When hunting toms off the roost in the spring, how long before sunrise should you be "set-up-n-ready" to go?
I have always tried to be close to setup an hour before daylight. I can't sleep late though.
Around 1hr to 30 min before sunrise. I like to get there early and take my time moving through the woods in the dark.
I like an hr too. this gives things time to calm down from moving around in the dark too.
As long as I'm there within earshot around day-break I'm good. The way I hunt I don't need to be there an hour or two before daylight.
As long as it's dark enough to where I don't think he'll see me I'm good. 10 - 30 minutes before shooting light is plenty.
If I have a bird roosted from the night before Im going in wayy early more than an hour before shooting light and setting up as tight as I dare get. If I have no idea where they are at then ill just go to a good listen spot about 20min early and wait.
most mornings though Im setting up on a particular bird.
Quote from: Basin_hunter on February 22, 2012, 12:25:14 PM
Around 1hr to 30 min before sunrise. I like to get there early and take my time moving through the woods in the dark.
Whoa, dude. You're missing out on a lot of good sleep! :morning:
I used to enjoy getting to woods around 45 minutes before light, but a very accomplished turkey hunter has taught me that you really only need to be there when they start to gobble. For the most part, I/we get to the woods ~15 minutes before light and normally don't stand there too long to wait to hear the first gobble. We give it a couple a minutes, determine which turkey wants to die and then go kill him. After that, we're on to the next for the day. I will admit that once we've identified our turkey, we walk very swiftly to ensure we set up before fly down.
If I know where one is roosted from the night before then I'll get up a little earlier to get where I need to be set up before it starts getting light outside. We hunt some areas with alot of BIG open fields and if I got to cross a field then its going to be in pitch black or not at all. If Im hunting in the woods and have more cover or terrain to use then I'm not as worried about it.
If I dont have one roosted then I'm good to get there about the time the gobbling starts. No need to get up any earlier cause I'm listening for one to hunt at that point and It's not much use to get up before he feels like telling me where he is.
Quote from: sugarray on February 22, 2012, 12:29:19 PM
I like an hr too. this gives things time to calm down from moving around in the dark too.
Same here.
Quote from: dirt road ninja on February 22, 2012, 12:48:23 PM
As long as it's dark enough to where I don't think he'll see me I'm good. 10 - 30 minutes before shooting light is plenty.
X2
Quote from: guesswho on February 22, 2012, 12:38:32 PM
As long as I'm there within earshot around day-break I'm good. The way I hunt I don't need to be there an hour or two before daylight.
same here. I have a listening spot at every pubic land spot that I hunt where I can hear about as far as I want to walk. They have usually done started gobbling or will be within a few minutes when I get there then I decide what I want to do. Even if I roosted one the night before I dont get there till right at daylight.
I've never had being too early mess up a hunt but I've been too late before...
To piggyback this question, what color LED light do you use for hiking in if it's too dark? Red, green, other?
I'm anal !LOL I've been set up and ready 2 hours before daylight on some birds that I roosted the night before or had known exactly where they were roosting from previous hunts . On one occasion my only option was to walk directly under the bird because of terrain issues and private property so I was there 2 hours before light . I had to set up 40 yds from the tree with my back to the private property . He flew down away from me and with light calling he was dead with in minutes . I usually know every day where the birds are roosting so I'm ready an hour before light . I haven't used a flashlight in years to walk in . It works for me and I'm sticking to it .
Usually 30 minutes before sun up.
Im starting to think Im the only one that likes to sleep on here lol. Seriously, most spots are an hour drive, I hunt everyday, need to try and be back by 11 to work for my business then work my other job in the evening and get home around 1030 every night. Get in the bed about midnight and get up around 430-5 and do it again. If I got up every morning to go sit in the dark for an hour I would be one grouchy man by Friday lol. I know the ridges the birds prefer to roost on so i dont walk in those ways so I'm not worried about having to get in early to let things settle or spooking them off the roost. If I had to walk across a big wide open field I could see getting in a little earlier than normal but bout all I hunt is mountain birds.
Quote from: BowBendr on February 22, 2012, 10:30:35 PM
Quote from: dirt road ninja on February 22, 2012, 12:48:23 PM
As long as it's dark enough to where I don't think he'll see me I'm good. 10 - 30 minutes before shooting light is plenty.
X2
x3
I like to be walking to my spot 30 min. or more before light. Sometimes more depending on how far I've got to walk.
This time frame also depends if my Dad is hunting with me...........He's a little older now and doesn't move as fast as I do. He does much better sitting in my DB blind since he can't sit still for long periods due to arthritis, so it takes extra time to get the blind set-up.
My #1 spot is an hour from my house, so I don't have a choice but to get up early.
30 min for me. My concern is sneaking in before daylight without a flashlight and bumping a snake in the dark. Never stepped on one but sat down in the dark once and noticed a little brown snake coiled between my legs when my eyes adjusted a few minutes latter. I didn't move and after about 15 min he eased away. Had round pupils so he was not venomous, but he could have been!
We have some big canebrake rattlers in these parts that i would hate to step on in the dark, even with my snake boots, which i always wear.
Good and dark. Whatever time that may be. Not unusual to bump some deer, etc so i like to let the woods settle and be either set up on a preroosted bird, a known roosting area, or a good listening vantage point long before the sky begins to brighten. Ive already been in the woods at 3am on occasion when i had a long hike ahead, but typically around 430 to five most times.
Quote from: sugarray on February 22, 2012, 12:29:19 PM
I like an hr too. this gives things time to calm down from moving around in the dark too.
Agree....
If I know where a bird is roosted I like to be there set up and ready about an hour before sunrise. If not, I still like to get the woods about an hour early to be the first one at my chosen listening spot.
I use a headlamp with a green lense if I have a ways to walk in the dark, when I get close I switch to a Green Streamlight Pen light and keep it pointed down. I have had several close calls over the years in the dark.
Almost sat on a large rattle snake one year. Sat down with in a foot of him
we he started rattling I almost lost it. I have also injured an eye on 2 occasions in the dark, stuck a limb in one and had a briar catch one, lucky I didn't lose that one. I suggest if your going to walk in the dark get you some clear safety glasses to wear.
Usually I like to be at my listening place about 30 mins before daylight. I have one particular spot where birds roost on the edge of a huge field, the only way in to them is to walk across the field. If I'm hunting that spot I'm in there an hour and a half before daylight. There have been times when I haven't been able to sleep and just get up and go sit in the woods. It's very peacful in the woods when it's pitch black out. I don't use a light, never have.
Well, I just ordered this light.
It's got red and green LEDs, as well as clear and blue.
(http://www.southwestgerberknives.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Gerber_22_80016__4d3b8838bc790.gif)
Reason I asked about light is I hear people talking about and using green LEDs pretty often. Usually when I see deer hunters in fall they're using green as well.
But on the other hand, I've read that birds cannot see red light, and that this is why they use red lights at night in chicken houses, so their keepers can see but the birds will still roost and sleep. Makes sense to me.
Anyone got anymore opinions on Red vs Green?
Turkeys can most definitely see red.
The gobblers head turns bright red to attract a mate.
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On roosted birds I usually need an hour. Otherwise 15 minutes before daylight is plenty.
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15-30 minutes for me.
Places i hunt they seldom gobble before breaking daylight i get there bout 15 minutes before day light.I very seldom roost any the night before.I know they there somewhere so i go findem if they dont gobble.
20-30 mins
You can't tell this person an exact time for when to be in the woods. It's all based on circumstance. You need to allow yourself enough time to get into your planned position or allow yourself enough time to decide on where to set up if you haven't already thought it through the day before. How long this takes is based on how much walking you have to do to get into position. Arrive early enough to get set up and give yourself time to listen to your surroundings and know where the turkeys are when they wake up and the woods comes to life!
If roosted maybe 45 min. to an hour.
If not maybe 15 minutes before daylight breaks.
If roosted and dark- 30 mins. If the moon is bright an hour. If none roosted, and i have the area to myself- 15 mins is ok. Late in the season when im wore plum out- after daylight may be just fine. ;D
Quote from: LongBeard24-7 on March 04, 2012, 04:09:28 PM
You can't tell this person an exact time for when to be in the woods. It's all based on circumstance. You need to allow yourself enough time to get into your planned position or allow yourself enough time to decide on where to set up if you haven't already thought it through the day before. How long this takes is based on how much walking you have to do to get into position. Arrive early enough to get set up and give yourself time to listen to your surroundings and know where the turkeys are when they wake up and the woods comes to life!
:agreed: I personally live in an area made up of smaller properties. Around here we don't have the luxury of waiting at a listening post and deciding which gobbler to chase. Lucky to have a single gobbler or maybe 2 in the majority of these areas. Not much room to move around either. Most hunters around here will get in the woods an hour before light to a predetermined location. I sure do enjoy when I get to hunt a larger property occasionally though. It is fun sleeping in and listening to multiple birds lighting up the surrounding ridges, knowing you can chase whichever one you want to.
As far as lights go, I don't use one. after a moment or two my eyes adjust well enough to see where I'm going. Again though, smaller properties where I already know the lay of the land.
I get to the woods about an hour before sunrise . If I'm hunting a roosted bird I'll be setup about 45 minutes before sunrise .
I also Hunt a Small woods and I hardley Roost birds the Night before. So I get there about an Hour before Daylight. Lights I have a Headlamp but I dont turn it on, Unless I fall or check My pack before I sit up. I do Have the option of Green light.
15-30 min. Before day break
I like to be set up 30 mins. before daylight. I use small green cap-lights and work well - I used to go in by moonlight - although I wear snakeboots, I've killed 4 foot rattlers and I don't want to chance them. My son and I did bust one turkey on a moonlit nite, flew out of the tree right above us on our way to set up. My son did all the calling, and 30 mins. after daylight, I saw him coming from the direction he flew - got him at 20 yds, one of the best birds so far. I have to believe it was the one we busted but never know for sure. He could see well enough to fly in the dark (moonlight). I'm NOT going to sit down on a rattlesnake - no turkey is worth that.
Ive done both an hour before day light and 10 minutes before daylight, doesnt matter if you know what youre doing and if the bird wants to die or not