Gobble gobble Spring Turkey 2025

[WildWill]

This seems to be the thread I should post in cause its all about turkeys and I need your help... I have never really turkey hunted and this year Im trying so my 7 year old can see one get shot. Hes excited haha.

Im in the sierra foothills of CA, and have access to 20 acres of private land with deer and turkey. The 20 acres is surrounded by an HOA on 2 sides (E/W) and backs ups to another uninhabited 20 acres to the N which juts further into the HOA. Property to the S holds birds too and does not get hunted. So the birds do not get much pressure at all and roost in multiple places, including the edge of the 20 acres I hunt, next to the 20 empty acres.

Last Saturday a buddy and I hunted it (kid was sick) and we set up 75' from the roost tree, hiding behind branches of oak. We put 5 decoys out in the open 20 yards away from us - 1 fanned tom, 2 jakes, 2 hens, no particular pattern of set up. Gobbles started before dawn all around us and we did some light calls in response. Right before daylight, the roost tree next to us let out a big gobble. I figured it was an old tom as he let us call and didnt say a word. Then he proceeded to stay put until 8am, well after legal shooting light. When he came down he lit right on the fence line of the empty 20 acres and dipped out, looking back at us like he knew the game. Big old tom, 10" beard easy. Slight limp too. He gobbled a few times and eventually ended up on the HOA below us with a single hen.

In the fall I watched 20 turkey come out of that tree, sometimes into the property, sometimes not. Its on a hill so they either go down to the HOA or up to where the cows are fed. Last fall I stood within 15' of all these turkey multiple times as I fed the cows and none were scared of people.

So how would you hunt the roost tree? Sit on the fence line in the open or next to a tree with no decoys? Sit under roost tree? Put decoys far away? Call? No calls? Chairs n blind or no? Cant sit any closer to the HOA.

Should I hunt the top of the property where cows are fed instead of the roost tree? They can come in up there too from all directions. Decoys or not? Call or not? Chairs n blind or no?

Does morning or afternoon matter? Midday? Ive seen them come into the cow feeding area in the evening then go downhill to that roost tree too.

Appreciate your help cause I dont know what Im doing. Id love for my kid to see a turkey strutting into decoys gobbling his head off, but Ill be happy to take one howver we can get one. Thanks everyone. Pic of property map to help. View attachment 366322

Put away the decoys get close to that roost tree and shoot him in the afternoon. Do you know from where they approach and fly up from? I wonder if that bird didn't hear/see you setup that morning.

 

[Moserkr]

thanks @Gellar I assume by not blow them out you mean be careful hunting the roost tree?

@WildWill Thanks. That old bird absolutely knew we were there despite us sneaking in the dark using red lights. We whispered if we had to talk but it was minimal. Yes I do know where they fly up from to roost. They follow the fence line down from where the cows feed so they are uphill from that roost tree. Easier flight that way and the grazed side we hunt has no brush to impede takeoff. The empty 20 acres has more brush and tall grass.

My next chance to hunt will actually be the afternoon so I think we will try that. But before the turkey go roost they usually are hanging out where the cows are fed. Should I attempt to set up decoys or just spot/stalk them up there before they go roost? Only getting to hunt once a week so I dont think we will pressure them much. A guy used to hunt there and has killed them by the roost tree and cow feeding area. I just dont know how he did it, trying to figure it out. Appreciate everyones help! Hopefully I get to show off a turkey soon!!!

 

[Gellar]

thanks @Gellar I assume by not blow them out you mean be careful hunting the roost tree?

Exactly. The turkeys around here will roost in different trees every night. Completely different areas every couple of night. But they are going to the best food source every day.

 

[beaglegun]

Kentucky youth turkey, Saturday morning

 

[Moserkr]

Exactly. The turkeys around here will roost in different trees every night. Completely different areas every couple of night. But they are going to the best food source every day.

Thanks for the insight. Could hear them all around the property and the big flock just wasn't there that day. Not sure what their best food source is currently, its lush everywhere. In the fall its seeds from the hay/alfalfa from the cow feed. Ive seen them stroll in from every direction randomly though so will keep trying!

 

[beaglegun]

What's the preferred method for cooking your turkeys? A buddy of mine ground all of his into turkey burger mixed with bacon, red pepper flakes and fennel. Never been a fan of turkey burgers but that was damn good.

My wife pressure cans the breast, but not to long or it falls apart. Then she makes pot pie with super tender turkey breast

 

[CowboyLeroy]

This seems to be the thread I should post in cause its all about turkeys and I need your help... I have never really turkey hunted and this year Im trying so my 7 year old can see one get shot. Hes excited haha.

Im in the sierra foothills of CA, and have access to 20 acres of private land with deer and turkey. The 20 acres is surrounded by an HOA on 2 sides (E/W) and backs ups to another uninhabited 20 acres to the N which juts further into the HOA. Property to the S holds birds too and does not get hunted. So the birds do not get much pressure at all and roost in multiple places, including the edge of the 20 acres I hunt, next to the 20 empty acres.

Last Saturday a buddy and I hunted it (kid was sick) and we set up 75' from the roost tree, hiding behind branches of oak. We put 5 decoys out in the open 20 yards away from us - 1 fanned tom, 2 jakes, 2 hens, no particular pattern of set up. Gobbles started before dawn all around us and we did some light calls in response. Right before daylight, the roost tree next to us let out a big gobble. I figured it was an old tom as he let us call and didnt say a word. Then he proceeded to stay put until 8am, well after legal shooting light. When he came down he lit right on the fence line of the empty 20 acres and dipped out, looking back at us like he knew the game. Big old tom, 10" beard easy. Slight limp too. He gobbled a few times and eventually ended up on the HOA below us with a single hen.

In the fall I watched 20 turkey come out of that tree, sometimes into the property, sometimes not. Its on a hill so they either go down to the HOA or up to where the cows are fed. Last fall I stood within 15' of all these turkey multiple times as I fed the cows and none were scared of people.

So how would you hunt the roost tree? Sit on the fence line in the open or next to a tree with no decoys? Sit under roost tree? Put decoys far away? Call? No calls? Chairs n blind or no? Cant sit any closer to the HOA.

Should I hunt the top of the property where cows are fed instead of the roost tree? They can come in up there too from all directions. Decoys or not? Call or not? Chairs n blind or no?

Does morning or afternoon matter? Midday? Ive seen them come into the cow feeding area in the evening then go downhill to that roost tree too.

Appreciate your help cause I dont know what Im doing. Id love for my kid to see a turkey strutting into decoys gobbling his head off, but Ill be happy to take one howver we can get one. Thanks everyone. Pic of property map to help. View attachment 366322

Honestly with 5 decoys, especially with a strutter you won't have to do much but sit still and wait for one to see you. I agree with gellar, but I'd be even more extreme and wait til they flew down, sneak close and then call to them.

Edit: If you snuck in with red lights, you didn't sneak in.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

What's the preferred method for cooking your turkeys?

If you gave me one breast to cook for the rest of my life, it's going in the pickle juice over night, then eggs, the. Heavily Cajun seasoned flower, then I'm going to fry it the way God intended

 

[Gellar]

If you gave me one breast to cook for the rest of my life, it's going in the pickle juice over night, then eggs, the. Heavily Cajun seasoned flower, then I'm going to fry it the way God intended

I don’t know about the pickle juice! I drink pickle juice from the pickle jar, but I just didn’t care for it as a marinade. Maybe I’ll try it again this spring. I’m on board with the Cajun seasoning! I pound my turkey breast with a mallet to about 1” thick and cut them into 1” chunks, batter in seasoned flour, egg wash, seasoned flour and fry! I like to dip mine in a honey mustard.

 

[beaglegun]

This seems to be the thread I should post in cause its all about turkeys and I need your help... I have never really turkey hunted and this year Im trying so my 7 year old can see one get shot. Hes excited haha.

Im in the sierra foothills of CA, and have access to 20 acres of private land with deer and turkey. The 20 acres is surrounded by an HOA on 2 sides (E/W) and backs ups to another uninhabited 20 acres to the N which juts further into the HOA. Property to the S holds birds too and does not get hunted. So the birds do not get much pressure at all and roost in multiple places, including the edge of the 20 acres I hunt, next to the 20 empty acres.

Last Saturday a buddy and I hunted it (kid was sick) and we set up 75' from the roost tree, hiding behind branches of oak. We put 5 decoys out in the open 20 yards away from us - 1 fanned tom, 2 jakes, 2 hens, no particular pattern of set up. Gobbles started before dawn all around us and we did some light calls in response. Right before daylight, the roost tree next to us let out a big gobble. I figured it was an old tom as he let us call and didnt say a word. Then he proceeded to stay put until 8am, well after legal shooting light. When he came down he lit right on the fence line of the empty 20 acres and dipped out, looking back at us like he knew the game. Big old tom, 10" beard easy. Slight limp too. He gobbled a few times and eventually ended up on the HOA below us with a single hen.

In the fall I watched 20 turkey come out of that tree, sometimes into the property, sometimes not. Its on a hill so they either go down to the HOA or up to where the cows are fed. Last fall I stood within 15' of all these turkey multiple times as I fed the cows and none were scared of people.

So how would you hunt the roost tree? Sit on the fence line in the open or next to a tree with no decoys? Sit under roost tree? Put decoys far away? Call? No calls? Chairs n blind or no? Cant sit any closer to the HOA.

Should I hunt the top of the property where cows are fed instead of the roost tree? They can come in up there too from all directions. Decoys or not? Call or not? Chairs n blind or no?

Does morning or afternoon matter? Midday? Ive seen them come into the cow feeding area in the evening then go downhill to that roost tree too.

Appreciate your help cause I dont know what Im doing. Id love for my kid to see a turkey strutting into decoys gobbling his head off, but Ill be happy to take one howver we can get one. Thanks everyone. Pic of property map to help. View attachment 366322

Easterns are much harder to kill then western birds. Just find a bird with your ears. If you dont hear a gobble, go somewhere else until you find a bird gobbling. If he's not with hens and he hasn't been spooked by anybody, and he's fired up, he may come to the call. If not, go find another bird. The key is to not let him know EXACTLY where you are at. Make him try to find you. If he's thinkin that he has to find you before another gobbler gets there, it's on!!! I dont mess with hen decoys. I carry a strutting jake with a removable fan and I use the fan to reap. That is a blast if your knees can handle it

 

[Gellar]

Honestly with 5 decoys, especially with a strutter you won't have to do much but sit still and wait for one to see you. I agree with gellar, but I'd be even more extreme and wait til they flew down, sneak close and then call to them.

Edit: If you snuck in with red lights, you didn't sneak in.

I’ve never put out more than 2 decoys and usually it’s just 1. Personally I would go with less than 5. It seems like @Moserkr spot may not have a high volume of turkeys and they have a good pattern. 5 new “turkeys” in the area may throw up red flags.

 

[kansasdad]

The landowner who lets Outdoor Mentors guide kids for turkeys and deer reported two gobblers and 6 hens on the meadow this morning. Yesterday it was four jakes. Now I just need to know which young hunter gets to experience a memorable day afield.

Saturday morning legal shooting time is 6:30am- ish (farm is east of me). Hoping for a gobblefest before a satisfying boom/flop.