I picked up turkey hunting three years ago but have yet to get a gobbler I have gotten with in very close distance but can never seal the deal I have all the decked out camo and special calls and all that fine stuff but just wondering if any of the old dogs can tip a young pup the Louisiana season opens this weekend and I'm quite anxious but going in with some new tips would really ease my mind
I do carry one I use it on and off depending on what my setting is and I generally have success locating them and getting within reasonable calling range I get them to respond I beileve once they get off the roost that's when they shut up and I'm lost I call every so often waiting in hopes that he's on his way then I use a locator trying to get a response and there either 400 yards the other direction or still no response I've sat hours after the last response I've gotten but never seem to show up haha
first thing is to make sure there is a gobbler in your area. decoys will help in fields but in the woods I've had a lot of hang ups with decoys. I am strictly talking about big gobblers not jakes. my best strategy for the big boys is to get in well before it gets light and once you hear his gobble sneak right up under his roost. only go as far as you feel comfortable using trees and shadows for cover. a trick while doing this is to never look up. he will see your face in a second and flush. he will just think you are a deer or a small animal moving through. set there and not make a sound until he hits the ground. let him gobble as much as he wants. just don't call until he hits the ground. when he hits the ground give him a few soft yelps and chances are he'll come in. if you don't get him that day then go right where you heard him the previous morning and try it again day after day. each morning keep setting up where you heard him the previous morning this helps you keep up with his roosting movements. if he continues to keep going away from you each morning then come at him from different angles. you will quickly learn how this bird uses the landscape. and this sounds weird but airplanes were designed from how birds fly. so use the wind to determine what direction he will fly off the roost. remember he has to land into the wind. just like a plane they land into the wind. hope some of this helps.
if you can't see the bird fly from his roost you are not close enough and get there earlier. and try to locate him the night before.
Turkeys have a directing of travel that they stick close to,I would go scouting start were they roost then fly down most every time here the birds will always travel with the hens no matter what so keep ahead or just be in there natural flow. For me a lot of times calling will cause the hens to walk off with your toms in tow so call less.
I will swap you a hunt here in mo, I am moving your way to live end of April but I have tons of ground here to chase birds on or more like it they will chase you.
