So I am hunting in the Sandhill region of NC and this year I am pretty sure the turkeys are refusing to die. I have set up several mornings and been set up within a 100 yards of a few birds, they gobble like crazy while on the roost for about the first 15-20 minutes and then go silent. I am pretty sure they are roosted with hens and when the do fly down it seems like they go the opposite way every time. I had one yesterday morning that stayed on the roost til a little after 8, and when he flew down he went the opposite way. I thought about trying to go into the woods a little later and try to call in a hen and hopes that she will drag a long beard in with her. Any advise or tips on starting a hunt a little later in the morning? I'm starting to get desperate with less than 2 weeks left in the season.
And I forgot to add, I have not heard a single bird gobble once they have come off the roost either this year and several people I have talked too are running into the same thing.
Sounds like they are henned up. Just keep hunting
Even though it is nice and green in our section of NC, the birds dont seem to be as far along as the spring is. Keep hunting, those hens have got to be sitting soon. They'll break eventually. My best success in NC has always came during the last week of season.
2015 Old Gobbler contest Champions
I killed a bird on 4/15 in Brevard NC and he was hotter than any bird I've ever hunted. Ever since that day I've hunted 7 more times. In the coast, piedmont, and mountains. The birds are tougher than I've experienced before. same story, gobble on limb. quiet after flydown. I have seen toms with toms and jakes, and hens alone. They just seem to not want anything to do with each other. I actually watched 4 jakes chase 2 toms out of the field last week. I talked to the biologist and he said he's already received reports of hens with poults in the coastal region. I fear that they are just done for the season. but i never try to fully understand turkeys. I would love to hear other NC hunter's experiences so far this season.
I hunt NE NC and have had a good year. I have been hunting 5 times, I tagged out and called 2 more in for my buddies and they killed them. Lots of gobbling the las week once they hit the ground. Both of my birds I got real tight to them in the tree. Both had hens with them. The other two birds were killed mid morning after they were done with the hens. I like to run and gun so I do t sit and wait. They have acted funny here though, but I just chalk it up to turkeys acting like turkeys.