0 for 3 ... slow season so far... how's it going for you?

Day 1 (Sunday April 27) - 2 toms appeared in field shortly after my mouth call yelps... one seemed to be chased off by the second appearing tom... second tom lingered for over 50 min on field edge 140 yards to the west of me. Shot a nice jake last year in exact same spot. This spot also has dusting bowls almost directly across from where I set up (80 yards away)

Day 2 (Sat May 3): didn't see/hear a bird at various different locations...

Day 3 (Wed May 7): spooked one bird (not sure of the sex but think it was male) - it ran off into woods from field I was walking on... saw/heard nothing rest of the day at various different locations...

I'm seeing some tracks and droppings here and there...


Not a great start. I'm not hearing birds like I have in previous years... the spot I hunt usually holds decent bird numbers..

What would you do differently? Would you try to set up near dusting bowls (since I know precisely where they are)?

Im in the same boat - at least you've seen some !

I've been out many times, sometimes all day. Had many toms, jakes and all kinds of hens right up till 2 days before the season opener. Now,,,,,, no morning gobbles, clucks or turkey sound of any sort. No droppings, tracks, sightings, trail cam pic or any sign that turkeys even exist. Even the farmers and property owners where I hunt haven't seen them around. I've been doing a bit of driving around and have not seen a turkey of any sort in any fields for over a week. Don't know where the birds are but I do know where they aren't.

outback

I have been turkey hunting about 12 years now and think that this season has definitely been different. I am not sure if weather is the major factor, but I have heard far less gobbling this year, even in areas where I have seen lots of birds so know they are there. Most of the birds I have seen have also stopped gobbling once they hit the ground. So the lack of gobbling may not be as much of a concern as you think.

If it were me, I would hunt where you saw the two toms. Call sparingly and hunt some non-typical times. I typically used to have my greatest success when they first came off the roost. This year they seem to be more active and receptive later in the morning, after 10 or even 11. The bird I shot and the others I have called in have all responded better later. I tend to believe we are still early in the breeding process, so they are with the real hens later than we are used to them being.

Lastly, I have seen a number of evening strutters on my way home from work. I do not get home in time to hunt evenings, but if you can, I would recommend it. At the least, you may be able to roost a bird or two for a follow-up morning hunt. And keep the faith, turkey hunting is very humbling. Like I say, for every guy or gal posting their successes, there are 10 people still slugging away trying to fill a tag.

gonna try another spot tomorrow morning...

perhaps hens are sitting on eggs? toms not strutting as a result?

keep ya posted!

I've been out plenty of times with the same result. I have been pretty close to hens, but the Toms are staying away. I have heard some daytime gobbling and did call a Tom into 70 yards but that is the most action my calls have provided. It's been a very quiet year meaning lots of gobbling on the roost, but nothing once they hit the ground. My brother and I are going out this weekend, so I hope our luck changes.

i was excited for the spring hunt in november as turkeys were the animals i saw the most. now i see hardly any turkeys other than a kill that a groundhog seemed to be finishing off and a winter die off... tempted to just go groundhog hunting instead...

wondering if this winter did in the population a little...

When the birds aren't coming to calls or decoys its better to sit and watch to see travel patterns. I had to do this last year. I would have birds fly down from the roost and walk the opposite direction almost every time. I found out later there was 3 guys hunting the other side of the bush that have taught these turkeys a few things. I would sit every morning until 10am then finally the 5th time doing it I just set up with my one hen decoy out and didn't make a call. A tom and 2 hens flew out of the tree about 300 yards away, The hens fed their way over right past my hen decoy and I shot the tom when he tried the same. Was a big old bird too, 10" beard and 1 1/4 hooks.

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Originally Posted by SongDog

When the birds aren't coming to calls or decoys its better to sit and watch to see travel patterns. I had to do this last year. I would have birds fly down from the roost and walk the opposite direction almost every time. I found out later there was 3 guys hunting the other side of the bush that have taught these turkeys a few things. I would sit every morning until 10am then finally the 5th time doing it I just set up with my one hen decoy out and didn't make a call. A tom and 2 hens flew out of the tree about 300 yards away, The hens fed their way over right past my hen decoy and I shot the tom when he tried the same. Was a big old bird too, 10" beard and 1 1/4 hooks.

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That is pretty much how I shot my Tom on Tuesday. I'd seen him a few times in the same spot. Morning and afternoon. I wasn't sure where he was going to come off the roost but I was pretty sure where he was going to end up. I set up there. He came off the roost with 3 hens. I did give a few soft calls to let them know I was there but it probably wasn't necessary and I didn't want to over do it. It took almost 2 hours but they eventually wandered over to my decoys and he got it.

Strange season for sure (where I hunt). My regular Turkey area in 81A is dry right now, the local birds have moved out. Hunting is sometimes a 6/49; you cannot win if you do not play.
So, last Monday I went to another spot which did not produce much in the past down years. But, spotted three Jakes from a long distance, called them right in, they budged in quietly, and was happy to drop one at 15 yards.
Tomorrow will go out with my bow, and invited a new hunter for his first Turkey hunt.

Keep at er! I noticed from my trip this past week, that certain areas seem to be "ahead" of others in terms of gobbling, and answering / coming to the call, others the birds are henned right up and have no interest in leaving what they have for something else.

I tagged out after three hunts but I owe it entirely to one farm that I hunt having a lot of turkeys, and mostly males. Our other spots, that were productive in years past, are really quiet. Good luck Splaker, keep at it.

I have 2 hens wandering around every day where I am and not a male to been seen or heard

Only been out once (opening weekend) . After a little r&r this past week in Costa Rica hoping to get out and fill my first turkey tag this week. Good luck to all & keep hunting hard.

Im in the blind

Only 1 turkey seen....and it's the turkey holding a gun =)

Toms are hanging up on me at about 50-60 yards, decoy or no decoy. Jakes run right in to the call, and even had a hen yelping circles around my tree, but Toms are being super cautious.

Had a weird hunt last Friday.

Landowner seeing birds so I set up in the spot. Set decoys out, 2 hens and a jake. Only bird I hear is a hen at dawn. Had thought another hunter she was that loud. So she comes into my set up with 3 others. The other 3 go away. Miss Loudmouth, squats 15 feet from my jake and I think, waits for him to breed her. No chance. So she gets up and moves around every 15 or 20 minutes to a new spot within 20 feet of the decoy. Doesn't say a word as she's already in love. Finally gets up and moves on about 830, yelping the whole way. But, I'm not hearing anything in response and never did see a Tom the whole morning or early afternoon. Gave up at 3 and came in. Almost 12 hours in the woods with only 1 thermos of coffee, tired and hungry.

Just saying, no reponses with a loud real hen like that and let her stay in my decoys for live action, but nothing happened, really weird season to say.

TJ

I'm tagged out as well. 7 hunts in 10 days, 3 different properties, produced 3 birds for us. I found the Toms were always with hens, but getting between them and the hens right after they flew down from the roost was the ticket for each bird. All our birds were shot before 7am.

Turkeys are still really henned up in my area. I also can't seem to get these things patterned the least little bit. They roost all over the place, hardly ever roost on the 2 properties I hunt which happen to be adjoining each other. I've also found 2 dead turkeys from the excessive amount of coyotes and the only time I see a coyote is when it's 100+ yards away.

Yesterday was my first day back in the bush after taking a few days to reflect on the past hunts and let the frustration settle. Got out and set up by 5am, had 3 gobblers going bat crap crazy at every little noise, between myself and them they were about 1/2 kilometre away and that 1/2 kilometre consisted of 2 fields and a road along with 3 fences so of course I just assumed they wouldn't come towards me, WRONG!! Not only did they come in my direction they came to within 200 yards but also brought a hen with them and decided I wasn't good enough to hang with. By "they" I mean 1 tom and 2 jakes.

I am going to keep at it but man this is getting ridiculous.

I haven't hunted In a week as tired of plucking my GFs 2 birds and 2 birds for buddies.. None of whom like to get their hands dirty and my own bird.

what I've noticed this year is some days the birds just aren't making a peep... But that's doesn't mean they aren't there and wanting to come to the call. 3 different times this year birds have come in without making a sound. Other day they are gobbling their heads off.

I also have a roost 200 yards from my bedroom so I do get to hear them on a daily basis and am getting pretty good at understanding why effect weather can have on their behaviour.

I went fishing Saturday and Sunday am and was on the water by 530 am. Saturday the birds gobbled all morning long, Sunday they never made a peep.

Ps... One tip I will give you for when the birds are silent is way hand listen to the crows... You will figure out where the birds are.

Ps way hand listen is watch and listen to the crows.

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Originally Posted by Monster29/66

Ps way hand listen is watch and listen to the crows.

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Wanna explain what you mean??

I had a bunch of crows by me on Day 2... wouldn't shut up... made me want to blast them...

No turkey though!

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Originally Posted by Splaker

Wanna explain what you mean??

I had a bunch of crows by me on Day 2... wouldn't shut up... made me want to blast them...

No turkey though!

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Turkeys seem to gobble to crow calls more than anything else. Crows always seem to fly right over my decoys and make some calls when right over head. Probably warning the turkeys LOL

got a crow call... never works

I have been hearing lots but they are not showing themselves or coming into range, douled on jakes opening morning with my brother. Could (should?) Have shot another Jake the following weekend. But lots of toms around so holding out, it will hopefully fall together soon.

Turkeys don't like crows especially at this time of year. The crows feed on turkey eggs. Watching the crows can at times give you an idea of where the turkeys are.
Our gang has been having the same issue with shy turkeys. We have found that it is coyotes in the area. Something to watch for...

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Originally Posted by DGearyFTE

Turkeys don't like crows especially at this time of year. The crows feed on turkey eggs. Watching the crows can at times give you an idea of where the turkeys are.
Our gang has been having the same issue with shy turkeys. We have found that it is coyotes in the area. Something to watch for...

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Can't wait to do some coyote tipping... Hopefully this weekend...