Harvested a Turkey this morning, no decoys,no calling, field was scouted well, turkeys came off the roost,into the corn field harvested one today. With that one, at least 2 or 3 more Toms, a few Jake's and about 8 hens in this field,not much disturbed. We have turkeys coming from 2 different roosts to this field. Should I try any calling or decoys, lay down hens, jakes, one of these mornings coming up to help my partner harvest his Turkey or just wait til they walk by?
They are out about 45 plus yards,decoys or calls to bring them in closer to 25/30 yards??
Thank you for the help.
It sounds to me like you are in an exclusive situation where you have no competition for those birds. Assuming that is correct,...and you actually want to LEARN how to hunt turkeys in the spring, I would at least try calling to those turkeys, if nothing else to begin to get some understanding about turkey communication. After all, that is really what spring gobbler hunting is all about,...calling turkeys to the gun.
Since you are hunting field turkeys, you may need to use decoys (or other visual tools) in order to pull the birds in close enough for a shot. Again, however, if you want to learn to turkey hunt by using calling, you might consider hunting those birds in "the woods" rather than in the field.
Regardless, it sound like you are in a situation where you can get your buddy a bird by doing nothing but waiting in ambush for one. If that is the way you would like to kill them, then don't worry about the other ways of hunting them. However, if you intend to hunt turkeys in other places with less favorable conditions, now is the time to start learning about calling and woodsmanship and their application in spring hunting. You appear to be in the perfect situation to do that. :icon_thumright:
We are in an exclusive area. When the turkeys broke up after we harvested one Turkey. We did try to call in 2 different Tom's, one had hens with him, one didnt. A hen landed 10 yards from me,and I listened how she called to the Tom that was not coming out of the woods any further. Right place at the right time,any as always some luck. Just was looking for a few ideas or set ups that worked,not just an ambush. Wondering about how to call and what kinds of decoys would bring a Tom in closer for a cleaner kill.
Relax...
Quote from: Mnrookie on May 04, 2019, 02:24:15 PM
We are in an exclusive area. When the turkeys broke up after we harvested one Turkey. We did try to call in 2 different Tom's, one had hens with him, one didnt. A hen landed 10 yards from me,and I listened how she called to the Tom that was not coming out of the woods any further. Right place at the right time,any as always some luck. Just was looking for a few ideas or set ups that worked,not just an ambush. Wondering about how to call and what kinds of decoys would bring a Tom in closer for a cleaner kill.
Relax...
Okay,...Thanks for the advice,...I will try to relax a bit.
...You are wondering how to call and what decoys to use. Since you are hunting a corn field with exclusive access, my suggestion would be to forget the decoys and calling and just throw out a couple of sacks of cracked corn about twenty yards out. That ought'a do it! ;D :newmascot:
Trouble maker.
Now gobblenut you know the deal. Not only are you expected to give the advice they want to hear but you have to phrase it in a way that that would not upset the most delicate butterfly. Even I've figured that one out lol
We killed a STUD of a bird today in the field with my DSD Decoys, I had my White Head Strutter out with a submissive hen and a feeding and upright out as well. Set them decoys close so even when they skirt they are in range. My dominant decoy (kill spot/shot) is set at 15 yards.
MK M GOBL
Thank you sir
Quote from: guesswho on May 04, 2019, 07:02:20 PM
Trouble maker.
:TooFunny: ;D :toothy12:
Geez,...I was just trying to be helpful in my initial comments.
...Somehow, the old phrase,..."You can lead a horse to water,...but you can't make him drink" seems appropriate here... :angel9: :newmascot:
Grandpa said it was unfair to use decoys when hunting turkeys and that is good enough for me.
Hunt how you like and enjoy it while it's good.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
This is an opportunity to start using a call. I personally would get a box or pot call and have some fun calling them in. It's a real blast if you haven't done it before.
If you want to use a decoy go ahead.
Go to you tube, you can get all the info you need to learn how to call.
Calling in a turkey will completely change you're hunting experience. Trust me.....and the other 14000 people who subscribe to this site.
Damn a strutter decoy and any man who uses one.
Period dot.
:TooFunny:
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 04, 2019, 01:26:53 PM
Regardless, it sound like you are in a situation where you can get your buddy a bird by doing nothing but waiting in ambush for one. If that is the way you would like to kill them, then don't worry about the other ways of hunting them. However, if you intend to hunt turkeys in other places with less favorable conditions, now is the time to start learning about calling and woodsmanship and their application in spring hunting. You appear to be in the perfect situation to do that. :icon_thumright:
I learned to hunt on a property loaded with birds... A good portion of which used a small orchard every morning.
I really, really wanted to kill a bird... But the owner would not let me hunt the orchard, cause he did not think it was "fair."
That first bird I called in, and killed was a thrill, and came after many failures and mistakes... I no longer have access to that property (and do not even live close enough to hunt it)... But I think back on the turkey numbers on that ranch and wonder how it took me so darned long to be successful???
I learned a ton though, and had a great time learning...
Thank you for your input and advice, greatly appreciated.
Good luck hunting
Thank you sir. I'm practicing with a Zink slate call and Lynch slate call. Doing ok, not impressed with Zink slate call, inconsistent in my opinion.
I only use decoys if a bird can see it from a distance. If I'm hunting in timber esp public timber(which I mostly do), I never use a decoy. I don't remember using a deke on my last 7 or 8 birds, probably more. I like em looking for me and try to set up so when I can see them....they are already in tight gun range.
Not here. I have taken them along before but always end up wishing they were in the truck. If I had a good private field that I knew birds were using they may work for you, but that's not my case.
I don't use decoys when hunting public land. I have used strutter/hen decoys on private land and have killed birds. The show you get when you a gobbler zeros in on a strutter decoy is awesome. That being said, I'm not against decoys. The main reason I dont use decoys anymore is because I enjoy the challenge of bringing the birds in solely with my calling abilities. That, and I also don't want to get shot in the face using a decoy on public land. That's another big reason lol.
Leave the deeks .
I will use decoys if I am hunting fields just to pull them in closer if I need to. I hunt on a military post (Fort Campbell). So you get assigned areas and some areas have some very large fields that get used for DZ's etc., some areas you get are nothing but hardwoods. in the early season if I use a decoy i might put out a 1/4 strut jake and a hen decoy. If it is later in the season I leave the Jake at home and just put out a hen. Reason being and I could be wrong but it seems that later in the year after the Tom's have been whooped up on by some Jakes they are less likely to come to a setup with a Jake. But just like everything else they are just a tool. I try to practice with a mouth call year round and about a month out I will pull out my other calls and start running them also. Just my .02 cents. Good luck and stay safe.