The Kid Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 there are many ways to hunt turkeys, some try calling to a bird,, some pattern, some even stalk,, i was always taught that if i can't get a bird too come to me, to cut my losses and give the bird a break so i don't pressure/educate the bird more than what needs to be done,,,unless its getting late and the season and your forced to make a move.. i've never been a real big fan of stalking turkeys i get more out of it by trying to call them in(fooling a big ol' tom). And i never understood why anyone would pattern a turkey, to me the whole point of turkey hunting is to be vocal with the turkey and to learn as much as i can out in the woods. I know that in some situation every tactic could work or one would have a better chance at getting the job done,, i was just wondering what your take/ style of hunting consist of?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
okiedog Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I like to carry on a conversation with a ol tom as much as the next guy, and 90 percent of my hunting is done this way. With that said... I will take one by "cutting it off" or "ambushing" if that is what is needed to bring a bird home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Since I bowhunt these birds "I pattern the birds". It is much easier for me to learn the birds habits by watching them for days. I then set up my Double Bull blind a day or two before I hunt so I do not have to haul the blind in that morning and set-up. Gets to be a lot of stuff to carry in the dark. If I break out the gun in late season then I try and locate and call. With the gun it is easy to re-locate on the bird. I do not stalk as I "personally believe" it is way too dangerous (I also love to see the show the birds put on as they come in). good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I like to carry on a conversation with a ol tom as much as the next guy, and 90 percent of my hunting is done this way. With that said... I will take one by "cutting it off" or "ambushing" if that is what is needed to bring a bird home. I agree, I mean who doesnt try to call one in? But sometimes desperate situations call for desperate measures, and you have to make a move to seal the deal. I dont see a problem with it as long as you're taking ethical shots and not busting caps at a running bird at 60 yards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boparks Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 there are many ways to hunt turkeys, some try calling to a bird,, some pattern, some even stalk,, i was always taught that if i can't get a bird too come to me, to cut my losses and give the bird a break so i don't pressure/educate the bird more than what needs to be done,,,unless its getting late and the season and your forced to make a move.. i've never been a real big fan of stalking turkeys i get more out of it by trying to call them in(fooling a big ol' tom). And i never understood why anyone would pattern a turkey, to me the whole point of turkey hunting is to be vocal with the turkey and to learn as much as i can out in the woods. I know that in some situation every tactic could work or one would have a better chance at getting the job done,, i was just wondering what your take/ style of hunting consist of?? The addiction to turkey hunting is the combination created by the hunter calling, and the turkey gobbling and strutting. Once this happens to you, and you've experienced "the show" you're done. This in my opinion is what it's all about and why I love to chase these birds. That said, theres a wide range of scenerious that I consider part of turkey hunting and what it takes to be consistently successful. I'll kill 90% of my turkeys coming to a call but I'll take the occasional stalk / bushwhack kill as well. Honestly one of most exciting hunts was chasinga bird that gobbled his head off and then left with a hen. I kept following them using the terrain thinking that there's no way this'll happen but I had no better options at the time. He gobbled enough that I could keep up with him and after about 30-45 minutes I was able to crawl up over a levy, peak over and see him and killed the turkey. I was as proud of pulling that off as any bird I ever took. Think about it; How easy do you think it is to sneak up on a group of turkeys? We all have our styles and beliefs and I certainly respect the person that says they'll only take a turkey that gobbles and comes to the gun. Some abide by that and some claim that but will bust a bird first chance they get if they're having a tough year. For me turkey allows for a wider range of options which includes and incorporates good woodsmanship and an occasional set up that results in what many consider a "bushwhack". I've had a few cases thru the years where the birds just weren't gonna come to me and I was able to use the terrain or manuever into a position to take the turkey. The reality is that it's not the easiest thing in the world to do and if you can do it as far as I'm concerned you've accomplished something. As far as patterning turkeys there are instances where you can and other areas it's tough. When I'm in Texas I can pattern birds to a limited extent and can set up where they're going to head to. The reality is in Texas it doesn't matter because they gobble and come to a gun so well there's just no need. In Georgia I've had ionstances where I was hunting an old bird that would leave the roost and go with hens in a certain direction and after a couple of mornings of being flipped off by the bird, I set up where I thought they would go and popped him. To me it's turkey hunting. At the risk of sounding crude, I'm a turkey hunter and a turkey killer. I'll only hunt in what I consider an ehtical manner but I have a wider range of hunting techniques than others , possibly? On a differnt topic I'd tell you I won't shoot 2 turkeys out of a group or 2 with one shot. I've done both but won't do it again because I don't won't to limit out to quickly. Sorry for the long answer. Bobby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Once place to never "stalk" a turkey is on public lands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I call and if he does not commit I turn on the stalk. It is just as satisfying to me to have a successfull stalk as to call one in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twowetdogz Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 You do what you have to do. I would much prefer to get one coming in on the string toward my calling, but, if that's not to be, I'll do everything I can to get him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 I perfer to call the bird in, if its a big old mature bird and I have my eyes set on him only, its time to turkey up and get to belly crawling after him. I have been hunting for 5 years now and I have to say I have yet to get a bird on the ground. My best encounters were belly crawling and even I cannot say I have killed one, I will say that I am happy to say I am still after them because its all about the hunt and not the kill..... But I like to belly crawl and stalk them just as much as calling them to me..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Once place to never "stalk" a turkey is on public lands. or eat yellow snow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matchthedeerslayer Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I do a combination of both fooling the tom and stalking him. in the mornings I will try to call one in if I do thats great, but later in the day i might call a few times to try to get an idea of where he is, then the stalk begins. Its kinda fun to see what a turkey will do when all of a sudden you pop over a knoll or hill. But both methods do work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 "Patterning" turkeys only gives you a general idea of where and when the birds are. That's why all day pre-season scouting is a good idea. The birds spend a good chunk of their day in areas other than where they roost. If you have an idea where those places that are frequented during the day are. Then concentrate your efforts there after hunting a roost. That's smart hunting. Invariably you still have to rely on decoys and calling to close the distance. If you push birds repeatedly out of an area during the day they may abandon it for a long time. So plan your approach to the area to produce as little disturbance as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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