Northern Zone 4 Turkeys?

[DonBo]

Anyone seeing many turkeys in the upper reaches of zone 4? Seems like the numbers are down some from years past with two hard winters in a row.

[vman59]

was done this morning at 7:47 am. We had 5 different toms coming in . Worked out good since I only had today off of work.

[DonBo]

Good job vman. Congrats! Was that near Barron? Story?

[vman59]

not a real big story behind it. Was working the different toms and had one that was a little hotter than the others that was coming from over a hill. 9 jakes came into my decoys and he saw them and did not like it and came running down the hill to his demise.

[DonBo]

Opening morning sucess. Great job. Still 3 weeks for me.

[vman59]

My Son got a nice Tom this morning about 25 lbs 10 inch beard. you can check the pics out at myspace page; http://wisconsinoutdoorencounte.spaces.live.com/default.aspx

[DonBo]

Wow! 25 lbs is huge. Hope he know what he's done. I've hunted turkeys for almost 30 years and never shot one that big. Congrats.

[vman59]

Went out this morning as my two other sons have tags for This next season. We hunt public land and have been trying to pattern the toms to an extent. It seems that from what we have seen that they are somewhat vocal early in the morning in the roost. They get quiet once on the ground and then about an hour to hour and a half later they actually really kick in and are very active.

I did get some to respond this morning but then were quiet once on the ground. Very very little pressure if any at all in the spots we hunt.

[vman59]

just got a call from my other son(#3 of 4) and he got his bird this morning.

[DonBo]

Sweet!

[klecker]

vman,

I noticed that two in the areas I hunt in polk. Once they hit the ground, they just shut up. Then and hour or two after they start back up. Very little pressure as well. Dont know if its because the hen population isnt as big as in some other areas? The last few years along with the couple past weekends of scouting. Toms have had small groups of hens with them in the am. 2-3 birds. Started to think the last couple of years that they gobble on roost, fly down to the few hens in the area. Stay quit while doing there thing, once done start to get vocal again looking for some more girls. Have had good luck running and gunnig up in the barrens. Find them in clear cuts, open feilds in the woods, and on two tracks. After the first three hours depending on how things are shaping up usually end up doing an insane amount of walking and calling every hundred yards or so. Sooner or later something always seems to talk back.