Took my first turkey this past Monday on opening day here in Ohio. I have hunted every day since then on the same property and every morning I have had this one really nice tom roosted in the same tree about 70 from my setup. I get setup every morning about 5:15 and by 5:30- 5:45 he starts gobbling. I have been giving him a few soft yelps on my slate call, just to give him an idea a hen is near. Once it starts getting light I can see him up in the tree gobbling his head off and looking around. And every morning when he flys down he goes the other way, and unfournatly because of the lay of the property, I can not run around and cut him off as he is going onto the neighbors land. I dont think i am over calling, I just give hime a few soft yelps to try and entice him and make him jealous, I also have a jake decoy setup but I guess he dosent see it? Any ideas guys? Im going out again tomorrow morning and I would really like to take him before the other hunters do!
Thanks
Matt
First off let me say welcome to OG. Don't set so close. If you can see him ,he can see you. Rather he see's where your calling from and doesn't see any hens.
Get in there a little earlier. Set up where he normally flies down to. Don't put out a decoy or call. Wait until he hits the ground until you call, soft clucks and yelps. You will kill him.
TRKYHTR
Thanks for the responses! so how close should I get? I could go sit under the tree he roosts in if I wanted. Allot of people have been saying to back out farther but getting even closer sounds like a better idea. So get in earlier, and get as close as possible, and dont call till he hits the ground?
If you have been within 70 yards while he is in the tree you should know where he flies down to. Get within shooting distance of that area or between that area and the way he has been going after flydown. Don't call till his feet hit the ground. Good luck,
TRKYHTR
:welcomeOG:
Thanks! the problem is is the past 3 times ive seen him, he flies down onto the neighbors property... Do you guys have any thoughts on the dirty b injured gobbler decoy? I can set it up on the property I hunt where he would for sure see it from his roost? Anybody have any experiences with that decoy or is it just a crock?
unless you're a stealth ninja there's no way you'll make it all the way to the tree he's sitting in without busting him... go try it at 1 am if you want it will not happen... Do what TRKYHTR said to do you'll get him...
Quote from: TRKYHTR on April 25, 2013, 06:53:25 PM
Get in there a little earlier. Set up where he normally flies down to. Don't put out a decoy or call. Wait until he hits the ground until you call, soft clucks and yelps. You will kill him.
TRKYHTR
:agreed: :welcomeOG:
Thanks everybody! I appreciate it! Alarm clock is set for 3:30 am, rather than 4. Will give it a try and let you guys know how it goes!
Good luck! :welcomeOG:
I am interested in how this story unfolds. Have nearly identical situation and will follow your advice as well.
I think that old tom reads these forms. He was not roosted in his usual spot. Heard a few far off gobbles so far..
Quote from: MouthCaller on April 25, 2013, 09:34:30 PM
unless you're a stealth ninja there's no way you'll make it all the way to the tree he's sitting in without busting him... go try it at 1 am if you want it will not happen... Do what TRKYHTR said to do you'll get him...
I must be Stealth Ninja, get in early before they wake up and I can get as close as I want if I slide in quiet and without using a flashlight. Deer walk around the woods at night under them all the time. My go too tactic on crafty birds is be 50-60yds no further off their tree in the direction they will likely fly down but Ive had numerous times where I've been 30,20 even 8yds from birds in the trees.
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 26, 2013, 07:46:54 AM
Quote from: MouthCaller on April 25, 2013, 09:34:30 PM
unless you're a stealth ninja there's no way you'll make it all the way to the tree he's sitting in without busting him... go try it at 1 am if you want it will not happen... Do what TRKYHTR said to do you'll get him...
I must be Stealth Ninja, get in early before they wake up and I can get as close as I want if I slide in quiet and without using a flashlight. Deer walk around the woods at night under them all the time. My go too tactic on crafty birds is be 50-60yds no further off their tree in the direction they will likely fly down but Ive had numerous times where I've been 30,20 even 8yds from birds in the trees.
Its way more likely you'll bust one than to set up on the tree he's in... it might not be totally impossible but its highly unlikely...
Well I finally got him this past Monday morning! Set up in the usual spot and as day broke he was not in his usual tree. It was overcast and spitting rain. I could hear one bird gobble about 500 yards away in the woods, I did a little calling and he started gobbling back. Waited a little, did a few more yelps on the mouth call and he responded, did this call and response routine for about 30 mins, with each gobble getting louder and closer! I was figuring he would walk up this trail that I was setup overlooking but he came into the woods behind my back, I was setup on a tree with a honeysuckle growing at the base of it. So I turned around and got up on my knees, raised my shotgun, and he was at 20 yards headed straight towards me, I shot and dropped him. I am fairly certain it was the bird I had been seeing on the roost for the previous week. It was an awesome hunt! My favorite yet! 2nd bird of my life, 24 lbs, 11" beard and 1" spurs! Getting him mounted strutting! Tagged out in Ohio!!!
more...
Last one...
That's awesome. congrats! :icon_thumright:
It's not impossible to be a Stealth Ninja but the terrain makes a difference. I had same situation and finally closed the deal after three tries...first try I set up with a couple of dekes about 100 yards from where they fly down, called after flydown ...henned up didn't work.
2. Roosted birds...got in pretty close...very early in dark but was a moonlight night so I could't get as close as I wanted. Flew down...henned up , went other direction with hens.
3. Roosted one tom , 4 hens , same exact spot. Got up at 4:20 AM , got to field and got in real close...last 40-50 yards I took a step about every 5 seconds and picked my way thru cornstalks, sticks etc. on field edge to be extremely quiet...got set up by my tree at 5:00AM (field is only 2-3 miles from my house) . Was cloudy so darker, better cover. Wasn't sure of the exact roost tree but I thought I was close so I sat pretty much motionless till flydown time.
Cool, Cloudy, no gobbles at all...heard big wings at 6:20 , got gun up...he hit ground 25 yards in front of me and took about three steps...got a ride home in my truck.
Sure I'd like to have called him in from 400 yards away but with these birds being henned up that wasn't working
so I changed my tactics.
If u want him real bad limb shoot him. If its legal then its fair game. Here in wv we can limb shoot them plus we can use rifles I wander how many are shot off the roost. Lol
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 26, 2013, 07:46:54 AM
Quote from: MouthCaller on April 25, 2013, 09:34:30 PM
unless you're a stealth ninja there's no way you'll make it all the way to the tree he's sitting in without busting him... go try it at 1 am if you want it will not happen... Do what TRKYHTR said to do you'll get him...
I must be Stealth Ninja, get in early before they wake up and I can get as close as I want if I slide in quiet and without using a flashlight. Deer walk around the woods at night under them all the time. My go too tactic on crafty birds is be 50-60yds no further off their tree in the direction they will likely fly down but Ive had numerous times where I've been 30,20 even 8yds from birds in the trees.
I missed page 2. Congrats on a nice bird. I new you would tag him.
Funny story to go with getting close. This Oct I was bowhunting I climbed my tree as I get on my platform I stand up and I am in a rooste of about 15 turkeys. It felt like I was in the bat cave I had wings and birds hitting me from every angle. It took a few to realize what had happened. Thats a way to get the heart pumping in the morning.
Im with you taunto I have been so lose I didn't even see him until he mooved because he was strait over head. I am in real early and 10 yds has not been a problem. I don't necessarily like when that happens but hey it is what it is.
To the OP You have gotten some good advise here. You will get him. No doubt though if you can see him you can not call.
Quote from: mikejd on May 02, 2013, 08:19:33 PM
Quote from: TauntoHawk on April 26, 2013, 07:46:54 AM
Quote from: MouthCaller on April 25, 2013, 09:34:30 PM
unless you're a stealth ninja there's no way you'll make it all the way to the tree he's sitting in without busting him... go try it at 1 am if you want it will not happen... Do what TRKYHTR said to do you'll get him...
I must be Stealth Ninja, get in early before they wake up and I can get as close as I want if I slide in quiet and without using a flashlight. Deer walk around the woods at night under them all the time. My go too tactic on crafty birds is be 50-60yds no further off their tree in the direction they will likely fly down but Ive had numerous times where I've been 30,20 even 8yds from birds in the trees.
I missed page 2. Congrats on a nice bird. I new you would tag him.
Funny story to go with getting close. This Oct I was bowhunting I climbed my tree as I get on my platform I stand up and I am in a rooste of about 15 turkeys. It felt like I was in the bat cave I had wings and birds hitting me from every angle. It took a few to realize what had happened. Thats a way to get the heart pumping in the morning.
Im with you taunto I have been so lose I didn't even see him until he mooved because he was strait over head. I am in real early and 10 yds has not been a problem. I don't necessarily like when that happens but hey it is what it is.
To the OP You have gotten some good advise here. You will get him. No doubt though if you can see him you can not call.
You guys are nuts for getting in that close... no way Id chance busting one off the roost and thats exactly what it is is a chance... more often than not you will bust one off the roost than for him to not notice you, its just plain dumb...
Quote from: mikejd on May 02, 2013, 08:19:33 PM
To the OP You have gotten some good advise here. You will get him. No doubt though if you can see him you can not call.
Read the thread. He
did get him.
It's not nuts if you know the ground...in the woods I would say not a good idea. BUT...I hunt edges of corn or soybean fields and sometimes pastures along creeks...if you can walk in without making any noise it works...last season set up under one 10 yards behind me...he rode home in my truck. When I get close to where I think bird was roosted I slow way down...may take me 10 minutes to go last 30-40 yards.
Quote from: TRKYHTR on April 25, 2013, 06:53:25 PM
Get in there a little earlier. Set up where he normally flies down to. Don't put out a decoy or call. Wait until he hits the ground until you call, soft clucks and yelps. You will kill him.
TRKYHTR
:agreed: My thoughts exactly Joe!! :icon_thumright:
Ah, I see you got him, congrats on a fine bird, and on tagging out!! :icon_thumright:
Quote from: Mike Honcho on May 03, 2013, 11:13:28 AM
It's not nuts if you know the ground...in the woods I would say not a good idea. BUT...I hunt edges of corn or soybean fields and sometimes pastures along creeks...if you can walk in without making any noise it works...last season set up under one 10 yards behind me...he rode home in my truck. When I get close to where I think bird was roosted I slow way down...may take me 10 minutes to go last 30-40 yards.
I can see that happening in that situation I was thinking of walking into hardwoods getting that close which is pretty much all there are around here besides the cow pastures. Lots of hilly terrain with a ton of leaves rocks in the hardwoods, here its cray but it might be a better tactic somewhere else.
Thanks guys! Cant wait to get him back from the taxidermist!