I have heard some veteran hunters state that they prefer to hunt gobblers starting just before noon and on into the rest of the day. What time of day have you taken the largest percentage of your turkeys and what do you think is the reason for that?
FC
1) 0900-1200( left hens and they are lonely, best time to yelp one up )
2) Flydown plus 1 hour(Ihave a great spot exclusively for me and the wife)
3) After noon ( harder work but more cerebral)
I've never killed a bird after noon. Can't say I've really tried much though. It hasn't been legal in PA until a few years ago and I just never really gave it a go. I'd say 75% of birds I have killed have died by 8 am.
Around the house I either get them early or leave them to play another day. I've got to much to do on my off days.
Out of town is a whole different story. I've got time. Love a good early morning hunt. But have killed early then gone to another spot and called in birds for BBR12 or he's called them in for me mid day. If they gobble after 10am your odds are in your favor. Not a slam dunk by any means but better odds than most any other time.
I've had good success in the afternoons Even though it's my least favorite time and way to hunt. If I don't get him in the morning then I'll be in his area that afternoon. I'll either get him then or I'll know what limb he's sitting on for the next morning. Unless he acts like a MS bird then who knows where he will roost. If more birds acted like MS birds, I think we'd have a lot less people in the woods and running the roads.
I will hunt the afternoons until the end of hunting time most days. I have found that if I can get a gobbler to answer me in the afternoon, I have a better than average chance to pick him up by the feet. I love the morning gobbling and calling them in early scenarios, but I usually am trying to compete with live hens that he is already strutting for.
FC
Rarely does it happen after fly down since they are usually preoccupied with the ladies. From 8 on is when it usually happens. Anytime one answers midday on he usually works right in.