WHATS GOING ON ! I find it hard to believe NO one is harvesting any birds or your not posting your pics or your not posting your scores for the contest. Theres no point of a forum if you don't share your experiences.
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WHATS GOING ON ! I find it hard to believe NO one is harvesting any birds or your not posting your pics or your not posting your scores for the contest. Theres no point of a forum if you don't share your experiences.
yep been pretty quiet here but the weather is getting better so things should improve... :)
I was wondering the same thing...
The cold weather we were having has really shut down the birds around here. I have only heard a few hen calls during the past 6 days of hunting. This warmer weather should get everything moving!
I found it to be the same the woods are really quite this and not seeing as many birds as usaul
We got 3 in the first 2 days. My 14 year old got his first ever, a triple bearded jake. I got a big Tom at my farm on the Thursday. I didn’t weigh any t or measure the beard but he was a stud.
More turkeys than usual it seems, saw a group of 15 yesterday out back by my blind yesterday. Most were male.
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Right on Mtaz...you're on the birds Buddy!!
TurkeyJohn
Finally, nothing last year. We got 2 new farms this year so that helped. Also got my first one ever at my place. Saw him walking out back, ran through the bush, stood behind a tree and he came within 15yds. That’s the big Tom. 3 minute hunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Turkeyjohn
It's no surprise to me that turkey numbers and reports are down this year. As I previously reported, we had an almost 98% nesting failure in the north half of WMU 75 and 60 last year due to the record wet spring. I was seeing flocked adult hens by late July, with zero poults, so the second nesting attempt even failed. We had about 85 turkeys at our bird feeders (my house and my friends) and we counted one young of the year hen. The only standing crop left this spring are adult birds in my area. The biggest part of the spring harvest is jakes, which are almost completely absent in my area. There's a substantially smaller pool of birds to hunt this year, and the ones that are out there are educated yearling + birds. No silly jakes making mistakes at the decoys this spring where we're hunting. Anyone else seeing the same deal in their hunting area?
What a team, way to go! Special congratulations to your son. Y'know that in 4 or 5 years he'll be teaching you, don't ya? ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by mtaz
We have 6 so far. Four big gobblers and two Jakes.
I had hunting buddies from NW Ontario down. It took us three days. The birds are cooperating, lots of gobbling and they are decoying to my strutter without hesitation.
Have not seen many bird at all but then again have only been out a few afternoons. no morning hunts yet...
Lots of reports of great birds being harvested and guys are seeing good to great numbers with lots of big groups of Toms. Guys just refuse to post there stories/pics on here........................
5 hunts with 5 Toms down for my tribe.
All my hunting buddies all over Ont. are doing well.
Got out in the rain on opening day. Went to my brother in law's property in Muskoka and set up near where my sister had been seeing birds exiting the bush into a field. Heard distant gobbling around 6 am but that was it. Had some hens come out and feed in front of me. I called occasionally on my slate and at 8:20am I heard gobbling that sounded fairly close. I gave a couple of soft calls with the slate and he responded and was closer. I saw his head and the fan through the bush and as soon as he stepped clear I dropped him at 30 yards. 20.3 lbs, 10" beard, right spur 1", left spur 1/2". No pics but man we both looked like drowned rats.
Out twice so far and 2 toms harvested
1st one a decent 24lb 9" beard with 3/4' spurs last Thursday, and another 19 lb 9" beard and same size spurs yesterday morning...both birds silent until they saw the DSD white faced strutter with the mating pair decoy set up then all hell broke loose :-)
time to go and call for my kids and dad.....
I have had toms come in but hang up just out of gun range. What's very odd is that I have seen no jakes yet.
I wish I was seeing birds. Out last Saturday in the rain not a sound. Out Friday afternoon nothing. Where I have been hunting was seeing 10 birds a day 2 years ago, last year not one bird seen, heard 1 gobble from way off. Not looking a lot better this year so far. Off to turkey camp for 3 days, maybe I can fill a tag up there.
I did shoot a small tom the second day. Dressed out to 12 lb so not a big bird. Not a classic hunt really, more like Matz hunt. I heard gobbles across a township road. Walked over to investigate and a hen fires up right out in front of me. Then another hen responds to her cutting. I knew what would happen next. The toms across the road went silent then withing 5 minutes they're walking along the fenceline I'm standing in. Barely had time to kneel and get my mask up. Nothing calls a tom like a live hen!
It had a full tail and 3/4' spurs so I'm pretty sure it was mature but the weight seemed undersized.
I went out Sunday for my first ever spring hunt. Last fall I was unsuccessful: I knew nothing and learned a lot. On my way to the edge of some public land I heard a gobble. I setup my blind and began to call him in. Wind was strong and playing against me but after a little over an hour he came in. I dropped him when he got to 30 yards from my blind. I was rewarded with a nice 22lb tom with an 8 1/4" beard and spurs of 1" and 1 1/8" respectively.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMatthews
Same in my area. Surrounded by hens not a single gobble. This weekend should be good.
We are killing birds..lots of activity in the last week. It's such a pain to post pictures with a cell phone.
Where I am hunting it appears there are lots of birds. I am not sure I have ever heard so much morning gobbling. However they are not showing themselves in the fields much. My personal theory is that the late spring has left the woods very open. The birds have evolved their colourful breeding look and strutting to be visible to hens. With the wide open woods there is no need to go out in the field to feel they are being seen. I got a nice 22lb 10oz gobbler on Monday but had to wait until after 9:00 am for hi to come out. I expect we will start to see more normal field strutting next week when things green up.
That is great bird especially for a first ever spring hunt... CongratsQuote:
Originally Posted by sevennine
I do think you are right as this is what others around here are saying.Quote:
Originally Posted by singlemalt
[QUOTE=duckslayer;1059700]Lots of reports of great birds being harvested and guys are seeing good to great numbers with lots of big groups of Toms. Guys just refuse to post there stories/pics on here........................
Anyone thats part of the contest should post there bird. Whats the point of the contest then. Next year im scrapping it, unless things change here
Got a nice tom wed. afternoon . Set out a hen decoy in a winter wheat field 15 yrds from bush line. Sat down and open a bottle of water. I usually wait 30 minutes to call after I set up to let things settle a bit. Well I had only taken two sips of water when in come two hen birds. They are purring at my decoy and looking around . They are so close that I was scared to even move my eyes. Then another hen comes in, then another. Four hens are 15 yrds from me purring and chasing one another. Then in comes a tom in full strut, along with a fifth hen and a subordinate tom with a nice beard but not displaying at all. Well they put on a dandy show for me. First time I've ever heard the "spitting and drumming " sound that tom's can make. They hang around for ten minutes. I'm real nervous as I'm afraid any movement will make them take off. They start to move away and as the tom turns and hides his head behind his fan I slowly shoulder my gun. A few of the hens catch me but don't raise an alarm, just look at me. When the tom comes off strut I drop him with one shot. 20 steps from where I was sitting. 20 lbs. 9" beard. longest spur just under an inch. Benelli Nova 12 ga. Win. Longbeard 3.5" #6, Carlsen's Longbeards choke tube.
[QUOTE=tom gobble;1059953]TG, thanks for your efforts. It's too bad, but people are just avoiding this whole forum because of the bullies who are dominating every conversation with their arguments and self promotion.Quote:
Originally Posted by duckslayer
Way to go man. That's what it's all about.Quote:
Originally Posted by eriedukr
I have hunt#2 on Monday hoping to use my last seal... :)
The winter a few years back really wacked the turkey population in the area I hunt. I have been chasing the same mature gobblers around since with no success. To be completely honest I haven't seen a Jake while hunting in the last 3 season. Time's are tough in my section of 68b.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fenelon
How do you know there were 98% nesting failures?
Great story and congratulations!Quote:
Originally Posted by eriedukr
I know what you mean about fearing moving your eyes. When I have non-shooter turkeys or deer that are too close for comfort, I'll close my eyes altogether and only take the occasional peek.
I just lower my head and peek under my hat brim.Quote:
Originally Posted by ninepointer
Nice !!! With your setup at 20 paces, it would nearly take his noggin off !Quote:
Originally Posted by eriedukr
Me too, or look down toward their feet :)Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
Hope to get out tomorrow morning.
Best of luck to those still chasing
I've been out a number of days. Seeing lots of adult birds but only one jake. Other then my son getting one on opening day most times the tom's seem very disinterested... gobble and strut way out of range or just cruise by. Things will get better as the days go.
This bird on opening day just wandered a little to close while it was feeding in the field. He had no interest in calls or decoys.
My son's first bird on his own licence after being an apprentice, now if I just can get him to pay for them.
https://i.imgur.com/iDSTu33.jpg
Apologies for the scruffy looking bird,, it was pouring rain.
Congrats every one . Great stories.
Congrats to both of you, well done!
I just about did Rick. Throat and bottom beak gone!Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_iles
That looking under the brim technique really does work. Less eye contact and more time to sight the bird. I used to harvest my second bird. Thanks Rick.
This is my first year hunting and what an amazing experience. I have a great and patient mentor who I am learning the ropes from. Have a great permission to a 50-acre parcel and another 150-acre parcel, both are full of wildlife - Turkey, Deer, Geese, Wood Ducks and plenty of Coyotes.
The first morning out, set up in the 50-acre parcel in the cool and rainy weather. Just before legal hunt a mangey coyote darts in at the hen decoy and darts back into the bush realizing it was plastic. 20min later I hear my first gobble from the woods. Then all goes quiet....... Then I see my first bird walking in slowly, with a small strut. Couple more yards he gets closers and BANG, my mentor takes him down. My newness I committed my first real amateur move, my gun was laying across my lap while keeping my hands warm. My mentor who was beside saw my predicament, and that I wasn't going to successfully shoulder my gun. He was apologetic, but I was super happy for him and to see the whole show (and learn).
Been out a couple more times hearing gobbles, but they just won't come in. Went on my first solo hunt last Friday, set-up heard the gobbles thundering from all directions (heart jumping out of my chest), Gun at the shoulder and ready (quick learner). All went quiet for 45min, I do a quick couple calls and suddenly I hear gobbles over my right shoulder - Damn 2 giant Toms coming in from another field and behind me. I work these 2 for over an hour, they just wouldn't come around or in close, they also don't give me a chance to re-position (I am also working with a torn MCL in my knee). They start making their move into gun range, and a flock of geese come in and 2 Toms wonder off into the bush. Captured all the gobbles and calls on my GoPro... What fun to listen to these 2 responding to this amateurs calls.
So no Turkey to claim for myself yet, but I am just having an amazing time and experience. I am heading out Friday and Saturday and have grand plans for tagging out, having a great meal and celebrating with my mentor.
Great forum to learn from and see everyone else's successes!
Hey Karks,
This is indeed the spot to learn tactics, techniques and above all, find out you're not the only one making the same blunders....don't feel bad at all, we've all been there and have a few mistakes under our belts...I was 7 years before I harvested my first bird, but haven't looked back since. I think only one season I've been skunked since 2006 when I shot that first Tom...
Reach out to guys on here whenever you're stumped, everyone on here wants to help other hunters be successful, though some better at it than others....
Good luck on the weekend, pack a thermacell with the heat and bugs....
TurkeyJohn
Sounds like they are giving you the “treatment”.! Lol.Quote:
Originally Posted by Karks
You mentioned that you “worked” the approaching birds with no luck. I might suggest, if you hear a bird coming, go silent. He already knows where you are. If you continue to call, he will hang up and wait for you ( hen), to come to him. That’s what normally happens. Gobblers hit their strutt zones and call the hens to them.
By going silent, an interested gobbler will often times come looking for that “hen”.
My second gobbler this year did exactly that. I quit calling, but he still was hung up. I waited until I heard him head away from me, I snuck into the bush and set up, no decoy. I called once and in he came....
Good luck.
Agree with Rick, less is better. I take the same approach to decoying ducks, if they are coming in go quiet as they are coming in. Same goes for the turkey. A quick call then silence. I call about once an hour. But who am I to say I haven't gotten a bird this year.
Rick is right...did just that yesterday. I saw the Tom about 100 yds out...I clucked a few, saw his head turn toward the hen, I knew he had heard the call and that was it. Put the box down and get ready. He came straight in, like he was on a rope, closed the distant to 15 yds in no time.
Season Recap - (I hunt only in the timber) this year toms responded well but hung up at 50-60 yards often gobbling like wild. I did shoot 2 toms but spent 9 days hunting. I did not see 1 jake all season.