Nate22 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Me and a couple buddys have leased a 250 acre property in South Georgia thats never been turkey hunted and surrounded by private property and plantations that dont hunt turkeys so theres no pressure and plenty of birds. Our problem has been the gobblers seem to be so henned up, we get set up by their roost and get them to gobble at our calls then they pitch down and either shut up or go the opposite way. We've also tried late morning and early afternoon hunts but after about 9 a.m. the birds just dont want to be vocal. We are not turkey huntin pros but we have had sucessful seasons the past couple years just not one this tough. Its already several weeks into the season and havent had one in the decoys yet, we just cant seem to close the deal and get any of these birds to give us a shot.Anyone with any tips would be great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Can you get between them and where they seem to be headed? Do they seem to go different directions each time? Here where I am in Maryland the two places I hunt you might as well leave the calls at home. There are other people that have gotten these birds so call shy that as soon as they here one they shut up and run the other way in double over drive. They won't even answer a real hen that is how call shy a lot of them are. The first gobbler I ever got was a 3 1/2 year old. My uncle setup on one end of the field and called while I went to the other end of the field.When the bird came off the roost and heard the calls he took off straight for me which resulted in a load of Federal #4's meeting him. We have had to figure out where they are headed and just ambush them bewtween the roost and their destination. Most shots are less than 35 yards as they walk right past. You may have to switch tactics and ambush them by cutting them off from their destination. In the afternoon when the hens are on the nest you should be able to decoy them in. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3seasons Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Don't feel bad its been rough for everyone this year. I’m no pro either but this has worked for me in the past. 1. Try leaving your decoy in the truck a time or two. I use them and they will work but some old toms just act funny when they see that decoy. 2. If you have him roosted get in close and when you think your as close as you can get go 20-30yds closer. You don’t want to be under him but you want to be close. Around 60-80yds is what i try to do. 3. This is the hard part. Either soft tree yelp and if he answers you put the call down and wait. He knows where you are and he will come and check on you. Now it may take a while and he may go the other way with a hen but he knows he heard a hen that’s not with him and he will come back and check on her. Its hard not to call but this one works. Another one is get in close and never call just use a wing to do a couple fly downs with and then scratch the ground a little. Give him time sometimes they will just about light in your lap with that one. 4. Let them get together and bust them up, just run at them and spook the mess out of them. After they have flown off walk in the direction that the gobbler went for about 50yds or so. Set up and wait for about an hour or so then start soft calling slowly getting louder with lost calls. He will want to regroup his hens and will usually run to the sounds of a lost hen. Just some things that have worked for me on stubborn birds. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate22 Posted April 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Thanks for the tips guys we have tried to get in between the tom and where he wants to be but as soon as we think we know where hes gonna go off the roost he goes a different way. We havent left the decoys in the truck yet but we have tried using a jake and hen decoy as well as just a hen decoy but maybe no decoy is what we need right now. I do like the wing beat and scratching tactic and think that will be the next one we try because we got where he is roosted pegged. As far as the spooking the birds off then trying to pull the gobbler back ive never tried that but as slow as its been im ready to try just about anything. Good luck guys and thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Got a full strut type decoy? If you do, try that. When those gobblers see an intruding tom putting on a show for their hens, good chance they will come running to fight. Thats my strategy here during the early season when our birds are all henned up. Just do some light calling to get their attention and let the decoy do the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Check this tip out: ZLong's Turkey Tip #3: The Thunder Chicken Roar Good luck. If you have room for one more next year, let me know. I need to dust off my GA Lifetime License! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pruts Posted April 16, 2011 Report Share Posted April 16, 2011 Thanks for the tips guys we have tried to get in between the tom and where he wants to be but as soon as we think we know where hes gonna go off the roost he goes a different way. We havent left the decoys in the truck yet but we have tried using a jake and hen decoy as well as just a hen decoy but maybe no decoy is what we need right now. I do like the wing beat and scratching tactic and think that will be the next one we try because we got where he is roosted pegged. As far as the spooking the birds off then trying to pull the gobbler back ive never tried that but as slow as its been im ready to try just about anything. Good luck guys and thanks again. If you know where he roosts, try getting there before he dose in the afternoon. I shot a bird in the fall getting to where a small flock were headed about 2.5 hours early, and waited for them to walk by. No decoy's or calling or anything. It did take some scouting time to pattern them. But I got to do most of it from the truck with binoculars. Good luck. Can't wait for my season to start on the 25th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.