The Ridge Runner Gobbler....


Turkeygirl

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That is what this bird's name is going to be:rolleyes: I went over to the state land last night, sat on the one ridge...didn't hear anything. Went back this morning, stood in the clear cut on the opposite hill and what do you know, right where he was Sunday morning and night he gobbles!!!:eek::D I decided to drive down and back up over to the other ridge and I waited up there....swear I heard some muffled gobbles but nothing close. Now this is what Im trying to figure out. Standing in the clear cut he's loud and clear, I go over to the other side, nothing or else muffled. So what I'm wondering is maybe he's more on the hillside with the clearcut and down in the gulley. I'm wondering if when I'm on the other side, with the road running parallel, the ridge and gulley are muffling the gobbles....

So I don't know how I should set up on this bird if I have no luck with roosting tonight? I did go back to the clear cut and walk down a little bit and found the overgrowth stops and opens up into another open hardwoods ridge...I didn't go any farther than what I needed to see....since I think he may be in the bottom....there's a creek at the bottom, I know that.

I haven't seen anyone else around which is maybe a good sign:confused::rolleyes: So my dilemma now is where to park and hike into this bird....and be so I can get up and move towards him if I need to be closer...yet if I park o nthe one side, someone could come in from the other side, and vice versa...

So any thoughts?:rolleyes:

Oh and forecast is calling for rain tonight...blah....no fields around really in the state land but the ridge by the clear cut looked like noce and open hardwoods so I figure maybe I'll sit in there if anything...

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Ruth,

I am no expert, I have yet to kill a gobbler, so take my advice with a grain of salt. I have always liked to go out after a rain, seems like I hear some gobbles after a good rain. I like to call every once in a while after a rain to try and stir something up.

I'd have to see a arial map of the area to determine where he's at.

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Here's some what of a map I made of the area I've been in:

Brown lines = road

Green boxes = brushy clear cuts

Big Purple box = where I've stood

small purple boxes = where I was thinking of walking in

Yellow = Where I've heard bird clearly

Red circles = area I think bird is in/ hanging out

light brown = hard woods

dark brown = ridgelines

Blue = small creeks, run-off

turkeymap.jpg

So basically I can hear the bird from the clear cut but when I go to he other road, I can't hear him or else hear a muffled gobble...Leaning towards walking in on the ridge by the clear cut...

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Just give him some time, every bird has his day.

We have had some real good luck in some fresh cut cut-overs, everyone else just drives past them. In the past two years me and my dad have taken 3 and called up 6 in fresh cuts.

Down here in MS just going by your map I would set up mid-day till dark at the end of the ridge closest to the creek were you hear him. They tend to like to roost close to water and on the end of ridges. You have both there, it may be worth a shot. If nothing else you may be able to roost him or see his path. Good luck.

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