VTbowman Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 I have been several times now over the last 2 weeks and not hearing or seeing turkeys at all. This has started to make me wonder if I should bother or not to even go anymore this spring. Granted, I am a rookie even though its my 2nd season, but I feel I have not been making any errors that would cause this to happen. From talking with other hunters, farmers, and truckers up here, they all are reporting the same thing. Just not hearing or seeing the birds. I am pretty sure I am not bumping birds or over calling or any of the classic mistakes I have read about. The dang birds are either very tight lipped or not there. My biggest disadvantage is I am hunting a new area to me. A farm about 30 to 40 minutes away (one way) and I did not step foot on it until one day before our season opened to ask permission. Then I worked the 1st 4 days of the season. In other words, no scouting, other then what the farmer had told us. I figured I would just get there early AM and listen to where I needed to go. Nope, zero luck to even hear one. I have tried owl and crow calls. Soft and loud clucks, purring, and yelping to locate them with friction and mouth calls. (on different occasions of coarse.) I have been humping every field edge and log road trying to find sign without bumping or scaring off the birds. I see a single print and some scat every now and again, but nothing that says to me, "This is where they have been going or spending time." I basically have been setting up before first light in "This looks like a good spot" areas in hopes of cold calling something in or cutting off random walking birds. Does breeding discourages responding? If so for how long? Also, how far or wide is their roaming territory? Could it be possible they have moved off this entire farm or vally? (very wide spread farm for Vermont) In what temps do turkeys like to talk? Its been frosty every morning mixed in with over night rain for most of our season. But thier has also been nice blue bird skies and warmer temps by mid morning too. I assume they won't be tighted lipped for an entire month but not real sure now. Am I right or wrong thinking that way? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I'm in NY and where I am hunting, having the same problem except I called in 2 hens this morning. It is a really weird year for the turkeys to me and I think that the coyotes/foxes here are killing off too many and may be why I'm not seeing jakes/toms like I use to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? [ QUOTE ] I think that the coyotes/foxes here are killing off too many and may be why I'm not seeing jakes/toms like I use to. [/ QUOTE ] Hey Shawn I wonder if that coydog you saw on Friday, has anything to do with the dissapearence of the Turkeys in our area.....It would make some kind of sense I would think.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I actually found one fox den a weekend ago, it has 2 fox pups, and there were a few turkey feathers around the den which proves to me they are getting turkeys. I have also know of another den that had turkey remains and once in a while I find the bones of a turkey. The foxes got 5+ of our chickens a year or two ago so we have to be careful about letting the chickens run loose. All I know is after turkey season, I'm getting rid of a few pests! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest clayton819 Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? ya i havent hured ne turkeys in like 2 weeks. the first day i shot and missed a big bird and the day after i calle dina small jake after that i havent hured ne. but the people that live right there see them everyday. so i dont knwo whats happening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? It could be a factor but I dont think a few or many coyote or fox would cause every turkey in the entire state to be so quiet. There is some other larger factor to this... I have no doubts the coyotes in our area need thinning out. Maybe the fox too but no way is it making every bird disappear in just 2 weeks. Weather I feel is not causing it either, at least not right now. Maybe having an early breeding season, or late is whats keeping them out of sight and ear shot. I hope something breaks soon. I got 2 weeks left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I have heard a gobble every time I have been out since the last weekend in April (NY Youth Hunt). I have seen birds each time out, but no shot, always on the way out of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Yeah, I've been wondering also if the turkeys are behind or ahead of the stage they are usually in at this time of year. Maybe the gobblers just decided to skip this season,lol!!:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? [ QUOTE ] Maybe the gobblers just decided to skip this season,lol!!:-) [/ QUOTE ] LOL,,a male giving up some of the good stuff....I find that one highly unlikely.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? More then likely he is getting to much. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Coyotes in one area won't shut birds up. I've heard them gobbling on the roost in areas that are swarming with yotes, but they just kept thundering away. Now I know coyotes are doing a number on nests and hens this year, as I've seen the evidence myself. The weather is below freezing at night so the hens have to sit on their nests all night and the coyotes sneak in for an easy meal. I think this is just a strange year where a bunch of small things led to one bad season. First the weather didn't cooperate with the early thaw and all the storms. Then you get too many hens in an area and the gobblers don't need to gobble, next you add the youth weekend where everyone with a kid is educating them early, and you have a recipe for a disaster of a season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted May 15, 2005 Report Share Posted May 15, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? vtbowhunter, so you're saying that the youth seasons are problems because they educate the birds? I'm sure you have quite a few turkeys under your belt. How about letting the youth (the future of the sport) get their first? I love the youth season for that reason. The birds aren't as wary as they will be towards the end of the month. When you have a kid old enough to qualify for the youth hunt, make sure you don't take your kid out, only because of the fact that you oppose the youth season. I am extremely grateful for the youth season because before then I had to compete with adults. Not trying to start an arguement here, but how about we agree to disagree? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? [ QUOTE ] vtbowhunter, so you're saying that the youth seasons are problems because they educate the birds? I'm sure you have quite a few turkeys under your belt. How about letting the youth (the future of the sport) get their first? I love the youth season for that reason. The birds aren't as wary as they will be towards the end of the month. When you have a kid old enough to qualify for the youth hunt, make sure you don't take your kid out, only because of the fact that you oppose the youth season. I am extremely grateful for the youth season because before then I had to compete with adults. Not trying to start an arguement here, but how about we agree to disagree? [/ QUOTE ] Joe that isn't what he said....He said it was a mixture of everything combined that made for a bad season this year..... As not to start an arguement, I will refrain from commenting on the Youth Weekend Hunting that has debated heavily in this state......this is not the section of the forum to debate the pros and cons of this type of special hunting.... borch, Nut, snapper, Strut10 have worked hard to keep this section of the forum clean and friendly and we owe them and everyone else that comes in this section of the forums the repect of saving the fighting and debating for another section of the forum.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Just gotta put your 2 cents in, huh...?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? [ QUOTE ] Just gotta put your 2 cents in, huh...?? [/ QUOTE ] Bite me Shawn,,,, Think about this while you are at work...I'm on my way to my sisters in FairFax, she just spotted a whole flock in her back meadow and I'm on my way to check it out.....and you're stuck at IBM... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Yes but I can hunt Thursday-Sunday. If I am allowed to hunt there or not. I will. LOL When you huntin again....??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I'm actually think some people came out with their kids during the youth season and shot any gobblers here....but I can't prove it. oh well.Yeah I think the weather has played a bad role this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted May 16, 2005 Report Share Posted May 16, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Not short of gobbling up this way. My nephew and I had 4 going this morning where he shot his bird and we also heard a few distant gobbles in a few directions. I think it is a funny year though. Nothing "greened up"until late and it seems the turkeys are still roaming a lot. Don't give up. You might want to use most of your time scouting some different areas. Find a bird first, and then hunt. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? VermontHunter, in his post, it clearly states, [ QUOTE ] next you add the youth weekend where everyone with a kid is educating them early, [/ QUOTE ] That to me sounds like the kids are a problem and the woods should be left to all the oldtimers only because "the kids are educating them early". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 17, 2005 Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? NOPE not going there...I'm going to behave myself.... I'll let vtbowhunter explain his comment or should I say opinion to you. It's nothing personal mind you, Im just going to respect to request of the moderators of this room they work way too hard to keep this a friendly place, and Im going to do my best to keep it that way , so Im not going to contribute to and argument on my behalf.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted May 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? In both of my buddies defence. Youth weekend of all kinds in VT are just not timed properly in acordence to regular seasons. It has causes more trouble/arguments for resident hunters then benifits to our youth. JMO and I have probs with youth hunter just when VT has the youth seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maytom Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I was out both yesterday and this morning, and on both mornings, the woods was as quiet as a Church!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Maine Turkey Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? I agree with the other Mainer...I've heard and seen birds every single time I went out this season. That includes the pre-season scouting. I will say that I didn't hear much after they reached the ground. They might gobble for the first 1/2 hour on the ground and then go quiet. They had lots of hens with them though. I am still seeing lots of birds to and from work. I tagged out the third day, but still have a chance to get back out and call with a buddy for the 2nd half of the season. RS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VermontHunter Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? Man-O-Man where are you guys at in Maine...???? Hang on we here in Vermont and New York are on the way over to join the party... ,,because there sure isn't any action going on here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted May 18, 2005 Report Share Posted May 18, 2005 Re: NorthEast turkey hunters. Been hearing them yet? [ QUOTE ] I agree with the other Mainer...I've heard and seen birds every single time I went out this season. That includes the pre-season scouting. I will say that I didn't hear much after they reached the ground. They might gobble for the first 1/2 hour on the ground and then go quiet. They had lots of hens with them though. I am still seeing lots of birds to and from work. I tagged out the third day, but still have a chance to get back out and call with a buddy for the 2nd half of the season. RS [/ QUOTE ] Exactly! When I got my bird in NH, I shot it around 8:30. I had hunted that spot the first week from dawn to 6:30 am. Heard gobbles on the roost, but when they hit the ground they were quiet. I believe they were henned up and then when the hens have had enough......return to the nest or whatever, the toms are out searching. Same thing in Maine. I shot my bird at around 9:00 I think. The bird I called in for my nephew yesterday came in from the roost, but that was the first this season. The other previous times we went out, they gobbled from the roost but that was it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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