DSGB Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I hunted my grandfather's land in Alabama Saturday morning. I couldn't get one to gobble early, so I set up and called blind until about 9:30. Some soft clucks and purrs, with a few yelps every now and then. I decided to make a loop down into a hardwood bottom where the turkeys like to hang out before I left for my daughter's t-ball game. On the way out, I bumped a bird that was in a tree about 200 yards from where I was sitting all morning. I could see fresh scratchings in the leaves around the tree (still wet). I'm not sure if it was a hen or a gobbler, because it flew directly away from me. Do you think it flew up in the tree because it heard me coming? This is the second time in three years this has happened to me. Sit in one spot for hours only to have one fly from a tree after I get up and leave. Neither time were they close enough to have seen me when I was set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? If it was that close you would have most likely heard it fly up. Was it rainy or overcast there. Maybe it didn't feel like coming off roost yet. Who knows. Thats turkey hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted March 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? It was about 40° and windy - gusts up to 25 mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? I've had the same thing happen...sit there and call forever and ever...nothing...get up and move and spook a bird...makes you feel like a loser,lol. But you aren't. just keep trying! I'm guessing the overcats kepy them in their roosts...seems like around my area they stay in the trees late on really overcast days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? On rainy windy days, I've flushed birds out of the tree at 9:00 am. You need to remember, they don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get to work. It doesn't matter to them if they go 5 miles or 5 feet in one day. It's a hard concept to imagine, but it is true. Hang in there, and good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okbowman Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? The only cure is to get back out there and get one!! Stay with it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? My best guess is while you were moving into that bottom the bird spooked and treed before you ever set up. There's a good chance you wouldn't hear him fly up while you were walking in there during mid morning hours, especially in those high winds. If I'm right the bird probably just stayed in the tree watching you until you started leaving and then flew off because you got inside what he thought was his safe zone. Again, from what you've told us that's just my best guess though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exturkinator Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? I agree with everything Alan said, except it may be that the bird never came off the roost to begin with in those winds... You know where they're likely to be now, so I'd say give them a day or two without pressure and then go give it another try - get within 100 yards or so, try to set up in the direction you think they might be going, and give them soft, intermittent calls without overdoing it - it is easy to call too much while they are still on the roost. Good luck - persistence is the name of the game... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSGB Posted March 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? Yeah, he probably flew up in the tree when he heard me coming. There were fresh scratch marks at the base of the tree, so it had to be on the ground at some point. I'll be off work Friday, hopefully he'll have forgotten about it by then. Thanks for the replies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest beardbustr Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Re: What did I do wrong? You just got to hang in there and stay put Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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