Turkeygirl Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 All I can say is maybe the freaky weatherh as done it, but I'm guessing birds are really henned up here resulting in lack of gobbles.... I got out nice and early this morning to that ridge on the state land with the scratchings. First of all it's dark, my flashlight doesn't help and I find myself down the ridge on the middle of briars and not in the open spot I was on Sunday. so I just sit down against this tree in them iddle of the briars:o I wait, it gets light enough out that I can see ahead of me..oh look, I'm like a mear 20 steps from the open woods...duh. so I find a comfy tree and sit there waiting for the woods to come alive. It gets light out...I give some soft yelps and hear a few soft yelps back down the ridge. I wait and soon enough a hen starts yelping back so I try to keep her talking and hoping she comes my way with a gobbler in tow...nope...she was probably at least 100 yards down the ridge where I couldn't see here and after like 10-15 minutes, stopped talking. So I just sit, occassionally yelping. there's woodpeckers and dogs in the distance that almost sound like gobbles, but not really. Then I thought I did hear a gobble. Nah...then I hear it again and I'm almost positive it was a gobble way down the ridge...far enough it was probably on the private land. I moved down a little and sat down, still on state land of course...never heard another peep of anything. About 9am, I head out..I'm like a mile back in the woods...and I get to the car and drive over to the state land that the camp is on. I drive up one dirt road and find the trail head of one of our camp trails we take kids on to the bog. No cars anywhere, but you could see some tire tracks and some boot prints in the mud. I hike down the trail and hit a mainly oak ridge that slopes down into maple....I can't find many of our trail markers now...but boy did I find alot of turkey scratchings and probably the freshest I've seen this year! they were probably at least yesterday's....maybe this morning but it was torn up all over the place and I found 1 hen dropping:rolleyes: But with all those scratchings, I'm sure there's got to be more birds...and hopefully a gobbler or two. So I'm trying to decide now....go to this ridge tonight and hopefulyl hear some gobbles....or go in the morning when I may likely hear gobbles and just go up back here by home tonight. Or go back to the land I was at this morning, or to the land I haven't hunted yet 30 minutes away. What should I do...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Help me decide,lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HONKERS44 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Go in the morning.... If i know birds are in a certain area...i don't even bother trying to roost them...I'd would wait to morning...why take a chance and maybe bumping the birds or getting lesss sleep you know their there....Honkers44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccwhitey Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I would probably head to the fresh scratchings first, since if you don't get anything there you can head to the first spot. That's just my opinion, but I don't know what your other spot is like:confused: I also kinda like a good puzzle, but its your hunting so it up to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Go back to where you found the fresh scratchings first thing in the morning. No matter what you hear sit there until your butt tries to crawl out the top of your head! Not really joking, you need to camp on that spot for several hours. If it's an active feeding site let them come to you. Just wait it out clucks and purrs (no yelping) only every 15 minutes. If a flock thinks another flock is feeding where they found food the day before they will come. You're trying to make those hens mad, they will fight over food before fighting over a gobbler. If you succeed they will quite often pull in a couple long beards in tow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Go to the fresh scratching sign and set up before daylight...dont move for at least 3 hours!! put out a hen decoy on the ridge and wait wait wait!! soft purrs and clucks..oh ya DONT MOVE!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Yep, fresh scratchings spot for me too.....I'd set up the next morning...and sit tight, and buckle down....if you have a chance, make a homemade blind near the scratchings to blend in better......good luck Ruth, have a great day in the woods...........al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Yep, fresh scratchings spot for me too.....I'd set up the next morning...and sit tight, and buckle down....if you have a chance, make a homemade blind near the scratchings to blend in better......good luck Ruth, have a great day in the woods...........al Kudos to you for remembering to "brush" yourself in. That's such an automatic thing for me now I'll failed to mention it. When the birds come in there will be multiple eyes to contend with. Most crucial is obstructing your back plane to eliminate being silhouetted. Hope TG knows to do this. I think she's probably in the woods now. If not chances of getting busted are pretty high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Thanks guys! I usually try to find a spot that has some fallen sticks or some greenery or whatever to break up my out line and help me hide....If I just sit against any tree without some type of cover, I feel so "naked" lol. Well if you read my one post...you'll find out what happened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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