Gobble Gobble...and then....

[Turkeygirl]

No...no BOOM:(

I located a bird last night on the state land, he was far in from where I was but gobble to my owl call several times. I got up extra early this morning, got over there, took a dirt road down closer to where I thought he was. I walked in and sat down in the dark. I knew he had to be here somewhere but exact spot I wasn't sure. I hear him gobble...I'm still not very close so I make a haul through the woods and shrubs to get closer to him. I finally get about 100 yards or so from him and sit down. He is still gobbling about every 30 seconds to a minute. It gets lighter out, I give him some yelps to let him know there's a "hen" there....silence...he gobbles....i don't answer....he gobbles two more times, I give a couple yelps and that's it. He gobbles once more then silence for about a half hour. Then at 6:30 I see a bird from his direction sore down to my right and behind some tree and apparently behind a slight slope. Little did I know I was just on the other side of this small swampy area and on the other side of that was the dirt road and my car.

He never gobbled again....I never saw him or heard him walking through the crunchy leaves. I never saw or heard any hens...though that doesn't mean they weren't there. I hunted in that area until about 10am....nothing. Found an old gobbler dropping. Must be his area....luckily where I walked in and parked...didn't look like much activity if any from other hunters.

Anyone have any insight into what happened to this bird?

I don't know if there were hens I didn't hear or see...if he is just smart and old and said no way...or even where he went I have no idea..maybe he went into the woods across the road..I don't know. The only clue is that the direction where he flew down..it was only a slight slope and then a small creek/run off then the open swampy area that is bordered by the dirt road. Lot of oak but not much scratching sign in there and up the small creek is alot of small saplings and such.

I can't go hunting again until Saturday morning...so Friday I'll go and hope he's still around but being public land...who knows...only saw 2 trucks driving out and they weren't even close to where I was....

Frustrationg doesn't begin to describe me at this point...oh well...maybe my calling sucks,lol

[Bachflock]

My first thought was how much noise were you making walking in? Is it possible he got a shy streak as you walked through the woods before he was off the roost? The way I try to look at it is when I make a noise it's at least as twice as loud to a turkey. I was TERRIBLE this year in the woods - felt like I was hitting every dead twig in the woods so I can sympathize. Were you tree yelping or ground yelping - very quiet and soft versus normal to loud volume? I suppose it is possible you over called while he was still up in the roost. Were you calling while moving through the woods where he might know something isn't quite right?

My guess is it was one of two things. Some combination of the above made him just leery enough he didn't want to check out you're calling. Or, you were simply not where he wanted to be.

[WaCoyote]

You using a decoy? Any bird I've caught on the roost does not like a jake when he hits the ground. They always come for it, for me anyways.

The good news is, you've got a roosting tree, I know where I'd be saturday morning.

Keep us posted.

[Turkeygirl]

No, I didn't bring any decoys....think I should put my hen and jake decoy out?

Depending on where he's roosted Friday night if I can locate him, I'll slip in and maybe set up more where he flew down.

One of my thoughts is where I was sitting was slightly open but when I walked around, found that there were alot of those raspberry prickers and where he flew down was open and none of those...so I wonder if those deterred him also....

[huntinguide]

have you seen him before if so he'll be back,

turkeys are just so unpredictable, they do what they want.

[3seasons]

This is just my $.02.

I'd try and roost him Friday afternoon if possible. If not I'd be in there as early as you can Sat. morning. Set up in the area he flew down in or a little closer. If you can do it quietly set up a decoy. Since he did answer you last time in I would make some very very soft purrs and tree yelps. If he answers you, put your calls down and just be very patient. As it gets to be light if he hasn't flown down use a wing or your leg to simulate a fly down and just scratch in the leaves a little. Thats all I wouldn't call any more, give him a little time he'll be there to check you out.

This has worked for me in the past on tough birds that are call shy or pressured. It took me 2 1\2 hours on one bird with no calling(never even got a call out) all I used was a wing.

For what it's worth. A guy(outlaw) I know told me on public land birds, that when you hear them gobble get as close as you think you can get (Then go 40 yards closer) set up and make a slight tree yelp if he answers never call again. Just be ready. He will come to you even if its 4hrs later. He knows there was a hen there and he will be back to check on you later if he has hens at daylight. This guy averages more turkeys per year than I have toes or fingers. He is a huge outlaw but he does know how to kill turkeys.

You just have to feel the bird out it all depends on what mood he's in. At least you know where he is. Stick with him you 'll get him.

[WaCoyote]

When I have a bird roosted I sneak in about 75-100 yds away. Put the Jake out and call VERY softly and sparingly. But IMO the decoy is a must