call shy birds.....

[Ilbowman]

Went turkey hunting over the weekend and got skunked!! Sunday we had a pretty decent oppurtunity at day break with three birds hammering on the roost but as soon as they hit the ground 2 of the three birds shut up and the other one walked right too us but we were set up in the timber and he stayed out in the field and just kept walking and hammering as he went! (go figure cause that is my luck when it comes to turkey hunting! So after that set up was boogered we went to another spot that usually has a few birds in the area. When we were about 100 yds from the field I spotted a bird. Luckilly there is a an old pile of dead trees and limbs on the edge of the field that was between us and the bird. When we got to the brush pile we called quietly and he cut us off with a gobble. We could see him all by himself just gobbling and half strutting in a circle. This bird had been either called to a ton or shot at cause he would never go into full strut and just stood there!

That sums up my turkey season here in Illinois.. Might go out this weekend and call with some friends so hopefully we can have a little better luck, but usually by the fourth season the Toms are really hened up.

[jbeck]

One real important thing to remember is in nature the hen goes to the Tom, not the other way around. Probably when the bird heard the hen right there he didn't need to go over, he knew she could see him. When she didn't appear he probably go a little concerned. You'll close the deal on one sooner or latter.

The easiest thing to do is call a gobbler where he wants to go. DD Adams said that and I think the Ol Man was right.

[fly]

Stick with it and your luck will change.

Might want to try a jake call to get that gobbler to come within range.