So last year I killed my first bird - with help from a friend who called 2 in and we doubled up. Now to this year, that farm is not a hunting option this year. I however do have 2 other properties with permission to hunt on that are separated by about 10 miles. I scouted both of them on Sunday afternoon around 3:00 p.m. and walked up on a hen at both locations. That said, I didn't get anything to gobble back at my calls. I was using a crow call and a diaphragm call just to see if I could get any responses and to practice a little bit in the field rather than my truck. Now my question, so if I am walking around a field before day break and I'm attempting to locate a gobbler. Say I don't have any luck locating one at the first location I hunt. Do I go ahead and set up shop to hunt or do I drive to location #2 (10 miles away) and hope to locate one and set up in that location? I guess what I am getting at is - what are the chances of me getting on a bird even if I don't get a response before they come out of the roost? What is call I should be using for morning locating? Thanks for your help - sorry if the questions seem stupid. This will be my first go of it in the turkey woods on my own. Having only turkey hunted 3 times previously and only seen birds called in once I don't have a whole lot of tactical experience. You can only read so many articles.
Also anything to the logic of if their is a hen then other birds - any birds should be in the area?? I mean that would seem logical to me but I have no freaking clue.
Well, this depends on a multitude of factors... weather and other things can play a factor in whether or not a bird will gobble on roost. My first advice would be to try and put the birds to roost the night before, then yoyu already have a real good idea as to what is where. If that isn't an option then making that call in the morning as to stay or move could be tough. Generally speaking this time of year, if there is a hen around there is a tom, or will be a tom soon. I would most likely give the location a few hours, if no toms turn up then I would consider moving to the next property and trying to locate a bird. As for calls, my first locator call in the morning is typically an owl hoot, if that doesn't produce I will try a gobble, if still no answer I get out the coyote howler. When I use the howler I make sure to point it away from where I think the birds are... Don't wana blow em clear outta bed. Hope this helps some.....
Just because they don't gobble, doesn't mean they're not there. Sometimes you need to put your time in, watching & listening, and then making your move after you see what's going on. Good luck, and patience usually pays big dividends in the end, when it comes to turkey hunting. Good luck!
If you know where they are traveling, set up some trail cameras and try to determine the best time of day to hunt each area. I have one spot that has a bunch of turkeys, but they never show up until 10am or later. So, I will start at one spot, and if no luck, head there next. Cameras work on deer AND turkey.
