Scouting your 2008 hunt/Bird Activity Reports

[bmc]

DonBo

I haven't scouted down there at at all this spring. Planning on heading down that way on the 18-20th and doing a little scouting, probably just glass the fields where I'll be hunting. It sounds like early morning is a good time to be glassing fields, what about the evenings before fly up? I don't want to be tramping around where I'll be hunting or where other's may be hunting.

Brian

[Powerstroke]

My sister and I spent a few hours out scouting with the NWTF mentor for my sister's youth hunt. We saw 14 birds total. 1 good gobbler, a dozen jakes and a lone hen. It was raining pretty good but the birds were out.

I hope to do some more scouting on my hunts next weekend.

[elevatorguy]

Boy I wished I lived alot closer to where I hunt. I am itching to get out and chase some birds. I do once and awhile get to see some birds over by Lake Nebagamon once and awhile passing through for work. And seeing them makes me just want to get out hunting even more.

Apr 23rd can't get here fast enough!!!

[DonBo]

bmc, I see you're from Deer River, guess you don't get much of a chance to scout down this way. Lucky for you, zone 19 is over run with birds!

[goblueM]

saw about 50 birds in a big flock this afternoon by Stillwater - two toms strutting, but still very much flocked up

[Scott M]

Started a new job yesterday (which was also the last day of my "C" season licens)e. I am still a little disgusted in myself and also a little peeved that the weather was nice on Wednesday.

So I'm driving on highway 60, scanning the hills secretly hoping not to see anything....I get past Morristown and there are about 10-12 turkeys in an alfalfa field, with like 3 mondo gobblers in full strut, all right by the highway. When I sighted them it sounded like someone kicked a dog in my car, there was a loud howl Good luck to all you hunters. Looks like the birds are really out and about. The toms I've seen this last week have been henned up pretty good. Probably approaching peak breeding.

[elusivecrappiecatcher]

Was out yesterday checking out the situation on my spot. TONS of gobbling going on but once they hit the ground nothing. Seen 2 hens, never any Jakes or Toms though. I start tomorrow. Hopefully I will get something.

[Scott M]

Did a little driving today-lots of birds out and about in this nice weather. Hens running around all over and a few toms searching come midday. Spotted birds around Chatfield, Lanesboro, and Elysian off the top of my head. I think those toms are pretty hot and bothered with the weather and hormones!

[Hotspotter]

Loads of gobbling activity on the roost, little/no talking after fly-down. Seems more typical of late B-D seasons. Gobblers are terribly henned up.

All birds observed in past five days, from road or blind have been with hens. Well over 20 toms...not a one without hens. All times of the day, even dusting hens and wanderinng birds had toms nearby.

Cousin hunting near Henderson heard gobbling at 10AM, could be a good sign? Till then, hunt the hens and cut them off!

Joel

[brittman]

Yep, gobblers are with hens. Also seeing quite a few hens by themselves. No groups of hens seen.

[crazyice]

Tuesday morning I saw a massive flock of birds east of Rochester, combination of hens and many, many struttin' toms! One was by himself struttin' closer to the road, but man was he a humongo bird! Looked like a dog stalking the rest of the group.

[Scott M]

Saw a few hens out and about and one tom strutting for a hen on a grassy hillside with mixed short evergreens before it rained. This was by the Maple River around Mapleton.

[Scott M]

Lots of activity today! I felt this was strange because yesterday was a nice day and I didn't see hardly anything. Today was exactly like yesterday weatherwise, maybe a few degrees warmer, but I saw way more birds today. Must have been coincidental.

Lots of hen activity the first hour after sunup. Driving around east of St. Peter I had to stop and put my schoolbus sign out and red flashing lights for three foolish jakes to cross highway 99. It was like a group of elementary kids; one of them kind of tripped on the others leg as they crossed. A bunch of bumbling adolescents complete with hormones. Lastly I saw another hen scamper across a gravel road in the middle of nowhere to catch up to her tom that was almost up the ditch on the other side of the road.

Nice weather on the brink for G and H seasons.

[Powerstroke]

You were out east of St. Peter? Thats where I'm hunting right now. We've seen a few birds but not as many as I would've thought. I'm not sure if I should complain, but I'm not sure about this 80 degree stuff.

[goblueM]

birds were active in houston county... gobbling on the roost in the morning

we were busted one morning, but called in a nice 24 pound longbeard the next morning

birds were also out strutting in the fields when the clouds came out or when it was cooler this weekend.

Had one HUGE (25+ most likely) tom troll all around the ridgeline we were hunting, never got in sight.

Called him in later that day, drumming, spitting, and strutting the whole way. Got within 50 yards, then 2 jakes had snuck in right behind me, got within 5 or 6 yards, then start putting like its their job. Longbeard takes off the side of the ridge never to be seen again.

dang kids... they screw up everything!

[jhol]

Last weekend report

My brother and I hunted south of Rochester from Friday through Sunday. Very little gobbling after birds came down, mostly shock gobbling from crows, owls, even a few from a really loud tractor. We saw a ton of birds and put to bed toms every night. My brother the first night shot a giant tom as he was strutting his way to his tree for the night. 25 pounds, 1 3/8" spurs and a 10 1/2" beard. He has a horseshoe up his *** second bird if four years 25 pounds or better. Anyway we did manage to get withing 70 yards of two other toms but never had a good shot. Lots of fun just not much action for callin em in.

good luck everybody.

[DonBo]

Been hunting the last few days. The last two mornings have been real quiet. Gobbling was all done by 5:30 this morning.

I did see a couple strutters in the fields while driving back to work after the hunt. Didn't see any hens that they may have been showing off for.

The toms I have seen this week have shown a dislike for my decoys. Haven't seen any birds since I quit using them.

[Scott M]

Hadn't seen birds in a while but saw a monster of a tom and a smaller one with two hens on top of a dirt field by Kilkenny. Less noticeable/observable bird activity this last week or so, but I'm sure they are still around.