have went out the past two mornings and the birds will gobble on the roost but once they get on the ground they shut up and wont come to a call i will see them cross the road 60 to 70 from me or even struting and they will never make a sound or even act at all interested in my calls. ive only been turkey hunting for 3years but come time for the regular season i have no problem geting the birds in close. any suggestions will be appreciated my son is really looking forward to this weekend. Thanks

What are the hens doing?

I was in Litle Rock yesterday. I actually was suprised driving over and back to not see any birds in the fields of AR or TN. Sun was out but didn't see any birds working the fields.

Early season can be tough. You need to see what the hens are saying. Or since you seem to have seen their path the other day you may just set up accordingly and call them when they get down. Get between them and the food/.

I change my cadence, pitch, and tone depending on the time of year. high, high, low....high,high,high,low is typical for me in early season. And rarely do I call more than once at a bird I know is there. I'll call and then hush up and listen and watch.

the hens are not doing much you may hear a cluck now and then. the toms are roosting close to the hens and when they get down thay stay with them just about all day

Sounds like they are still establishing who the big bird on the block is. I've seen them early season being tight lipped too, even when they are together and the hens get to fighting. Figure the Toms would gobble their heards off, but don't. Some will go into strut, while others just hang close by the gals all day. Don't ya hate it when the Tom's act like they're 14 and just found out what a Playboy Playmate looks like?

If it were me, I'd patten the old boy you want and be in the general area that he heads. Then, depending on the flock location, try to fire up the dominant hen. Get her all jacked up and she'll come looking to cool your heels. She likes the boys being around and how dare you try to steal her man! LOL. I've had her drag the boys right along for the ride, especially in early season when they wanna keep an eye on the ladies instead of break away for that lone hen love. Give 'em some lead love instead.

Edited 'cause sometimes, I just KAN't SpElL leFT, 'er, I mEen Right!

so what do i need to do to get the hen fired up i have never had to work the hens all the toms i have called in have been alone