Alright, so... Question for everybody, regarding a tactic on killing a deg'gum hornery old gobbler that seems to insist on flying up into a tree, as he's coming into your setup...
A friend of mine is hunting a very vocal bird that seems to mostly like roosting on a pasture, close to a head of woods... On one morning I went with him, we called the bird to within 100 yds, and as he approached, he flew into our setup, up into a tree above us, about 20 yards away. He's obviously read the rules book & knows we can't shoot him out of the tree!!! jk...
Again this morning, my friend got on this bird and the sorry rascal did it *again* -- as he approached, he flew up into a tree above my bud, waited a little while, and then flew off.
Any tips/ideas/suggestions on bagging this bird? I've got some thoughts, but curious if anyone else has hunted gobblers that did this to them, and you eventually bagged the sly joker.
Thx,
BGD
You can't kill them from the roost in Florida. As long as it is not his roost tree, he is legal. Can't shoot from any tree in Bama? Probably a better rule.
If his feet have been on the ground since daylight he is a dead bird. Don't get to fly in a tree during the day and call time out.
Hmmm, well, Skeeterbait makes a *really* good point, and I know he's an Alabama turkey hunter, so... Perhaps I'm not reading the rule book correctly!!! hehehe...
My buddy and I doubled on a couple birds that did that in 2005. They in a field and flew to our setup instead of walking. I busted mine as soon as his feet hit the limb, my buddy followed suit and dropped his as well. Not sure of the exact wording in the regs, but roost shooting is illegal, but if they are in a tree that they did not roost in it is fair game.
Hmm, here's the Alabama rule book: http://www.eregulations.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/13ALAB-FINAL_LR.pdf
I did a search for the word "roost" & couldn't find a hit; so I don't even see where there's a specific statement in there about blasting 'em from the roost. Crazy!
Nope, nothing in the Alabama law prohibits shooting a roosted bird during daylight hours. Not something I think people should do, but not illegal. Now resting on a limb in the day after having been on the ground is not roosted anyway. Nock him off that limb if he does that again. Get that smart-A$$ bird out of the breeding pool. ;D
ROGER THAT, SKEETERBAIT!!!!
If he comes to the call and flies up for a better vantage point, I hate it for him. If you feel there is a legal issue, which I don't think there is, just stand up and walk towards him. Once he flushes pop a cap.
10-4 Guesswho; d*mn, we could have killed him over a week ago - or at least had an attempt to kill him.
I've read the regs TWICE now, esp the section on what's illegal; nothing in there about not blasting him off the limb. So, it's game ON now; I've told my buddy, LOWER THE BOOM!!! He had him w/in 40 yards this morning!!! :character0029:
I want shoot one off the roost legal or not but if he pitches down then comes in and pitches up he's dead. I let the first one that did that to me go cause I thought it was pretty dang smart lol
Quote from: turkey_slayer on March 28, 2014, 05:12:47 PM
I want shoot one off the roost legal or not but if he pitches down then comes in and pitches up he's dead. I let the first one that did that to me go cause I thought it was pretty dang smart lol
Oh hey, it's smart as all get-out; let me tell you, I lost my religion on the way out that first morning he pulled that stunt!!! I heard him fly in, right behind me; I had my buddy over dekes on a pasture... I nearly broke my neck, looking all around (as slow as I could) behind me for him... Then, a few mins later, he pitches off the limb & flies off... I've got video, and I uttered some ... *ahem* THANGS!
I could have *easily* killed him, had I know he flew up in the tree above me! But, it's my bud's bird, so... Better for him to get his smart butt!
He took to a tree because he suspected something.
Exactly.
I don't doubt it.
Double team him, shooter out in front of caller 50 or so yds, more if needed to catch him on the ground on the way in.
If a gobbler responds to my calling by flying from his roost or from the ground to a limb in range and in clear sight, he is going home with me. I have approached too closely to a gobbler on his roost a number of times and always refrained from taking a certain shot. The roost tree and any other tree are two different things. The roost tree is protected territory.
DO YOU HAVE DECOYS OUT? IF NOT TRY TO PUT OUT SOME DECOYS, GIVE HIME SOMETHING TO SEE. HE MAY FLY RIGHT DOWN INTO THE SPREAD
First time, yes, we had decoys out; 2nd time, no. My buddy is still on him, and I believe he'll get him in the morning; thx for all the suggestions, and clarifications on the legal regs of shooting 'em out of trees. He's safe on the roost - we'll give him that; after leaving it, though, it's GAME ON!!
Quote from: L.F. Cox on March 28, 2014, 06:25:57 PM
He took to a tree because he suspected something.
In my case I'm sure it was 2 other gobblers he was looking for as all 3 were together with hens the evening before. No way he seen me and deff didn't spook as he was gobbling in the tree. I've seen birds pitch up in the middle of the day in the fall and preen.
BTW, I'm letting my buddy hunt & take this bird, all on his own. It's giving him a *great* turkey hunting education, in only his first year. He's learning a lot about proper setup, calling, maneuvering, etc. I'm positive that he will eventually take this bird, as he's got the right "never give up" attitude & is enjoying the heck out of learning to turkey hunt w/this sly ole joker!! :)
Honestly, we had *no idea* that it was actually legal here to take birds out of trees; we thought that wasn't an option. Which, even still, I think my friend has a very legitimate chance to take him on the ground. But, if he keeps pulling that tree stunt, he knows now - BLAST HIS *SS!!
Caller could set up 50 yards or so behind the shooter in hopes to catch the gobbler sneaking in before he takes flight.
sounds like you got an "old warrior" on your hands. Might be more fun to just hunt him on his terms until he slips up vs. shootin him out of the tree. Or if you're good with it.....bust him!
Quote from: deersled on March 31, 2014, 03:34:37 PM
sounds like you got an "old warrior" on your hands. Might be more fun to just hunt him on his terms until he slips up vs. shootin him out of the tree. Or if you're good with it.....bust him!
That's probably what I would do - but, it's my buddy's very first year hunting wild turkey, so ... It's up to him, but yes; I'd enjoy the "challenge" of it; although last day of season & I ain't got him & he flies up in a tree -- KA-BOOM! ;) hehehe... We'll see what happens...
If he walks in to my set up. He gets shot.
If he flies in to my set up. He still gets shot.....
I wouldn't shoot one off his roost tree but if he responds to my calls and decides to come in, regardless of how he gets to me, he's still getting what's coming to him.
I have had gobblers think that they had this foolproof human hunter tactic down pat, only to meet a real surprise. If a turkey flies into a tree above me during non-roosting times, I have legitimately called him in. He is now facing 2 real problems, trying to survive the shot and then trying to survive the impact with the ground.
Drop him like a bad habit!
The Sunday of opening weekend I had this happen to me and got my bird on the ground.
I normally setup in some type of blow down but I messed up and was setup against a tree in the open. It was 12:45 and I had just crept in to my spot as quietly as possible. I waited a few minutes to get comfortable and let out one series of yelps on my mouth call. Knowing that other hunters had been in the area the day before and possibly that am I put the call on my lap and waited. Less than 10 minutes later a gobbler fly's into a big pine 80 yards in front of me and starts doing circles in the tree looking for a hen. I kept still and waited for him to turn. As he turned away I put mouth call in my mouth clucked a couple times and scratched the leaves. He flew down a minute later in my direction but proceeded to strut in a half circle around me for 45 min never coming closer than 45-50 yards, all this time I stayed quiet making him look for me. After 45 min of this I started to try and fire him up and had him gobbling at some yelping but didn't want him to get too vocal due to hunting on public land. In a last ditch effort to get him the last few yards into my comfort range I cut at him really hard. It seemed to work he started making some tentative moves forward between strutting and gobbling. About that time I hear a loud purr and some bubble clocks behind my shoulder. Thinking its a hen and game over, I sneak a peek and its a bigger gobbler coming in at 20 yards. Swung my gun on that bird as he passes behind some brush. Was about to pull the trigger and notice original bird is at 35 yards and decide to take him after all he put me through.
He got a dirt nap and the big bird got a good lesson about interrupting a party. Hope he tried that again with me, but have a feeling that scenario won't work again.
Quote from: redleg06 on March 31, 2014, 04:30:30 PM
If he walks in to my set up. He gets shot.
If he flies in to my set up. He still gets shot.....
I wouldn't shoot one off his roost tree but if he responds to my calls and decides to come in, regardless of how he gets to me, he's still getting what's coming to him.
This sums up my feelings. I called him in and I have no qualms with shooting him dead.
10-4 -- all great suggestions, everybody -- thx for the tips!!
Crawl79, that's an awesome story, man - congrats!!!