BigMike.jmp

Birds were fairly-lockjawed this morning, until almost 7am. Had one on the hillside west of the logging road I was on. When he came down, he became a ghost, never heard another gobble all day, think the cool-snap we had here in Missouri put them off a little, but always tomorrow.

Missouri turkey season is an odd one this year. The birds aren't roosting in the same locations that have in the past few years, they aren't using the same fields that they have for the past 2 years, and needless to say, they aren't responding to the same calls that have in the past. Usually I hunt up on a ridge where the turkey, gobblers and hens, roost on the South side of the ridge, and then fly-down in the field to the South. My blind is typically northwest of the gobblers, off an old logging road that they typically have traveled in the past. This year they are dead-set on roosting to the North of the ridge, and fly-down in the same respective direction. Now I will say that they are quite vocal, even though the past two mornings have been somewhat cool, and/ or rainy. As soon as they hit the ground, the gobblers don't "seek-out" other hens, they go straight for the Strut Zone field,. Just odd I guess. Can't expect them to be predictable every year, because if that was the case, everyone would be able to put Thunder-Chickens on the ground. I did finally get my first Spring turkey this morning @ 10:45, but I had to work for him. Started in the blind as usual, hit him with a few soft yelps on the "Tramp Stamp", which he talked back to me and at 6:15am he hit the ground. Didn't seemed interested to check-out the "hen" he had been speaking with, and went straight down the hill. Around 8:15am, he gobbled down in the back Strut Zone field, so I took to foot. I gave some yelps on the mouth call, in which he replied, but was still moving away. By 9:15am, I had positioned myself on the edge of the 2nd Strut Zone, and the gobbler, and his brother were at the farthest corner from me, not saying a word.Tried the slate and mouth callto get their attention, but they never even acted interested, probably because of the 7 hens they had. Made two yelp with the WetBox call, and it was game on. Apparently the sound produced was loud enough to be heard over the rain, but quiet enough for them not to sprint away from being startled. 10:45am he made a final gobble, 39 yards from me, which was his last resting place. His brother seemed a little confused by the big gobbler just falling down like that. After all said and done, 20.5 lbs, 11 inch beard, 1 1/4 inch spurs, but all the work paid off.

They will use the same travel path as other animals. The scent coming from the coyote you had down could have been the reason for another coyote to come in. The reason that coyotes use the same paths as other animals, such as deer and rabbits, is because they are a food source. You're not going to go to the cabinet, if all your food is in the fridge. Coyotes are creature of habit, but those habits can be altered due to the interference of a threat. But it does sound like you had an awesome run of luck. Being elevated in a stand helps push your scent over the coyotes, or away from them. Any chance I get, I try to elevate myself.

Coyotes make great practice for longer shots in the "off-season". Missouri coyote season last all-year long, with the exception from March 31st to May 31st. So when gun season on deer closes, its time to don the coyote gear and hit the ditches. And to go with Adjam5's comment on "Dogs are smart", if they observe something that has been there during many of their trips through an area, they will either detour around that area and find an alternate route or they will quit going through that area all together. Another big factor is scent, because all your cover scents work find for those big bucks, but their curiosity gets the best of them most of the time, which really makes a lot of hunters go "man, my cover scent works great", but put your cover scent against the nose of a coyote. He picks up an unusual scent, and he says "adios", because coyotes have learned that if it don't smell normal, it could kill them.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to calling coyotes, if that's the route you do chose, is 15 to 20 minutes per set on a calm day/ night, 30 to 45 mintues on a windy day/ night. Patterning coyotes is comes down to the weather, mating season, and "outside interferences". If you see him feeding on the deer carcass one calm evening, and he don't show back up until a few days later, it may be due the fact that he felt safe while feeding on the calm evening, or the wind was blowing his direction to where if someone, or something began to approach, he would small it and be gone. The same coyote may not return to the same area unless the conditions are the same.

In Missouri, we can't use artificial lighting, nor can we use night vision or thermal, so moonlight is all we can use. I will say though, the nights after a fresh snow dusting came through and the full moon is out, let the party begin. On one set two years ago, I had 5 come in to my locator call, followed by cottontail distress. Night hunting is risky because of being limited on what you can see along with being limited on what equipment you can use. I use a red cap light when walking into an area, because when I go to shut the light off, it takes less time for my eyes to adjust. Always place yourself elevated as well, which helps in identifying your target, due to the fact that you can see their shadow as well.

Sorry if this response is over a year behind, but I figured I would jump on this topic, because I mostly hunt public land, here in Missouri. Bow season on Missouri public land is challenging due to the fact that you may not alway be able to just stroll right in and get into the spot that you had scouted before, so always have a back-up area. Any GPS maps or area maps that you can use from the Department of Conservation is a big help. if you have a smart phone with you when you go out scout, I suggest using an app like HuntStand Lite for Andriods, that way you can mark any potential areas you found of interest. Public land for bow hunting is good, because many times you will be the only person on the land. Early bow season in Missouri is best on public land, due to the fact that after firearm season, most deer have moved away from the public land that all the hunters have been hunting, and are mostly only moving during the late evening/ night hours, usually leading to last season being not as productive, with very little sightings.

Here in Missouri, it is that time of year when male and female 'yotes are getting ready for the season of "love". Most people don't realize that male and female coyotes mate for life, and the younger generations are now old enough to pursue mates of their own. From February to end of March is the prime time to trigger a coyote's curious nature with a few challenging howls/ barks. The territorial nature will cause them to investigate the presence a younger male, or even that of a younger female. Avoid using pup calls, and save those for mid-summer/ early fall. Be aware of your volume as well, because with the "song dogs" on the move, they can be just a ditch a way. Good luck to those who go out and Dust some Dogs.