Different year than most

[SCCO9803]

This is my 22nd year of turkey hunting/ applying to hunt and I've never seen a year like this. I hunt private land in SE MN and it's been an intersting week.

Some observations this week:

The birds in my area are all still flocked up, big flocks of 15-20 birds and I'm seeing more birds than usual. Because of this they seem to have no interest in calls/ decoys. Since there is no foliage in the woods, I'm noticing the birds are more apt to stay in the woods, as I think they feel a little safer, yet they can see and hear a long distance, unlike most years. Also, several of the birds I have been watching this week are roosting unusually long. I watched 5 hens together in the roost until 9:10 while two toms strutted and gobbled in the woods below.

I'm curious to know if anyone else has had similar observations this year.

[lindy rig]

I can't comment, but thanks for your input. I am heading to SE MN this weekend for season C.

[DonBo]

SCCO, read through any of the hunting threads going right now and you'll see that what you are witnessing right now is exactly what the rest of us are seeing. The weather has got the birds several weeks behind schedule.

[sticknstring]

I've noticed the same thing on the farm I frequent. This was the first year I've been out hunting with bunched up birds. Not suprising with the spring we've had though. Difficult to call/decoy - you really need to get in their path. Fields provide little feed so the birds are holding in the timber and south-facing slopes that are snow-free. I would guess many areas that typically hold birds are void right now. Feast/famine situations where scouting pays dividends. Sure nice to be out in the turkey woods early season w/ no ticks though!

[Archerysniper]

south-facing slopes that are snow-free.

That is what I keyed into for my hunt and it worked.

[Feathers Rainin]

Yep they are still flocked up. Took a Tom on Friday that was with about 15-20 hens and 2 jakes. I saw birds four other times throughout the weekend and all but one Tom was with a flock. Find the roost and intercept.

[laker1]

Finally got a jake today,gobbling is non existent.

[Bowfin]

I've experienced all this over the past week. Little gobbling, larger flocks, not much activity in the fields, and no response to calls. Tough when the roosts in both of my areas are on private land and the turkeys are bunched up in the woods not willing to come give me a look on public land. I did get a return gobble today which has been the most attention they showed me all week. Been spending a lot of time on a small DNR food plot one flock has been visiting from time to time. Missed them by a couple hours yesterday evening. I was sitting at one of my spots while the flock visited the food plot at the other spot (snow all tracked up)!

My son has a C season tag and can hunt Saturday and Sunday - hopefully the birds will respond with the nice weather.

[Borch]

Still seeing big flocks here in central mn as well. However, I'm starting to see some breaking off of toms and hens. Should be happening soon.

[laker1]

When paired up,do you have luck calling them in?

[sticknstring]

It's very difficult to call a tom away from hens. The smaller the flock, the easier it is, but it's hard to leave the real thing no matter how many ladies he has. Sometimes getting aggressive with the boss hen can pull her and the entire flock to your position. If the morning doesn't pan out, stick it out. Afternoons are a great time to hunt turkeys. Toms will often be alone and roaming looking for love. If you hear a gobble in the afternoon, there's a very good chance of getting that bird in to check you out.