Winona Bluff Country Question

[theghost_03]

I have hunted the Winona bluff country for the past ten years. I have noticed several differences in regards to hunting the tops and bottoms of the bluffs. We normally hunt the top and have had luck pulling them out of the side hills but it seems to be getting more difficult every year. I have had success on the bottom of the bluffs but the most success I have had has been going into the bluffs and setting up close to them. What tactics do some of you use in bluff country?

Thanks guys!

[DonBo]

If you're having success going after them and setting up close, I'd keep doing it. Just remember it's usually easier to call them uphill than it is to call them downhill. So I'd try to set up above or on the same level as a gobbling bird. Good luck!

[birdswacker]

I hunt south of you Ghost. We always try to get an evening drive in to get a game plan for the morning. I we're hunting a bluff we always hit the top first because it takes so long to get up there. If the birds are gobbling below us we can make faster time going down than up.

[Cheetah]

In the mornings if I think there is a good chance of a bird being on the top, I start up top. Sometimes though they aren't there, and it's tough having to go down the steep hillsides where I hunt, especially if it is dark. If I'm not sure where I want to hunt, maybe it's my first day out, I'll start at the bottom to cover more ground and listen for which hill they are gobbling from then figure out where they might go to feed and try to cut them off.

[theghost_03]

Thanks guys, I would love to be able to set up on the bottom and work my way up but the ground we hunt has property lines at the very bottom of the bluff, and I hate going down those steep bluffs that early in the morning when it tends to be incredibly quiet even with a good wind whipping on top. I have had some success just looking to get a shock gobble out of birds before trolling the hillsides and I have seen alot of birds that come out after a nice rainfall, and your almost always guaranteed one of those during the April seasons. The toughest part I have noticed is that they tend to not have the same roosts day to day and that is why I agree that scouting is critical. Anyways thanks for the input guys, were only a couple weeks away!!