Hey everyone...let me start by saying I know jack about hunting turkeys. A coworker has a few on her property and they upset her dogs. She knows I hunt and asked if I wanted to turkey hunt. Sure...what the heck, I need to get out of the house. I bought a hen decoy and a box call...all set...lol!! So I went out last night and actually found them and saw where they roosted. Got out there about an hr before shooting light this morning and got set up in a fence line about 150 yds from them. About 10 min before shooting light, I hear a gobble, so I chirp back at him on the box(have no clue if I should have but it seemed like I should let him know I was down there). Pretty soon about 10 of them drop down out of the trees and strut around out in the field. They would walk towards me, then away, then towards me. I don’t know if they saw me or not but pretty soon they just strolled the opposite direction and were gone for the morning. So do I go back tonight and try to get them by the roosting tree or do I wait and go back in the a.m. and set up closer? It was fun watching them, but it would be more fun to put one on my grill. Thanks everyone and happy hunting
Rookie needs some advice
- Thread starter LukeDuke
- Start date
Pucky Freak
Well-known member
Go tonight and tomorrow. Good luck. Maybe skip the call and let the decoy do the work for you
NEWHunter
Well-known member
I would do both. They don’t always roost in the same area every night, but it would be good to get set up about 60 yards from those roost tree(s) probably in the same general direction as they headed this morning. They don’t always come back the way they went out, but that’s all you have to go on at this point. Also, they tend to gobble when they roost up, and if they don’t come back to the same spot, they might let you know where to set up next morning.
As for tomorrow morning, if you don’t get one/booger them going to roost, they generally follow a pattern. Just set the hen out and get in their way. No calling is likely better than bad calling.
Sometimes the best way to hunt turkeys is to hunt them like an eastern whitetail - figure out where they travel and set up and wait all day. If your co-worker sees them in the same area at the same time every day, I’d get there ahead of them and wait them out. Not how they do it on TV, but it works. Good luck.
As for tomorrow morning, if you don’t get one/booger them going to roost, they generally follow a pattern. Just set the hen out and get in their way. No calling is likely better than bad calling.
Sometimes the best way to hunt turkeys is to hunt them like an eastern whitetail - figure out where they travel and set up and wait all day. If your co-worker sees them in the same area at the same time every day, I’d get there ahead of them and wait them out. Not how they do it on TV, but it works. Good luck.
lpcoutdoors
Active member
Agreed on both counts. Be careful about getting to close to the roost, you can spook them outta there. In the evening, if you can set up where they can see the decoy, they sure might come over. Especially if you can set up between where they've been and the roost. This morning, were there hens with the toms? Sounds like you had them interested but the real deal hens had them more interested. I'd bet about 9 or 10 those toms were right back where you were set up wondering where their second round of love making for the morning went. I've found toms strutting around my early morning calling spot around that time, after I'd left too many times. But it sure is hard to set in that spot from daylight until 10. I can admit, I've never made it! But I have snuck back in and called them up a few times. And spooked them off trying to do so many times! Good luck to ya!
Ok thanks everyone. This helps a lot. Yep the hens were with the Toms this morning. The area that they roost in is on the top of a gently rolling hill next to Two different grass fields. I will lay off the call and see what happens. It sure got the heart pumping when I heard them gobble!!!
lpcoutdoors
Active member
Man, that's a classic and beautiful turkey spot! And I meant to say, if you can help calling, cause it is so awesome to hear them respond, you might try to just keep it light and subtle. In the evening, a lot of times, they will come in silently.
Well guys...the advice was perfect. When I got there they were already out feeding. I made a big loop and circled around them and got into the tree line where I had seen them this a.m. I found a little puddle in a low spot with a bunch of tracks around it. I set up off to the side in some brush. 3 hrs later they come working back across the field and walked right to the puddle. I bet the shot was 3-4 yards...so exciting. Thanks again for the tips everyone!!
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NEWHunter
Well-known member
So, is this a one time deal or are you a turkey hunter for life now? Also, I take my birds to a local butcher and get them smoked. A good sized Tom makes about six pot pies - they’re excellent. Congrats on the bird.
Pucky Freak
Well-known member
Congrats! Beware...turkey hunting can be addicting
lpcoutdoors
Active member
Way to go man, way to go!!!!!!!!!!
S.Dak Drifter
Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2018
- Messages
- 63
Nice bird!
Yeah I am going to do this again. When I was watching them feed last night I thought, dang I should put a ground blind out there, but something about being on the ground tucked next to a tree and eye level was pretty darn cool. Seriously guys...thanks again for the tips yesterday. That made all the difference.
Where are you at in SD? I grew up just west of Mitchell
Shangobango
Well-known member
You are ruined now lol. Welcome to the addiction.
S.Dak Drifter
Member
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2018
- Messages
- 63
Yankton area, I just punched my archery turkey tag yesterday. Good to hear from a fellow SD native!
RG_Adult_Onset_Hunter
Well-known member
Welcome to the Tenth Legion Luke.
That first day when they wandered away from you I'd like to give you the advice that sometimes turkeys do that. You called, so they know where you are, and they will likely check you out at some point. If you have one of those "they went away" moments try to stay dead silent for an hour; the birds might just prefer to go into a situation that has cooled off so they can check it out on their terms.
That is a great bird you got.
That first day when they wandered away from you I'd like to give you the advice that sometimes turkeys do that. You called, so they know where you are, and they will likely check you out at some point. If you have one of those "they went away" moments try to stay dead silent for an hour; the birds might just prefer to go into a situation that has cooled off so they can check it out on their terms.
That is a great bird you got.
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