Turkeygirl Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Well I finally got on a bird. I went up behind my house to the old gravel pit and sure enough a gobbler roosted on the ridge there...in fact I'd almost bet it's the same gobbler I've missed the last 2 years that has roosted on that same ridge in almost the same trees! I got in this morning, set up 2 hens and a jake decoy. started to get light, he gobbled to crows, woodpeckers, etc...Eventually I saw 1 hen pitch out of a tree and land on the ridge above me (I was set up on a smaller ridge below that). Well of course he flies right down to where she went and she dragged him out into a field first thing, he gobbled. I tried to circle around to a field I thought they were going to, no luck. I heard him gobbler a few more times but couldn't pinpoint exactly where he was headed, that hen was dragging him all over!!:nono: I never did lay eyes on them. So tonight I'm going to go back up and see if he roosts on that same ridge. I'm thinking if he is, I will then set-up in the AM where he flew down today in hopes he flies down in the same spot. What do the rest of you think? How much calling should I do? I didn't even call until they were off the roost this AM. If this is the same bird, 2 years ago I put on a jake and hen and he flew down and came running right into the jake. so my hopes is he being a dominant bird, that jake is going ot make him mad again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisSeb53 Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I would do what you plan on. I would set out a jake decoy in case he isn't the dominant bird as not to spook him and set up close to where you saw him fly down. Make a few soft tree calls in the morning just so he knows there is a "bird" where you are located and then sit and wait. I wouldn't call much at all. If he see's the jake, he should come running. Good luck! Hopefully you'll be posting pictures here soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 set out a hen & jake do a few soft purs to let him know you are there..be ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 set out a hen & jake do a few soft purs to let him know you are there..be ready What he said. Clucks and soft purrs. If he starts to wander off give a half hearded gobble to let him know there is competition. Make him mad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawn8157 Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Best bet would be to set up on him just like you did and work him just like you did, only thing I would do different is stay out longer. I have had alot of henned up gobblers that were almost impossible to kill, that is until the hen nested about 10 am. A lot of times when this happens that old gobbler will back track to the sweet little hen he heard that morning. Not a guarantee, but would stay on him between 10-1. If he gobbles between those hours, he's begging for a truck ride. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 yea it's too bad we can only hunt the AM. basically, setup like you planned. do a small amount of tree calling and then some fly down cackles. if he doesn't respond by then through out some soft calling. by then i'm sure he'll hammer back. once he doesn't don't make a sound again. if he wants to at all he'll come looking to gather you up and leave with the other hens. chances are too that he's got a pretty good idea of where you are. through out some purrs only if you need to bring him in closer. cluck or yelp more and he'll answer back to let you know where he is and think you're on your way to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 First of all, I dont like to set up downhill from a turkeys roost. I try to be on the same level or higher than where he is. Also more than likely he is going to go straight to that field as soon as he flies down. He wants to go out there and strut and gobble and put on a show for the ladies. Id set up on the field close to where you think he will probably enter and put out my jake decoy with a hen or two, and call softly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 Yeah, it's been 2 mornings in a row now that he's gone to the same field...almost same time with that hen. May have to set up there in the AM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Yup forget the ridge fly down area..concentrate on the field set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loner Posted May 11, 2012 Report Share Posted May 11, 2012 when the tom is with a hen close to the roost,he will go where she goes.calling while on the roost many times determines the direction the hen will go and normally,it is away from competition.the direction of the hen to feed is the key.then, a soft call will entice the hen to look for the company.the tom is only going to strut and follow the hen.if soft calls don't encourage the hen to feed towards them,you are out of luck until hen leaves or goes to start a nest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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