Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: JC on February 17, 2006, 12:18:00 PM
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Awright, season is gettin close here and it seems I got a few on my place. I've killed one with a longbow and 3 with a compound but they were all with other experts, both callers/hunters. I learned a little but honestly I've never been a big turkey hunter. This year, it might be a little different :D
So you turkey pros, give me your best advice, in reader's digest format or encyclopedia: setup, tactics, etc. on turkey huntin.....
For instance, how far from a roost would you normally set up if you knew of one? Call to bring them uphill or downhill....or even...or down a ridgeline etc.? Decoy setup description? Favorite calls/sequence? Anything and everything....school me.
And I KNOW we got some turkey pros on here, don't we Troy and Guru? :readit:
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Name's not Troy or Guru, but I've stuck a tag on just a FEW ol' longbeards ;) .... Maybe something in this little feature will be of some help to Ya.
http://www.bowsite.org/bowsite/features/articles/turkeycolumn/column1/
Have fun, hunt hard, and be SAFE!
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Sorry Ron, didn't mean to exclude ya.....callin ALL turkey experts!
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JC , as far as setting up on him on the roost, it's going to change as the season goes , early in the season your not going to be able to get real close to him because of the lack of leaves on the trees, but as the leaves start coming out the closer you can get, but it also makes him sound farther away than he really is. It's like tighten a bolt, you want to stop about a 1/4 turn before it breaks, so you really want to set-up 1 step before you bust him off the roost.
They don't like coming down hill to you, always try to set-up on a level playing field or better above him. If they run into trouble they can pitch off the hill away from the predator , if there coming down hill they have to pitch off and go over the predator.
Decoys -- You know I grew up in Alabama , so I've never used them, til now. Maybe Curt can help both of us.
Calls-- Mine favorites are a Preston Pittman Black Diamond mouth call , have killed a bunch with it! Tube call and Wingbones, I use a Morgan tube call most of the time but , Southland lost hen is a great call, Wingbones , I make my own!
Practice a tree yelp-
"two soft clucks and three soft yelps", if he answers you give him a few minutes , and hit him again, if he answers you, you probably won't need nothing else.
One other tip: DON'T MISS!
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Now if ya was from Iowa the playing field has changed since we have TOO MANY hens and TOO MANY hunters. My tactics have changed in the last three years. Find a good spot near the roost along a field. Set up the blind, throw a hen decoy(one)out front. When they start to vibrate the woods answer back with soft yelps, when they fly down call like crazy if they don't show up, lay down and take a two to three hour nap. They be there by the decoy when you wake up.
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Hey JC maybe we can get together and do a turkey hunt this spring..I would like that...
..We just might be able to coax ole Kyle and Timberghost in on it...how'd that be...gut
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JC if you are hunting a small piece of property it's hard to run n gun, chase the turkeys around.ya just don't have enough room to work with.If you have a food plot ,field or maybe a flat ridge top were the turkeys like to feed or strut.Just set up your pop up blind,decoys and wait.Call every 30 minutes or so.Turkeys aren't like deer,they walk pretty much all day.At some point after he gets thru dealing with the local hens that ole gobbler will come make a visit.Bring a lunch and a good book to read and stay put.It ain't as exciting as chasen em round,but it is very effective if you have the patience.
CB
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Ahh, good subject. Timely as well! They are already struttin around my area and we are a long way off till April. All ears. CK
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Well JC,ya beat me to it...I was gonna try to stir up some of our "turkey guys" next week.
There's some guys here that have been at this way longer than me(I ain't namin' names,cus I'll forget someone :knothead: ) ...but I'll try to share what I've learned.
Lets cover on thing at a time:
"How far from the roost if you knew of one?"
Of course that all depends.Sometimes it's best to get as close as possible,especially if ya don't know where they're headed.It's amazing how close you can get to a roosted gobbler under the cover of darkness.But I usually get around 75-100yds if I can for a roost hunt.
I find myself more and more these days figureing out where they're headed and either setting up at that location or somewhere in between where they are and where they're headed.
I can't stress enough about getting out and scouting before,and during the season.
That's the biggest factor in figureing out where to set up on the birds I'm hunting.Ya gotta watch and listen to them...they'll tell ya where ya wanna be.......
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Call softly...and between calls, you might utter a prayer or two! My experience is that sometimes it takes a little Divine intervention to get the whole thing to come together :D .
I also agree with Curt...scout well in advance and keep on scouting through the season. It is a must to set up in a location where the birds travel through after fly down. Also, I like to set up in a place where the birds will have to top a hill or a move up the flat on a hill in order to see their intended love interest. If they can see too far ahead of them, they will sometimes get suspicious (even with decoys) and stop short of a shot. With turkeys...set-up IS everything!
Good Luck Everyone!
Claudia
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I'll throw in my 2cents worth about decoys.In alot of cases,you will be better off with a jake and a hen decoy.Alot of times if a gobbler sees only a hen,he will hang up and strut for her be cause in nature the hen goes to the gobbler.With a jake in the mix,you will make him mad even if you can't make him glad.
If you use a jake decoy,put it where you want to shoot,cause thats where he'll be.
Robert
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Hello everyone, while I may be new to the Gang, I have been chasing the ol' tom turkey for a couple of decades. To address your questions, I will try to provide some of the knowledge that I have gained past experiences.
Setting up on a roosted bird – I normally try to set up about 100 to 150 yards out. As my father has always told me, stop about 50 yards prior to where you think you should be. I have tried to sneak those last few yards, only to watch the bird fly off in the early morning light. Pretty, but hard to eat.
Calling to a bird on the roost – Make all of your calls soft in tone. I agree with Squirrel on the tree yelp. I also try to throw in a purr while he’s on the limb. Something about hearing a bird double/triple gobble will put a smile on your face.
Calling setups – I have had the luck to call birds both uphill and downhill, but I must admit, calling them downhill has been far more productive. If you are hunting with a bow, you will be more successful if you utilize a blind or deadfall for cover. If the bird sees movement, you are toast.
As far as type of call to use, I would recommend a slate to most novice turkey hunters. It is easier to master than the mouth call. A good box call will do wonders as well.
From my experience with other hunters in the field, most folks will call 5 times as much as they need to. As pinecone stated, say a prayer or two in between each call series, this will not only try to get you some assistance from up above, but it will limit the amount of calling that you do.
Good luck to all this spring and with any luck I’ll see you at the check station!!
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J.C.
Lots of good advice here so far,for me my set up is the most important factor when it comes to filling my tags,if you make a bad sounding call be sure to follow up with a good one immediately,how much do I call,depends on the gobbler and how excited he is,the more he responds the more I call,once he is within 50yrds I'll just give an occasional purr.
My turkey hunting Mentor Jack Brobst (61 birds with trad gear) wrote an excellent book on this subject Bowhunting for Turkeys filled with good info on taking birds with the bow,as far as the type of call that I prefer ,Iwould have to say a mouth call for the obvious reason,
minimal movement,there are many good brands out on the market today,I use the Jack Brobst Raspy Cutter and have had great success doing so.
Both the book and call are available through my shop, if you are interested send me a P.M.
best of luck, Randy Harrison
www.stickandstringarchery.com (http://www.stickandstringarchery.com)
[email protected]
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Thanks guys, all good tips...anyone else?
Randy, looked for that book quite a few years ago I thought...was it out of print for sometime? PM sent.
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Think about other things besides calling. I've killed a lot of birds on public land that others have educated and said to be unkillable. Get in early don't call till almost flydown and flapping hat like a hen flying down maybe even two or three fly down flapps. Some birds are just wilder than a billie goat and others are all but tame. So ya just kinda got to feel them out. Get in there and hunt them like you were one of them. On less pressured birds call all ya want if ya sound like a hen and fly down too. I feel way too many birds are lost to not calling and keeping interest up. But again it depends on the situation, try new stuff and kill more birds. Oh ya those guys that say ya can't sneak up on a turkey, well.... Mike Smyth
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Sound advice so far. My tactics differ from most. I work 3rd shift so by the time i get home, the birds have been on the ground over an hour. I have several farms to hunt that are all close by. So what i do is, Jump in the truck and hit each farm one by one. I park walk a short distance and try to get one to gobble. If i get a response, i run in and set up the blind, if not i move onto the next farm until i get one that is talking. Some days i will visit each farm as many as 3 times before i get one that is talking.
And yes you can sneak up on turkeys and i have killed several like that but it ain't real safe unless your on private land and the only person hunting there.
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I think we tend to forget that although all turkeys are pretty sharp, there are differeces in the different subspecies and what they will tolerate.
Adaptability is key in hunting any of the subspecies of our great American bird. :thumbsup:
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The best advice I ever got. Stay in the blind. When you are ready to leave stay 15 more minutes. After 15 more minutes wait another 1/2 hour. After a 1/2 hour wait one more hour. Place the hen within 3-4 yds from you looking away. Place the jake looking at you 8-9 yds away. The gobbler will come in sideways or with his back to you to mess with the jake. That's the time. No need to set them 15 or 20 yds away.
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tried a new trick last year and it worked great a couple times. if you get one in and its real close and hangs up try this.
if you can't see him try scratching the ground and throwing a little dirt on the leaves. add a couple purrs and scratch and throw some more dirt. twice last year this brought gobblers back in range after they had left.
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Thats what I'm talking about scratching flapping wings and such are everyday sounds a lot of people never think about. This is another trick I have never read about but will sometimes work. If you have ever heard a gobbler mate a Hen they make a certain sound that can be imitated by flapping a hat softly on the ground. Sometimes things like this end with gobblers on your back and smiles on you face instead of just walking back to the truck. Oh ya then there is the locater calls anything can work here also from a cow to a goose be versitile and don't be afraid to try new calls like the ole boss cow it works and is seldom heard about or used by many. Also there is the ols stand bys crow, owl, coyote, all these work to shock a tight mouth turkey to give away his position. Don't get hung up on what time of day is it I have heard all above all hours of the day. The crow can sure get ya close without him looking for you, sometimes. Every bird is different and nothing works all the time. This is what makes this so much fun. My dad always told me getting to go was the main thing if you get game it is a bonus. Support the NWTF they do a lot for the wild turkey.Mike Smyth
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Hey JC I would love to call you in a bird ..Hit me up with a PM if you are interested..gut
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Some great little gems of wisdom here...thanks for sharing em guys!
Gut, PM sent.
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JC, I,m new to the forum, and have never harvested a bird with trad gear. If my shooting is up to snuff this year I may try it. but one little trick I,ve used over the past 20 yrs chasing tom,s in South Cherokee is to make my initial setup 100-150 yrds, this gives me room for one last move. As everyone who has turkey hunted knows most of them will hang up just past where you want them, if they do I try to setup where I can move 25-30 yrds toward the bird, and when they hangup I make a quick move towards the bird using what I call a running cluck. You may bump a feew this way but it has payed off several times with birds I would still be waitng on! good luck tnbuck
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JC alot of great advice here but in reality the best possible teacher is a bird..You will learn more from experience than anything else..One thing no one can give you recipes on is stuff like being able to tell if the bird is still on the roost or on the ground..how far he is by the sound of his gobble alot of factors play in that..he can be facing the opposite direction and sound farther off than he really is. He can be around a bend and sound farther..He can be in a field and sound farther.etc...When to move on a bird or when to stay put. When to call and when to shut up..all these are more or less learned from experience or if you got an experienced hunter with you it helps...Like I said I'll call you in a bird just get up with me and its a done deal..If you got birds I'll call one in for ya...gut
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Ok it sounds to me like you are fairly new to the spring fling.So here's some info that might help along with some of the other on the thread.
Scout!Before season,go out and listen in the am.This will give you a general idea of where some toms are roosted.Also, listen for hens.It is very helpful to know if the tom has hens roosted near by.Try and make a few trips out in the am,and listen to the birds.Once you think you know where he's roosted,wait until around noon and ease into the spot and try to figure out what's going on exactly where he's roosting,fly'n down,and where he's headed after flydown.This information will give you a little edge.
Look at all the fields and oak flats that are in the path of the birds.Look for tracks,droppins,scratchings,feathers,strutmarks,etc.I wouldn't recommend try'n to sneak in on the oak flats,but if they are in the fields,note the time.This will tell you if they are loafin in the timber,or if they are headed straight for the field.Try and watch the birds as many days as you can before the season opens.This information is a big help,especially if you aren't a skilled caller.Which you don't have to be to kill turkeys,a load of turkeys have been killed with nothing but woodsmanship.
Ok I've gotten long winded here so I'll bring it to a close.Man I love this stuff. :D
As far as how close to get to the roost,with the info above it will give you a little more room.Try and set up between the roost and the field as close as you feel comfortable getting.Try to get 100 yrds or so though,different situations warrant different setups.
The scratching in the leaves is a secret weapon as well as the wing flappin.
Decoys early season jakes and hens are fine,but later in the season leave the jake home.Decoys work great,but every now and then a field bird will hang up out of range.Try and use the terrain to your advantage.
Ok see I got started again! :bigsmyl:
Sorry for the long wind,I hope this helps!
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How did we let this one slip away???
Up or downhill???
My experience is that it doesn't really make much difference,called them both ways successfully.Birds will tend to stop and "look more" from higher ground.So if you're in open terrain,you better have something down there he wants to see....like a good decoy set up.If in more dense woods,he'll have to come down to see what he wants to see.
When calling uphill,benches really work well.Set up close enough to the edge so that when he comes up and is able to look around for the "hen" he hears,he'll be in range for a good bow shot..10-15yds.
If I had to pick one or the other,being I had equally good set ups...I'd pick making him come up to me............
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Scouting, if you can figure out where he wants to strut you are in. There is a field near me that is a strutting ground every year. The hat flapping wing fly down works great - no need for a special wing thing. I am going to borrow and try one of the new Pretty Boy gobbler decoys that you can put your own fan in or use the photo fan that comes with it. Should work good real early in the season when the gobblers are fighting and staking territories but not late season. Putting the jake decoy where you want to shoot has worked for me. My cousin (gun hunter) always goes out about mid morning instead of early to catch toms after the hens have gone to nest, but I like to watch and listen as the spring woods wakes up. And lastly - can you say double bull?
Gonna try Merriams in NE for the first time this spring. Love the white tipped fans. Hurry up April!
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don't call to them on the roost cause the gobbler will think the hen will come to him and when she dosn't he knows somethings up. I use a crow locator call as soon as the sun gets up also using a friction call or a diaphram 3 reed for making cuts will stir up a gobble. After I get one to respond i get within 200 yds and i almost forgot dont head straight to the gobbler move off a little to one side then got toward him. After im set up i make somee agressice yelps and cuts to get a gobble if i get one i switch to softer calling which makes it sound like the hen is loosing interest which drives them crazy! don't forget a gobble is a bonus what you realy need to listen for while your setup is strutting! Good Luck and practice with your calls- Scott
Check out some resources on the web the nwtf has a good web site and there is some others that have turkey calls you can listen to.
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Let's talk a little about decoys...........
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Yeah, describe yer decoy setup.
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Jake facing me at 8 yards, hen closer. Plan is the gobbler will face the jake and strutt. Had one strutt in front of the jake, but did not stop and spin, just walked on by. Arrowed him before he got passed the spot. Have not had one exactly follow the script yet, but gonna keep trying.
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I set my decoys about the same as Shaun only a lil closer. I normaly have the hen at 4-5 yards out. Last season when the gobbler attacked my decoy he was on top of me. So close that when the arrow hit, the blood trail was all over the side of the blind.
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Oh boy, oh boy... my favorite subject!
Lots of good stuff and all of it is true to turkey hunting. You guys done this a few times before, huh?
Calling during roost time is only one way... a few soft hen tree yelps, VERY softly. Just let him know there's a gal in the area. Sometimes I don't call at all before fly-down. It's amazing just how well they can hear and pinpoint sounds. If you're too close, it may be more detrimental than it's worth. Don't forget how sound travels, when he turns towards you on his roost limb, he will sound closer than when he turns away from you. Very important to be patient and listen to more than one series of gobbles to pinpoint location if you're runnin' and gunnin'.
At fly-down, I just use my gloved hands slapping against coveralls. And then a few yelps to see if there's any interest. All depends on how many hens are around, where they're headed, and what they're doing.
Got to get out there before season and watch (if you can get a high viewpoint) or at least listen as to where they go after fly-down. Knowing your hunting ground terrain is a MUST, so you can visualize in your mind just where they are. As the season progresses, you will notice defined patterns of certain birds going to the same place every morning... some have favorite strutting places where they begin each day, and these birds are usually the dominant ones.
Best to have at least two different calls... he might not care for one, but the other just might do the trick. I have found that extreme cutting soon after fly-down can work effectively (give enough time where you know most of the hens have had time to congregate, maybe 5-10 minutes). Use different calls to sound like many different hens. Most cases, if it doesn't work it's because they have plenty of hens nearby already.
If a bird goes off unexpectedly during mid-morning, I'll let him know I'm there and get him to respond a few times, then shut up and make him think it's time to get over here before he loses her. If you keep right on calling, he'll hang up most times. Best to stay shut up and make him find you. He may have been 200-400 yards away to begin with, but don't think he doesn't know EXACTLY where your call came from.
Then again, I've had mature toms sneak in (all crouched down, puffed-up a bit, no strutting or gobbling). Mature birds, but probably not one of the dominant ones. Don't let the wind keep you in bed, I've seen birds strutting out in open fields where their tails were catching wind like a sail and could hardly stand up straight.
Decoys... set 'em close, make sure there's a Jake in the group. I've had birds in late season get all over a Jake in the setup. Most times, they prefer to challenge the tom decoys before even thinking about approaching the hens. I've had them circle a decoy numerous times without getting spooked at all. Be patient and wait for the best shot, he'll stick around for awhile before figuring out those dekes are dumber than he is.
Our state doesn't allow turkey calling before the season opens... good idea, no reason to educate them before killing season rolls around.
STRING TRACKER... can't emphasize this enough. No matter what arrows or broadheads you're using, there is a good chance that turkey can cover a lot of ground before succumbing to even a great shot (except a head shot, which I think is a very low-percentage shot to take anyways). They can hide in little to nothing cover... the string is like Hansel and Gretel in reverse. Hit one last year a bit low, well... a lot low. Sliced his thighs, he got up off the ground and tucked that arrow up in there and flew off with it, string was just zipping out of that canister like a baitcast reel smokin'. Bird landed about 300 yards down the line and ducked into heavy cover. Would've never found that bird to finish him off if it wasn't for the string-tracker.
OK, I'm done now... good luck to all in your turkey hunting mis-adventures this spring.
These photos ought to get you guys riled up some... taken in Iowa on April 24th, 1983 with my Yashica 35mm before anyone ever heard of a digital camera, LOL. Titled "War Dance at Dawn" and "Gallant Gobblers".
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p751910211f3456c332f7ff5b6ba19bfe/efe11c89.jpg)
(http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/p9c036d10c14a575190b7919028df50ab/efe11c85.jpg)
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This thread gets better all the time,that's why I can't let it die and keep bringing it to the top.
Dave,That post was loaded with great info!!
For my decoys a lot depends on the time of season.But most of the time it's three dekes.One
hen facing the blind at about 7-8yds with a jake deke about 10-12yds.I like to give them that spacing to allow him to cut between them to face off with the jake.99% of the time(my experience) the tom/jake will go right for the jake deke.For me too close to the blind makes them diffecult to get a shot sometimes.That's why I like about 10-12yds. I can't remember a time when a gobbler has gone to one of my hens without addressing the jake deke first.And usually I don't even let him reach the decoy.That damn "green light goes off when he's "close enough".
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff186.jpg)
....note the string coming out of the window.....
pretty typical set up......
I'll usually put out a second hen off away from the hen/jake,to look like sort of an onlooker.I put her off in a spot I can shoot to(in case a gobbler goes to her first,but that's never happened),in a broadside position to where I think the gobbler is going to come from.
I also like to use a breeding set up with the hen under a mounting jake.This can be killer if ya catch a tom in the right mood.
I also like to limit the motion of my decoys so they don't spin wildly in the wind.With my Delta hen I really don't have this problem,she's tight on her stake.But with my Flambau hen and Feather Flex jake I like to put sticks in the ground,on each side of the tail portion of the decoys.This will still let them move and turn a little in the wind,but not spin wildly so as to look unnatural and tip off approaching birds. I'll usually only let them move about 90 degrees........In the pic,you can see the sticks by the jake decoy.It was very windy that day.sticks are tight.....
I'll be back with my thoughts on string trackers...
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Do you guys use the shoot through mesh in your pop-up blinds or go without the mesh? If you use the mesh, are there any problems with arrow flight?
Claudia
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Claudia, No need to use the nets with turkeys.They don't spook from the "black hole effect" of the windows like deer,and other critters.
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This is a great thread! Keep it coming, I'm loving this. Claudia, I'm a neophyte when it comes to hunting turkeys, but last year I shot with the shoot through mesh on my blind and it did not affect my arrow flight. I did practice shooting through the mesh before hunting though. I know that a lot of guys take the mesh off, I'm sure they will chime in too.
David
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Be patient to move off of one location to quickly and don't call too much. A little goes a long way. Gotta get the mood of the bird you are on. Some like it hot, some all is required is a little scratch in the leaves. Be aware of whats between you and the gobbler you are setting up on. Creeks, thickets can cause em to hang up. Did I say don't call too much.
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I like to use the Montana decoys and set the gobbler ten yards out with the edge toward me. Because this is a flat decoy, putting the edge toward me means any idiot that shoots my decoy will be shooting across in front of me instead of at me---been stalked (yeah, turkey stalkers ????) more than once, had my decoy shot before and had a neighbor shoot his son and father-in-law on our lease---so i'm pretty safety conscious when it comes to decoy use in gun seasons (which it always is during turkey season in Georgia).
Other than that, looks like the real experts have pretty well covered the main points. I'm still learning myself, looking for my tenth this year and i'm sure they'll teach me a few more tricks this spring.
I shoot the Zwickey Scorpios behind my broadheads (which will again be Muzzys or WWs) and that seems to work well---what kind of arrow setup are the rest of you guys using ?
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Oh yeah, thanks for the blind tips fellas, I don't normally hunt turkeys from a blind but my grandson'll be joining me this year so the DB's gonna get unfolded.
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I got the Jack Brobst book from SASA, and enjoyed reading it!
I'm going out this year with my longbow for the first time. I figure, even if I don't get a turkey, just taking my longbow for a walk and a little stump shooting is better than going to work!
I recommend the book!
Lee :thumbsup:
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uphill vs downhill has been talked about. Sounds like some prefer up, some down, but that you can have success either way.
What has been ya'll's experience with getting them to cross creeks? Hunted right on a creek last year. Shot a nice tom that came parallel to the creek, so if he crossed it, I did not see him cross. Same morning, an hour later, had three jakes come right across the creek without hesitation. Wondering if this typical or not.
I am beginning to wonder if nothing is typical with these birds. I hear one guy say you cant call them uphill and another say you cant downhill. Then another says you can't call enough, while another says do not call too much. I hear they will not cross creeks, than I watch three do it.
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Claudia, My blind has the shoot through net. I killed my bird out of it last year with out any effect on the arrow flight.
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for those that hunt with a buddy, this is a must.
have one person do the calling and the other set up about 50-65 yards in front where you expect ( or hear ) the turkey to come. many times as we all know they hang up but with this set up they are usally with in range of the shooter. i only suggest if you know your hunting partner well and have allready gone over hand signals and a game plan on shooting and when to move. i have had them hang up but as i was the shooter they were right in my lap looking for my buddy 60 yards back!
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Lots of good advice so far, my-2cents:
I bowhunt turkeys every year in Michigan and Kansas. I have picked up a lot of "little" things that all add up, and make it a lot easier.
Roosted gobblers, this is usually the hardest turkey to call in the woods. Typically gobbling at every sound, because they feel safe up on that limb. Quite often they cast down, and go quiet. Often away from any noise "your calling". I have found it much better to stay quiet, and don't make any calls until he touches down, then a few soft calls.
I don't get too hung up on where they are roosting. I concentrate on where they are going. Set up in good blind and stay all day if possible. I call soft, off and on, or when I hear a gobbler. Once every hour or so, I cut loud on my diagram call. I can't tell you how many times, this lights up a Tom, and he comes within bow range. The gobbler has been hearing your soft calls all morning, and feels relaxed but not enough excitement to get him coming your way. The "cutting" gets him fired up. I use a lot of differents calls, the diagram is my favorite, because nobody sounds like me. I love glass/slate calls, but everyone has them, and they can sound the same.
Decoys, I use them in Kansas, the birds are not as spooky. In Michigan I usually do not. When I use a decoy, its a hen pinned to the ground, like she is dusting or in a breeding position. Decoys have held up too many birds for me. I put the decoy about 5 yards out. I have put them too close a few times, I had 3-4 gobblers up against my blind, too close to shoot in the last two seasons.
Blind, Double Bull Recurve model. Black interior, dark clothing. Keep the windows behind you shut. I lay down a blanket inside the blind, and sit on a folding chair. When a gobbler approaches, fold up the chait and shoot off your knees. You can move around freely on the blanket, and use any window.
Window management, I learned this from trial and error, and from my friend in Kansas. He has taken 52 gobblers with a bow. Open 1-2 windows in the blind, as turkeys approach, open and shut windows as needed, always have the windows behind you shut first! You can open windows very slowly with gobblers close, even easier if you use Double Bull's black window covers. These covers keep the window covers black from the outside when the windows are shut. Opening them, goes unnoticed because the inside of the blind is black also.
I can't stress enough about broadhead size. Good luck to those who stick with their deer set-up. After chasing/loosing 3-4 most change their minds. I shoot Simmons Landsharks, they have a large cutting diameter 2" and fly like darts. Since shooting them, I have taken 4 gobblers and lost one, I just sliced his breast. No comment prior to that with smaller heads.. You can't go wrong with large snuffers either.
Scout, set up where they are going. If I set up in the open, I like to tuck the blind close to cover. If the aproaching Tom can see all around your set up, and there is no hen he may hang up. Setting up with some cover keeps him searching.
I like to shoot just above the drumsticks. If I put my large broadhead through the body cavity, He's mine. The broadhead will not pass through and does tremendous damage. Of the 4, I took with Landsharks, three of them never traveled over 4 yards, one ran 20 yards, then flew 20 yards.
I usually sit until 2:00 in the afternoon. They are out there moving all day. I get quite a bit of action from 11:00 - 2:00, never much after that in Michigan. In Kansas, I can have action all day.
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i want to run and gun for turkeys and I have a pop up blind but will it cause me trouble you know having to keep setting it up and stuff. I was thingking of leaving it at home and just putting a stick infront of me or something. Can i get a shot off like that at twenty yards with out the turkey seeing me?
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They fly over creeks rivers and even lakes every day. If a turkey wants to get somewhere believe me he can. Now if he makes up his mind not to. There aint much that will make him. Mike Smyth
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Scotty, You can get a shot off without a blind.But just remember if you can see the turkeys head,he can see you!!! I swear they can see thru trees too :eek:
So you have to set up where there are big trees,rocks,brush,something for the turkey to go behind and give you the chance to draw quick. Believe me,it isn't easy!!!
You can also draw on a strutting turkey when he turns away from you....
Turkeys will cross creeks...if ya get them in the right mood.
The biggest thing in basic successful calling is to be where they want to go anyway,or where they feel comfortable.But good calling will draw in the tough birds too...
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Our season starts in two weeks. I am not hardcore but enjoy it. It just seems between the end of March and the middle of May their daily movements change quite a bit. Any sage advise for hunting the different time frames of the season?
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Awesome info guys, really appreciate your input. I'm learning a lot just reading and re-reading these posts. :thumbsup:
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Different seasons... early on, toms have plenty of hens that are willing and ready. Agression is high and territories are defended. Later on, more hens are sitting on nests then aren't. This is the time to be even more patient throughout the morning hours. Not quite as much agression amongst the toms, yelping and gobbling is less frequent... but the dominant ones will carry through until it's all over with. Not all that different than how the whitetail continues on until he's totally sure it's done. Just have to keep on getting out there and never give up.
Years ago, the then Iowa state record turkey was killed during the last season in May, a few minutes before noon.
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My golden rule is to try to be the same latitude as the birds are,especially on the rolling hillsides here in SE Ohio.
If ya feel new to the sport and need to build confidence find the place the cows/horses eat. :confused: Dang turkeys love pickin through manure looking for undigested corn. Now never tell the Mrs. that what she is cooking is manure peckin meat. :D
Paul
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Hunt their watering hole, hit the wing on your side and take out the leg on the far side..... :)
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Some real good stuff here. If I had anything of value I'd add it, however I have missed 2 birds so far so I still have a lot to learn. I had just the jake decoy out and 5 jakes run up to the decoy and asked the new guy if he wanted to join their gang. When they didn't get an answer from the decoy they just started to feed again and that is when I missed my first bird.
Let's not let this topic fade out. I'm sure there is more good info to be had.
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It's a good idea to have one or 2 calls that are not readily available at your local Walmart. I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the calls used on the public tract that I hunt come from Wally World. My reasoning is that it has to be an advantage to sound a little different from the rest of the callers.
And speaking of Walmart, have they quit selling turkey hunting gear? This is the first year that my local Walmart hasn't put out turkey hunting supplies.
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I wholeheartedly agree with using a string tracker.Why not use something that will help find a less than perfectly hit bird.Turkey's are tough,with hard bones,and very small kill zones.Depending on the angle of the shot,it goes from small to smaller!!
I will always attach the tracker to my arrow if time permits.This bird from last fall would have never been found without my string tracker.I mean never,it would have been impossible to even have a clue where it was after it ran,then flew off.It was still alive when I found it,but I got it,thanks to the string leading me right to it,and letting me know I had my hands full with a bird that was still alive by the string moving when I got close!! My shot wasn't one of my better one's,and this bird would have gone unrecovered and died had it not been for the tracker......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff2892.jpg)
go to the "how to" forum and look at "string tracker and trad bows" for more info about how I attach it to my bow and wood arrows.........
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Brian L, no Walmart in general hasn't stopped selling turkey gear. They should've had it out already. All of the wally's here in Indiana have had it out for a month or more. I'd ask the department manager for sporting goods and see what's up.
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I place one hen decoy 4 yards out in front of my blind. Then I place a jake with a real tail fan at 10 yards. I want the tom somewhere in between 4 and 10 yards. I am carefull not to place the decoys in a direct line with one another as I dont want to have to shoot over the head of the first decoy. If you off set them slightly you should have no visual obstructions. I hace killed 4 toms with this set up in three years.
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It seems all my successful kills are in the mid to late morning. I try to tell myself to sleep late and hunt the mid-mornings, but I love to hear them on the roost and shortly after fly down! In my area of SW GA. the Toms stay hened up in the mornings. If one calls too early, in an attempt to get the lead hen/(the flock)to walk in a certain direction, she will take the flock in the exact other direction (180*). The hens don't want competition! The hens decide the direction the flock will travel. I like to catch the Toms(alone)in the mid-morning. The hens have gone to lay and the Toms are now looking for company.
If I can spot a Tom in a field, I like to hit the woods and gain ground on him, then set up for an ambush. Turkeys will hit the short grass fields after a rain, as they would rather stay as dry as possible. At least one waterproof call is a must.
I hunt public land, so I do not like to use a decoy. I camo-up as good as possible so I would rather not give a gun hunter any excuse to shoot in my direction.
I think it is next to impossible to stick a Tom without a blind or a great ambush spot! I cannot get my bow back without him spoting me. I'm sure it can be done, but not by me!
Good luck,
Clay
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Clay, that invite for you and Chris to come up and hunt some of my spots is still open---after seeing your turkey hunting grounds last spring I have to say that would be some tough hunting. I'll be in the Republic of Texas first week of GA season but you're welcome anytime after that. I'm going to try and get T to join us, too.
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posted by Dagator
If one calls too early, in an attempt to get the lead hen/(the flock)to walk in a certain direction, she will take the flock in the exact other direction (180*). The hens don't want competition!
Dagator,I have to disagree with you on this to a certin extent.It is possible to read the hens just as you read the gobblers.Some hens are very aggressive,while some passive,and this can be applied to the boss hen as well.If you want to call in a flock you are right the boss hen dictates.You need to appeal to her,and either coax her in be it to socialize,or to fight it out.Now this is a tougher read than an old Tom,but it can be done,and with some consistency.
I take a lot of guys in the early season here in the SC lowcountry (3/15 opener)and the birds are usually flocked heavily during this time.Most of all our hunts depend on if we can call the hens in or not.
It worked this morning like a charm,at 6:50 am,and got my cousin this fine longbeard
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f180/southernarcher/scott3.jpg)
Generally what I do is start by matching her calls,exactally,I mean in cadence and tone.I will start with that if she seems to start to get aggressive,I get a little more aggressive.It isn't fool proof but works a good percentage of the time.
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I followed Guru's advice last year and used the string tracker. Worked great on this jake, my first bow killed turkey. He made it about 100 yards but was easy to find by simply following the string. You can see the tracker mounted on the bowquiver in this pic...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v245/wallyholmes/jakeandbow4.jpg)
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Wally :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Sweet!I can't wait to get enough confidence in my shooting to take my longbow after turkeys!
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I took my 14th bird with a traditional bow this season & have never used a string tracker,but I like the idea of it,have had a couple that were nightmares trying to recover,were do you guys buy your string trackers?,I may try one this spring,but need to get one so I can practice with it.......
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Joel-
Thanks for the invite. Chris and I would love to get with you on a mid-season turkey hunt. He and I have both been selected to hunt second week on Chickasawhatchee. Anytime after second week would be great. Lets talk more about it more.
Southernarcher-
Yes, I agree with you that it can be done. Like I said, I hunt public land and the turkeys get a lot of pressure. I simply have found that it is easier for me to call in a lonesome Tom, in late morning, than a hened up bird in the early morning. I guess my point is to "stay at it" longer than just an hour or two because late mornings can be the ticket. Kudos on the fine turkey you called in for your cousin. I'll try your call for call tactic this season.
Clay
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Bluegrass, You can find all you need including the heavier 30# line at...
turkeyhuntingsecrets.com
Good people!!
By the way,congrats on all the birds bud!!
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Thanks Curt.....
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Dagator,I hunt alot of public myslf,and found that your calling tactics can be a big factor in drawing toms to your setup.Now there are many different ways to coax a tom in after flydown,and many different scenarios,I usually draw more toms in with very aggressive calls on public land.
Good luck with the henned up Toms!
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One tip I can give you on birds crossing water is to find the spot they like to fly or glide across. It maybe a high point or ridge. I've walked birds down a river 1/2 mile to a ridge were they just glide across. They have a point were they cross. Another tip is when leaves are full in woods if hear a bird gobble he's closer than you might think. Don't move in to close. Also when they're still on the roost a gobbler like's to turn around on the limb and gobble and this makes it sound like he's way off but he not. Morning air can fool ya. Anyway good luck to all in the coming season. Mike
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What kind of seat do ya'll use inside your popup blinds? I've been using a foldup camping type chair with a back that I got from Walmart. It works pretty good but I have to be real careful when I move in it 'cause the material its made of is kinda noisy....
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Wally, I use the folding tri-pod chair that DB sells.It has a back rest and is pretty comfy as long as your not a tall guy.You can get the same chair at big camping supply stores.Only 3#'s I believe....
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I just got the DB 3 legged stool this year, other wise I was using a 4 legged from Sam's I will say the 4 is more comfortable but it's easier to shoot from the 3.
I am wondering if I am the only one that likes to wait for the birds to return to roost.
I have had good success waiting in the evenings near a roost site. Possible using a deke or two and virtually no calling.
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I like a folding chair, then I fold it up and shoot off my knees. Being able to rotate around in the blind and shoot out any window really improves your odds.
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/bishs/Kansas_Turkey_2.jpg)
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/bishs/Kansas_Turkey.jpg)
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(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/bishs/Turkey.jpg)
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These are picture of the birds I have taken the last three seasons. I can't tell you how much my success has changed since I started shooting large diameter broadheads, shooting off my knees, and what I call "window management"
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/bishs/Gobbler.jpg)
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Nice birds Bishs!!! Big BH's :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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The first turkey picture I posted is from central Kansas. I believe this is a "hybred" based on the color of the feathers on the lower part of the tail. They have hybred turkeys in that area. Basically Easterns on the east side of Kansas and Rio Grandes to the west, and the hybreds in between. Turkey hunting in Kansas is nothing short of fabulous, Darryl and I hunt there every spring, before pursuing our turkeys here in Michigan.
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Thanks,
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Go out and have fun and don't worry about how your calling sounds. I've been at now going on 30 years and some days they come but most of the time they don't. You can't killed them sitting at home. Mike
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Guru-When I was a kid we tied June bugs to a string and would fly them in a circle. Can you do that with a string tracker and a turkey? :p
Paul
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Maybe if you used spider wire....
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Thanks for the info on what ya'll use for chairs in your blinds....
I'm thinking of taking my golf bag pull cart and using it to carry my blind and other gear. I saw a pic on the stickbow or somewhere on the 'net where a guy was using his pull cart and it looked like it would work real good. Those large blinds, plus dekes, plus pack are a pain to carry for very far....
On big broadheads....I shot my turkey last year with the big snuffer...I hit him quartering away at the top of the thigh. It busted up the top of the thigh but the point just barely went into the rib cage. I'm thinking of using the big 2 blade Simmons Tree Shark(2 inches wide) this year as its worked real good on a couple of deer for me and seems to penetrate better than the snuffer....Anyone have any ideas on broadheads?
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Also, a friend of mine hunts a lot like Earl E. ...He says he has killed about 80% of his birds in the late afternoon near dusting and feeding areas...Says the Toms come in just as good late in the afternoon as early in the morning....
By the way, all you guys that posted your turkey pics - very nice birds! :thumbsup:
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A little more on what Bishs refers to as window management, and I agree on going to the knees or at least one knee. I like to set my DB at a 45 degree angle to the dekes. (Not square to them as most often seen). I will aim the corner opposite of the door, just to the right of the dekes. I will set my chair/stool right in front of the door. This gives me much more room in front of me to maneuver for the shot. It also gives me 4 windows of my T5 to a generally front position. Doesn't work well when you have a second in the blind, but when you are alone, there is a lot more area to work with.
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Earl, That's just how I set up my T-5. Getting a Matrix soon,the extra shooting and visibility will definately be nice.I had a tom opening morning last year so close to the blind I couldn't shoot him,and he walked away just like he walked in,I would have killed him had I had the extra shooting of the Matrix.Still won't be like being out in a natural blind,but it should be better.Looking forward to getting it and trying it out!!!
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Top for adkmtken
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Curt, Have you seen the latest "Year on the Ground" video by the boys from DB? They whack a lizard crawling up the wall on the outside of the blind. Can't get much closer than that.. Need a bit of 200 mph tape when your through, but???
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Real simple advice that most all know. Don't give up and sleep in bed because the wind is a howling and you don't think you can hear birds. Or think they may not be able to hear you. Sometimes after being beat up a couple weeks it's easy to let up and stay in bed. Especially if you live in OK because the wind blows here constantly, it seems as it even blows more during turkey season. This is where a good box call pays off as nothing cuts wind like a box. Anyhow enough about calling but the point I was getting to is that a person will NEVER kill one while sleeping at home in bed. So get up and go have some fun. Mike Smyth
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Yeah...I have seen it,pretty funny stuff.I guess when ya own the company you can afford to shoot holes in your blind!!!
Was that on the one that came out last year,cause they have one they just released,it's long2 DVD's) and it's awesome!!! Them boys know how to have fun when hunting.
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It was probably last year's video. I agree on the owning the company concept, but there have been years and times when repairing the blind would not have been a concern. Darn birds, after having the dumbest creature in the woods make a fool out of you enough times, hand grenades start looking to be viable methods. :D
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I thought I would elaborate a bit more on "window management". I usually set up with 4 windows open. Quite often a gobbler is coming straight to the blind and you have to wait until you know what side he is taking. Then I begin opening the appropriate windows, but not until I close the windows directly across from them. If you leave a back window open or even cracked he will easliy pick up movement.
At this point I am on my knees, I unhook the top of the DB window and lower it straight back slowly. I try to do this while he is walking. Opening them this way pulls the window back into the shadows of the blind.
Not being aggressive enough on opening windows has cost me more than a few gobblers that have strolled past within spitting distance. The outside of my windows are now covered with DB's black window covers. They seem to really be effective. Last year I shot a gobbler, he went down where he stood, a gang of jakes ran in to check him out. I did a little experiment and opened and closed the windows in front of them 1/2 a dozen times. They were under 10 yards away, and never noticed. I wear a dark jersey glove and black sleeves.
I always try to set the blind up so I am in the shadows of the morning sun, and never open a window on the sunny side of the blind; they will see right in. I keep a dark piece of material in the blind and pin it up on the sunny side of the blind.
I have taken a few with shoot through screens. Make sure you are shooting perpendicular to the screens. I am going away from them this year. Arrow flight is often questioned, and I feel they are not needed.
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Well, seen sign....seen jakes....seen roost trees but haven't spent any time hunting because still not finished with the house and still have not heard any sounds out of em yet. But Kim called me at work this morning and said she heard em gobblin up a storm in our woods when she went to feed the horses. Great wife, ain't she?!!?
Time to put them turkey tactics you boys posted to good use......
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Good luck brother!
What part of GA is Ranger in?I moved here from Sylvania,which is in Screven Co. about 12yrs ago.Lots of birds around there,and my buddy has a nice farm there but,I just can't seem to get over there during turkey season.And it's only a 2 1/2hr drive.
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Michael, Ranger is in the North central part of GA.
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Let us know how you make out bud....
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Here's a few pix for some guys that are just starting out and may not know.
Gobbler dropping......classic "J" shape
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/4-15-06003.jpg)
Hen dropping.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/4-15-06005.jpg)
turkey food.....
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/4-15-06007.jpg)
Took those while scouting this morning,hope they can help someone out.
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Lets bring this thread back to the top.....
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TTT for another Turkey Season!! :thumbsup:
Lots of good info here!!
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Any new tips guys???
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Maybe I can find the time to hunt birds this year....always seems I'm either busy or have the opportunity to hunt hogs when it's turkey season. Of course, hogs come first :D
Would love to hear more tips, just in case.
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Sometimes it is better to do no calling while the birds are still roosted. Wait till there on the ground. Calling to them while there still roosted prolongs (not always) their fly down.
The old gobbler will stay roosted till he sees hen/hens under the roost tree. I usually have my turkey wing with me and just use that, without a (vocal) fly down cackle. Don't even need a turkey wing , just use your cap and flap it a couple times against your pants leg.
Drives um bonkers :bigsmyl:
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Hey, Curt, can't find your string tracker set up how-to this year. Any way to get that back?
Went scouting this morning and found birds on two properties I have access to. You should've seen the grin on my wife's face when a gobbler answered her wingbone call. This is her first year going after turks. We'll be set up on a likely travel route next Saturday morning!
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Originally posted by Guru:
I wholeheartedly agree with using a string tracker.Why not use something that will help find a less than perfectly hit bird.Turkey's are tough,with hard bones,and very small kill zones.Depending on the angle of the shot,it goes from small to smaller!!
I will always attach the tracker to my arrow if time permits.This bird from last fall would have never been found without my string tracker.I mean never,it would have been impossible to even have a clue where it was after it ran,then flew off.It was still alive when I found it,but I got it,thanks to the string leading me right to it,and letting me know I had my hands full with a bird that was still alive by the string moving when I got close!! My shot wasn't one of my better one's,and this bird would have gone unrecovered and died had it not been for the tracker......
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v77/Guru39/curtsstuff2892.jpg)
go to the "how to" forum and look at "string tracker and trad bows" for more info about how I attach it to my bow and wood arrows.........
Hey Curt, I can't find this either. I know I saw it a couple of year ago but a search doesn't how up anything. I'd really like to read that again. :)
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Lot's of great information gentleman. There's been a little bit of information on broadheads and string tracker, but what are you guys using for bow weight and arrow weight? Other recommended heads besides Landsharks and big Snuffers?
The bird I'm holding was with a 60# Super Shrew, Arrow Dynamics Traditional heavy shaft and grizzly broadhead (although now I use 3 blade head).
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Sorry guys....I took it off TG when I found out the article was coming out of courtesy to TBM (April/May '07)....I thought I saved it to post again at a later time,but now I can't find it :knothead:
I'll type up a condensed version with pix and get it posted....
My best new tip would be to get a strutting tom decoy!!!!!!!!
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Curt SIR...A REFRESHER on attaching the string to the arrow might be a GREAT TIP for some :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
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JC, I've just spent the first two mornings of season looking for them on NF land and have called two birds up both mornings in creek bottoms where the new grass is coming up.Jake too far out first morning and got busted trying to draw this morning. I'll carry my DB from now on. For the next two weeks that new grass will be good to set up on. I'll do that before heading to a gobbling bird this early in the season because everyone else is heading to them and I would rather be where he is planning on going than busting him off roost. Worked the last two mornings if I can only do my part and close the deal I'll be eating smoked breast.
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If he don't shoot a tree!!! :biglaugh:
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Yep Mike, I am pretty good at sticking them trees as well but have been on a tree drought here lately. That was a classic stalk on that tree though you got to admit.
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Yeah it was beautiful! I did that about 15 yrs. ago on a big gobbler , 15 yards away blowed up with his tail to me. I swear I didn't see that tree.
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Great advice here (especially that bowsite article!)
This is my first time EVER so I need to learn as much as possible.
Do y'all think that my Samick longbow 45# will be fast enough?
I've scouted my friend's land and seen 50 birds strutting around and traveling the same path at night fall. Drove the ATV right up to them and could almost reach out and smack'em on the head.
Should I set up a blind there (guess I'll need to get one of those).
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Great thread- revived....
I remember reading the post about connecting the string to the arrow using velcro. Take a small strip of the "hard side" sticky velcro and wrap around the shaft just behind the broadhead. Tie your string around this and just spin the arrow a couple times to get the string into the loops.
Whitebuffalo dropped me off a tracker after shooting a touch low on a nice gobbler last year and not getting him. He made a bracket that mounts to my riser with strong rubber bands, or leather string. Got my draw tag for the first hunt, and have been shooting a bit just warming up, can't wait!
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I got a question, Ihear lots of different opinions on where exactly to shoot a bird and rather or not to chase a bird after he's hit. Do most of yall shoot for the top of the "drum sticks", or the wing but? And if a turkey flies or runs off do you go after him or just give him time? Thanks.
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ttt, not to rush you curt but could you please show us the string tracker how-to?!?!?
Thanks, Zane
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Back to the top, and to answer the question about Walmart not selling turkey gear anymore. Here in NC they only sell it in stores where they believe the market is strong enough. The stores here in Raleigh no longer carry it but the rural Walmarts do. It's been that way here for a couple of years now.
Doug
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Is the Game Tracker the referred to "string tracker"? I have the perfect 'curve, with a stabilizer insert just waiting to kill a Tom. I just dont want to buy the wrong thing. $16 seems way too cheap....
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ishi- yep, gametracker with screw mount will work on your bow with the insert.
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Early season with the leaves off I will go out at dusk, fully camoed and glass for roosted birds. I will go to the spot a full hour before sunrise and sit. They fly right to the decoy from the roost and I shoot them. Have not done it with a recurve yet but this year is my year. Not many people are into turkey hunting near me so the pressure is almost nonexistent and I live in an ag area so the population is very healthy. I shoot my two birds last year within the first few mins of the first two days of season.
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Great Tip Finger Lakes!!! I have tried that too, and it works!!!
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C'mon finger lakes bowhunter, cowboy up!
Blast one but use the bow on the second tag. You're cheating yourself out of the whole season killing them in the 1st two days!!
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This year I promised myself that I would use a recurve for opening day. If I can I will use it for both birds. There is a huge tom on my property that I need to shoot and get mounted. If it comes down to it I am busting out the Ithaca Turkey Slayer. After the leaves are on the trees I have to call and try to set up, it almost never works for me.
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Well, its snowing up here in the Smoky Mountains...but I plan on trying tomorrow morning anyway.
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TTT