I busted two birds off the roost this a.m. How bad did I screw up? How long should I wait before I try to get on em again?? Heres the story....
I got there as it was breaking daylight. I blew an owl call and nothing. I waited and blew it again...nothing. I was at this gas line about 30 yards wide with woods on either side. I move on up the gas line and by now its really getting light.Well I heard some crows off in the distance so I thought Id try the crow call. I hit it hard and GOOOBBBLEEE. He was on down the gas line and sounded like across the creek. I moved on that way and hit the crow call again. Again he gobbled back. He still sounded further across the creek. This is where it goes south.....I wanted to get as close as possible to him so he would come on in before he got henned up. I moved on down a little further and hit the crow call again.....nothing...I was like what the crap. So I said well maybe he will holler back at a hen. So I got the slate and hit a few soft yelps...well no sooner than I hit the last note, one flies down from the same side Im on and lands about 45 yrds away...well as he lands, the one that had been gobbling flies down and lands beside him. So here I stand with shotgun slung over my shoulder and decoys in a bag, with 2 longbeards not 50 yrds away...I was hosed...I just stood there and one started puttin real light and they just eased off. I set out the decs and called and then got up and tried to get out in front of them and called some more but nothing. ...it was really dishearting...if I would have just sit down when he gobbled that second time, he would probably have flew right down to me.Im pretty sick over it to tell the truth. sorry so long Im just still pumped.

Doesn't sound like you freaked'em out too bad.

When were you planning on hunting that area again?

Due to my work shcedule the earliset time I can hunt it again in the a.m woud probably be Sunday morning. I can hunt just about any time after work in the evening...

Hunt them in the evening then. You know where they are roosting, get there before they do and just wait. I agree with Charlie, i don't think they noticed you all that much or they would have took off like a bat outta hell so I would be inclined to believe they will continue to travel through there. Just don't hang your head, we have all made those mistakes before and you have to learn from them instead of just replaying it over and over. Figure what you could have done better, such as getting out a little earlier possibly and try again. Good luck and I hope you get one of em!

I've probably busted, or been busted, by as many toms as I've shot, over the years. It happens. Don't worry about it.

Just remember the lesson you learned: Only use the hen call as a locator when you're in a position to set up and shoot a fast-responding gobbler, and if the birds are still roosted, do not make turkey sounds at all (for locating) or they might fly down to what they think is a hen on the ground.

Good luck!!