Suggestiosn for a turkey nubie

[Scoot]

Got in the blind this morning at 6:00 AM. There were fresh tracks in front of it last weekend, but not this morning. I put out the deeks and settled in. I called lightly and occasionally all morning and at 9:25 heard a gobble to the NE of me about 150-200 yards. Although I'm sure the bird could hear me (pretty sure at least, although it was breezy), I couldn't get him to head my direction at all. I called lightly at first, but with no response I get a little more aggressive over the course of about 15 minutes. I found where the birds were going and set up a different blind in that area.

Beyond setting up the blind in the other area, is there much I could have done to try get those birds in to me? BTW, I'm bow hunting and didn't think it was worth trying to get any closer to them in the loud crunchy snow.

[bmc]

Maybe try a turkey gobbler call.

That's what I used last year to bring my gobbler in from about 700 yds across a pasture. There might have been more reasons than just my gobbler call that made him walk into my set up, but it worked.

Every time my bird would gobble, I'd cut him off w/ my gobble call.

I'm a newbie too Scoot, that was my 1st bird last spring.

I'd definitely do some re-con and move the blind over in the direction where he was or was headed to.

I think trying to stalk a turkey would do your area more harm than good, possibly scaring the birds out of the area if they see you.

Good luck and keep after 'em!

Brian

[Borch]

Scoot,

With this weather the area they want to be may chnage dur to snoe depths and acccess to food. Those lield or hillside that open up will often have birds working them.

I thinks it's a good plan to head to the area that they were this morning and try it again. Looks for lots of tracks where turkeys are spending more time.

[Cheetah]

Scoot, I'd bet the bird you heard gobble was with hens and there isn't much at all you can do to get a tom to leave the real live hens to come to you. If you can spot them, you can try setting up in front of wherever they are moving to and call lightly from there and they may decide to check you out.

[C_W_]

Scoot, I'd bet the bird you heard gobble was with hens and there isn't much at all you can do to get a tom to leave the real live hens to come to you.

Yep hate to call a tom away from a hen. Or worse yet call the whole bunch into you.

All you need to do is out call the hen or make her mad enough to come whoop your bitt or use a few gobbler yelps.

CW

[bigbucks]

I'm never very afraid to go after them, but have had them come from a LONG ways to the gobble call a few times. I think you try different things & see what happpens. The season's pretty short, so I'm pretty aggressive usually. I have quite a bit of ground to hunt though to, so running & gunning is my preferred tactic. Even bow hunting, if you see them first, you've got a good chance to setup in front of them.

[Scoot]

OK, today we set up right where the toms were strutting their stuff last Tues. Two toms and one hen were South of us about 200 yards. One hen and tom where together and one gobbler was essentially by himself (about 100-200 yards away from the other two and seemed to not be interested in them). The tom with the hen showed no interest in us at any point. The tom whow as by himself saw our decoy and heard our calling and came just inside of 100 yards at one point, but never really showed any interest in us. Any thoughts as to what we're doing wrong or are the birds just not ready to be receptive to calls/decoys in our area for some reason (I am skeptical this is true, but can't figure out why the dang birds hate me!)

Our plan is to move South to the area where we saw the birds spending most of their time. We moved in close and have two blinds about 200 yards apart. Both blinds are where the birds spent most of the morning. Does this seem like the next best plan o' attack? Suggestions welcome....

[DonBo]

Moving to where they want to be is always a good plan. Splitting up is also a good idea.

As to why they won't commit to the decoys? What fun would it be if they did that every time? Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Keep after 'em Scoot, you'll have your opportunities.

[Scoot]

As to why they won't commit to the decoys? What fun would it be if they did that every time? Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

I knew I was doing something wrong because every time I watch the TV guys they just toot on the call and the gobbler comes right in.

Being a turkey rookie I just wanted to hear from some turkey guys if I likely had done something wrong. If it had been a whitetail I'd know what I did wrong or that I didn't do anything wrong and that sometimes it just doesn't work out. But this turkey deal is all new to me, so I'm just learnin'..

Thanks for the reply, Don. We went to the two spots where we saw the birds at first light and crashed and burned. Didn't see a bird or hear a thing today. Dang turkeys- they're frustrating me a bunch!

[Cheetah]

Scoot, can you make your decoys move? Run a string out so when you pull they spin or make them bob up and down just a little.

[sticknstring]

Great tip Cheetah. The Avian X 360 stake takes it to another level. Stay after 'em Scoot, frustration w/ Turks is why success is so sweet. Good luck!