hunting ghosts

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April 29th, 2024, 05:39 PM
finsfurfeathers

hunting ghosts

So has been a tough go so far mostly because the birds are silent. Been working a triplet of big toms that are travelling together and refuse to gobble. Still haven't figured out where they are roosted as don't even gobble then. With the rolling terrain only catch a glimpse of them so no way to tract their movement. By now would have their pattern and be able to setup on them but no go. Everything seems to be in a negative mood. Hope with warmer and sunnier conditions they will turn on. For now going to skip tomorrow and pray Friday will provide better conditions.
April 29th, 2024, 06:15 PM
tom gobble

Did they have hens with them. The other day I had 13 hens walk out and one Tom. It didn’t matter what I did he stayed quiet the hole time. No need to gobble with all those ladies around.
April 29th, 2024, 06:50 PM
Articcat

When they do not want commit I try soft purrs first if that fails then I try fighting purrs.
But if they don't want to commit no matter what you throw at them nothing will work, frustrating, ARRGH
April 29th, 2024, 08:04 PM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom gobble

Did they have hens with them. The other day I had 13 hens walk out and one Tom. It didn’t matter what I did he stayed quiet the hole time. No need to gobble with all those ladies around.

I've seen them with 4-5 hens. Thing is typically one will be the harem master while the others will try and break them up. This group seems to be one polygamy group no infighting so no reason to search out greener pastures. In this situation I'll stake out their travel route and wait them out. Just haven't been able to figure where they start , go , and finish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articcat

When they do not want commit I try soft purrs first if that fails then I try fighting purrs.
But if they don't want to commit no matter what you throw at them nothing will work, frustrating, ARRGH

Without a response no way of getting prepared so you get caught flat footed more often than not.
April 29th, 2024, 10:55 PM
Jerryklimczuk

I have been out twice and the gobblers have been very quiet. It's definitely a strange year. The big Tom I am chasing on the farm I hunt hasn't said peep the 2 times I have been out but I am still catching him on my cameras. Just gotta keep putting time in I guess.

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April 30th, 2024, 06:43 AM
Markster

They are gobbling down here but not like usual.
April 30th, 2024, 07:04 AM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by Markster

They are gobbling down here but not like usual.

good to hear. Half the fun is hearing that gobble and the building anticipation as that bird sounds off closer and closer. Hunting zombie birds is a boring as it gets.
April 30th, 2024, 07:07 AM
Jerryklimczuk

Quote:

Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

good to hear. Half the fun is hearing that gobble and the building anticipation as that bird sounds off closer and closer. Hunting zombie birds is a boring as it gets.

100% agree.

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April 30th, 2024, 08:29 AM
longpointer

I haven't heard nor seen anything yet. Still got a month to go and hopefully some drier weather comes with it.
April 30th, 2024, 11:35 AM
ninepointer

I got a bird opening day, but he was completely silent, as were all the other birds. First spotted him at 6:30 AM with another tom and a hen. By 8:20 he had broken away from the group (or the hen had ditched them both) and he came straight, but silently, to my yelp. My son went out yesterday at 10:00am and heard all kinds of gobbling.
April 30th, 2024, 01:21 PM
bellerivercrossbowhunter

Just be glad you have time and a spot to hunt! lol

Sometimes living in Essex county absolutely sucks! (except for the fishing) :)
May 1st, 2024, 09:29 PM
Hawkman

I was out this afternoon for the first time this season. Settled into my spot at 3:30 and got a large tom at 4:30. He came out of the bush to my right silently, just as I was being busted by a loudly clucking hen in the field to my left. :scream:
May 3rd, 2024, 08:48 AM
smokin'stoegie

It's definitely a strange year. I think spring wise, we're ahead a week anyways. When the opener rolled around birds down my way were already henned up, quiet and had been for awhile. In the afternoon they're right back with the hens till roost time. Going to try a little later in the morning for a wandering tom. I think the 2nd half of the season after the hen's start incubating will be good, there are birds around for sure. Good luck everyone
June 2nd, 2024, 06:31 AM
ihunt

Quote:

Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

So has been a tough go so far mostly because the birds are silent. Been working a triplet of big toms that are travelling together and refuse to gobble. Still haven't figured out where they are roosted as don't even gobble then. With the rolling terrain only catch a glimpse of them so no way to tract their movement. By now would have their pattern and be able to setup on them but no go. Everything seems to be in a negative mood. Hope with warmer and sunnier conditions they will turn on. For now going to skip tomorrow and pray Friday will provide better conditions.

not sure if you posted elsewhere, did you eventually get one?
June 2nd, 2024, 08:18 AM
finsfurfeathers

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihunt

not sure if you posted elsewhere, did you eventually get one?

Final score got 1, whiffed on one, let one go to live another day.
vid of the final day in the turkey contest thread.