Ok so Im new to this turkey thing. I did alot of research before the season and it paid off. My first morning out I took a 20 lb tom with a 9.5 in beard, with the bow of course. But heres where it gets tricky. I went out a week later and saw a couple toms, but now they are henned up and their pattern has changed. The bird I took was solo and came in to the jake decoy ready for a fight. The two jakes i saw a couple days ago were with a hen, but even though they saw my decoy they wouldnt come to it they just walked around the whole set up. So heres the deal, every day that ive been out I have seen or heard birds, today is the first morning that i went out and didnt get a gobble, I've hunted the spot two days in a row. Is it possible that ive pushed the birds out of the area? yestarday i left the woods after two big toms, a hen and two jakes stood 40 yds away looking at my decoys and gobbling at me while i was calling, then walked away.
That's not uncommon. For every bird that comes on on a rope 2 more will hang up. I alot of guys will say a jake / tom decoys will have mixed results. Maybe go to a hen only decoy set up. Did you keep calling when they were at 40 yards away? When they hang up like that I have learned to just put the call down and let them do their thing. I know just how hard that is.... but its sort of like sticking your nose up in the air at them... When I first started bow hunting I would set my deeks just as if I was shotgun hunting. I learned real fast you can't get the decoys close enough. When I use a jake I usually set him at 5 yards and the hens around 10. That way if they hang up they could still very well be within range. Maybe let the spot cool down day or two and try it again. No one can tell you what will work for certain. Just keep changing it up until something does... You were spoiled your first time out! :p
Ya, my Ego whent from hero to zero in a matter of a week! haha. And yes i did keep calling when they were at 40, and the kept gobbling at me. Is it possible that i chased them out of the area?
get out there everyday. in the woods anyways at any of your spots, i just hunted all week to finally tag out on the last morning of my season! never know when something will pay off, the tom came 80 yards across the field strutting to my jake, hen,hen setup. all you can do is try and learn, and pray, (; god loves you bro GOOD LUCK
Some days, they simply don't gobble. Keep after them. Change calls, or perhaps hunt a new property. They can get pressured, no doubt. Same as deer - but they're always only moving in the light!
I'd bet you called too much. If you get them to gobble and start your way, the absolute best thing you can do is shut up or at the very least, keep your calling to a few clucks and purrs now and then, especially if you have decoys setup. Get yourself in the mindset of "playing hard to get". If that tom thinks you're kinda interested but not really.. he'll most likely commit and come in for a better look and try to convince the hen. Of course, if he sees a jake decoy, that usually puts him over the edge. I think the best call you can use in the spring, once the tom is within sight or close, is the purr. At least for me, its usually the "killing call" to close the deal.
i agree muzzyman88, i just tagged out tuesday, me n my dad were screwing around calling cuz we pretty much gave up next thing a tom gobbles 100 yards away then we see his head across the hill on the field, i take out my slate call and starting clucking n purring he strutted 80 yds across the field to our decoys, we used a hen hen n jake setup with a tent, when the tom seen it was a jake at about 30 yards he picked up the speed, he was circling the decoy ready to kick his *** then i shot him, haha great hunt, 2 year old bird 1in spur 9.5 in beard 20 pounds
