Responding, not engaging

[zelmo1]

I have noticed, a lot more this year, that birds are responding but not engaging. I think that our % of getting shots when they engage is pretty high. But the " courtesy" or acknowledgement gobbles are getting more frequent. If a bird starts to work in and is interested, we haven't had them hang up as much. But to get them to commit is getting harder. If it wasn't for some help from some enthusiastic teenagers, I don't know if we would have shot half the birds we got. More silent birds, a noticeable number, and extremely cautious birds. No more running in to beat the other birds to the hen. Just my observations, any input or feedback is always welcomed. Z

[Tom007]

Amen brother, they seem super cagey this year for sure.

[Bowguy]

Different calling techniques or tactics need to be used. Either calling in a very disinterested way, gobbler sounds, yelps, fights, etc waiting til later to try them again in case they aren't coming cause they have hens currently with em,
Way I always say it is if something not working why keep doing it? Change something.

[bbcoach]

Different calling techniques or tactics need to be used. Either calling in a very disinterested way, gobbler sounds, yelps, fights, etc waiting til later to try them again in case they aren't coming cause they have hens currently with em,
Way I always say it is if something not working why keep doing it? Change something.

I agree!  Insanity-Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a DIFFERENT result!  This is a GAME we are playing but it is life and death to the turkeys.  We have to figure out and adapt to THEIR world to get them into shotgun range.  We do the same thing over and over and expect them to RUN RIGHT IN.  WE have to CHANGE and learn different techniques and tactics to be able to turn the tide.  Great thread Z.

[Dtrkyman]

Sounds like turkeys being turkeys to me.


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[zelmo1]

It's like being a "Turkey Hunting Detective or Doctor". You get some info and you need to solve the puzzle or diagnose the disease, lol. It keeps it fresh and I love it. If I can get one tiny scrap of info, then the whole season is worth it. I have been lucky and 3 great opportunities and been blessed enough to capitalize. I am in awe of the guys that score on 5+ birds every year. I don't think my body could do it. I am really excited about the wife hunting on her own this year. But I also don't want to be obsolete either, lol. I like my hunting partner. It's tough being" hands off" as my guys at work have reminded me. It's easier to let them go on their own, I don't wake up with them.  Z

[TrackeySauresRex]

Z, We've called in a bunch this season. But not the right ones. We also got a lot of, Hey I'm over here, common over. Then never hear another peep. Turkeys doin turkey stuff as always.

[Treerooster]

It's like being a "Turkey Hunting Detective or Doctor". You get some info and you need to solve the puzzle or diagnose the disease, lol. It keeps it fresh and I love it. If I can get one tiny scrap of info, then the whole season is worth it. I have been lucky and 3 great opportunities and been blessed enough to capitalize. I am in awe of the guys that score on 5+ birds every year. I don't think my body could do it. I am really excited about the wife hunting on her own this year. But I also don't want to be obsolete either, lol. I like my hunting partner. It's tough being" hands off" as my guys at work have reminded me. It's easier to let them go on their own, I don't wake up with them.  Z

"Detective". Interesting you say that as I have always thought a good hunter is like a good detective. Noticing clues, even the very subtle ones. Keeping an open mind and not jumping to conclusions. Being able to see the world through the perspective of what he is pursuing.

Also knowing the "why". Once you know why turkeys do what they do, the where, and when are much easier to figure.

I never liked the quip "Turkeys just being turkeys". I believe turkeys do what they do for a reason the vast majority of the time. Ok...jakes maybe don't. 🙂 The fun part for me is trying to figur out the reasons. I'll never know it all but i really wouldn't want to either.

[Bowguy]

Just something to think about. In general some birds just wanna die today and anyone can call them in. Some birds some times seems no one can call them in. There are the middle of the road birds. How wide our middle is depends on the tools in the tackle box in a sense. Those birds can be persuaded with a dif technique. They're the ones most of  us live for and they're the fun ones. Everyone knows lots of birds can be called in with minimal technique, it's the others that make the difference in our year to year success.
I also want to add something else, the guys kill lots n lots often have better spots. Just that simple.

[Bowguy]

It's like being a "Turkey Hunting Detective or Doctor". You get some info and you need to solve the puzzle or diagnose the disease, lol. It keeps it fresh and I love it. If I can get one tiny scrap of info, then the whole season is worth it. I have been lucky and 3 great opportunities and been blessed enough to capitalize. I am in awe of the guys that score on 5+ birds every year. I don't think my body could do it. I am really excited about the wife hunting on her own this year. But I also don't want to be obsolete either, lol. I like my hunting partner. It's tough being" hands off" as my guys at work have reminded me. It's easier to let them go on their own, I don't wake up with them.  Z

"Detective". Interesting you say that as I have always thought a good hunter is like a good detective. Noticing clues, even the very subtle ones. Keeping an open mind and not jumping to conclusions. Being able to see the world through the perspective of what he is pursuing.

Also knowing the "why". Once you know why turkeys do what they do, the where, and when are much easier to figure.

I never liked the quip "Turkeys just being turkeys". I believe turkeys do what they do for a reason the vast majority of the time. Ok...jakes maybe don't. 🙂 The fun part for me is trying to figur out the reasons. I'll never know it all but i really wouldn't want to either.

I also don't like the quip. It's a dead ended give up, I'm out of ideas to try mentality imo.
We can never get better that way.
I tell the young guy I'm mentoring now. He can never be better than me if he just listens and doesn't think. I could be wrong bout an observation? Missing something, etc. If he keeps his mind open it's only gonna benefit him. That's the way to approach this

[zelmo1]

My wife and I keep track of the birds in our area pretty well. I enjoy seeing her start to come up with plans to get certain birds. We don't always agree, but we are getting closer and closer to being on the same page with most issues. She is no " Joe " but he sure as heck isn't an Emily, lol. It is fun to talk out strategies and watch her work them. She doesn't always do what I would, but I don't harvest a bird on every hunt. So I am not an expert. It is a little humbling that these nickel sized brain birds can beat us almost daily.  :OGturkeyhead Z

[Ihuntoldschool]

Sounds like turkeys being turkeys to me.


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This is the correct answer.

Birds get more wary, cautious,  cagey, patient as they get older. You may have encountered an older age class of gobblers in the areas you hunted this year. Population dynamics can change year to year depending on previous hatches. But having said that some of you claim this same thing each year at the end of the season.

The absolute worst thing you can do is start overthinking things. They absolutely are just turkeys being turkeys.

[Greg Massey]

Good Post. I agree with everyone that detective work is all part of learning and understanding the different stages the hens and gobblers are in and adapting to what you need to do in chasing these gobblers. Sure you are still going to have days your not going to fire a shot while coming out of the woods being frustrated at yourself THINKING WHAT AM I DOING WRONG. This past year has been a usual year with gobblers responding and engaging, I've seen gobblers and hens pretty much not even pay attention to each other this year. Some calls have been unaffected in the call arsenal with getting any kind of a response this season.

I also  change out my calls during the season, not wanting to sound the same in my hunting area all the time.