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Turkey hunting is frustrating
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:18 am
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:18 am
My dad turned 70 last August and killing a turkey has always been on his bucket list. The past 2 weekends we have had more birds gobble back to us then I have ever had in my life. I live and hunt in south Texas and these Rios are supposed to be the 'easier' birds to hunt. We had at least 10 different birds gobbling Saturday morning basically from every direction around us. Had 3 long beards come in the field at about 100 yards from us and I have a strutter and a hen decoy. I have had the same scenario play out many times before and all it took was for them to see the strutter and they were running in. Well, they all saw the decoys stopped for about 2-3 minutes looking and continued on. I did a low yelp and all 3 stopped and gobbled and fanned out and I thought yep it's on. Nope, they just continued on there way. Just gonna keep at it, someone once told me that patience kills turkeys. I just hope i can get one close enough for the old man to finally get him one.
16
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:21 am to mtb010
Can you call decent at all?
Ditch the decoys and get to where they are going before they go there
Field turkeys are very frustrating. Hunt them on their way to the field
Ditch the decoys and get to where they are going before they go there
Field turkeys are very frustrating. Hunt them on their way to the field
This post was edited on 4/3/23 at 9:23 am
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:22 am to mtb010
I'm no expert at all, but your description of events sounds similar to some experiences I've had duck hunting.
Next time, set up where you saw the 3 gobblers so they walk out on top of you and not 100 yards away.
Next time, set up where you saw the 3 gobblers so they walk out on top of you and not 100 yards away.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:43 am to mtb010
quote:This is what I have seen. The guys that are willing to scout and sit just kill a bunch of turkeys.
someone once told me that patience kills turkeys
Running around the woods blindly making crap turkey sounds does not seem to work, that is my strategy.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:53 am to mtb010
I understand what you are saying. I spent all weekend chasing them in the Mississippi hills. Lots of gobbles but always just out of range or just over the ridge or just over the property line. Still alot of fun but humbling.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 11:08 am to mtb010
I think the allure of turkey hunting is based on the fact that there ain't nothing short of a woman to vex man that can compare to a damned turkey. They don't know about 90% of the time what they are going to do themselves...that makes it nearly impossible to predict what they are going to do. In the situation described sounds like they may be decoy shy. Or they could just be acting like a turkey with no rhyme, reason or plan. As some others have described set up where they want to be before they get there....
If you have a fall season though they are far easier and predictable...rios and merriams are about as predictable in the fall as a wild animal gets.
If you have a fall season though they are far easier and predictable...rios and merriams are about as predictable in the fall as a wild animal gets.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 12:18 pm to mtb010
quote:
Turkey hunting is frustrating
This is true. Setting up in the right path is the key to being successful.
I once had a professional (and nationally known) guide tell me with a slight smile, "if turkeys could smell, you'd probably never see one in person." Their sense of sight and hearing is unbelievable.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 12:21 pm to mtb010
I've never killed one, but a good friend goes often. He claims you have to stop calling once they are in eye-sight. Claimed turkeys are masterful at triangulating sights and sound and if the sound didn't come from where your decoys are, then they aren't sticking around. Always bitches his dad usually can't stand it and starts calling and runs them off. 
Posted on 4/3/23 at 5:35 pm to mtb010
Put out a pink flamingo yard decoration they will come check that out
Posted on 4/3/23 at 11:03 pm to mtb010
My man, got out of the truck this morning to one gobbling. Got setup in what looked to be a perfect location. Tree called and three birds gobbled. A few minutes later they’re on the ground and the next time I hear them they’re at 75 yards.
Over the next 90 minutes I heard at least 100 gobbles without ever laying my eyes on the birds. I know there were at least three birds gobbling and I could hear a hen as well.
You talk about make you want to quit!
I’ll be back in the morning. LOL
Over the next 90 minutes I heard at least 100 gobbles without ever laying my eyes on the birds. I know there were at least three birds gobbling and I could hear a hen as well.
You talk about make you want to quit!
I’ll be back in the morning. LOL
Posted on 4/4/23 at 7:05 pm to mtb010
They will drive you mad
Posted on 4/5/23 at 8:25 am to mtb010
Sometimes... a decoy is too much. Especially a tom or jake decoy. I have had this problem multiple times. Sometimes calling too much. You just need to learn the bird. Less is more sometimes. Put the decoys down. Call to him, if he answers, put the call down. Make him curious, make him come to you, ive had birds the more you call, they will keep answering, but want you to come to them. Scratch in the leaves, get them curious. If he just keeps gobbling and not comming. Get up, move back about 50 yards and call again. So he knows you aint comming, sometimes this makes him get on his feet after you. Its a cat and mouse game, a frustrating yet rewarding one.
Posted on 4/5/23 at 3:09 pm to mtb010
I called in a nice gobbler two days ago. I got out in the woods before light. No gobbles whatsoever. I sat down in a wooded area where I know they have fed in the past. Fresh turkey scratching’s. The leaves were dry so I could hear everything. No decoys. Only heard minimal hen clucks. I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to call very little. The other thing I’ve learned is to be patient. I will yelp very softly around every 20 to 30 minutes. I’ll then put the box call down and wait. On this most recent hunt, within one minute of putting the box call down, I heard what sounded like a deer running through the woods. It turned out to be this gobbler running right at me full speed. He never gobbled once. When he got within 30 yards, he slowed down and I shot him. Boy, it was exciting. Only the second one I’ve called in successfully.
This post was edited on 4/5/23 at 3:10 pm
Posted on 4/5/23 at 3:33 pm to mtb010
There are turkeys on my land but not enough to hunt right now.
I'm working on fixing that. The property was neglected for several years and way over grown. I've cleaned up a lot with the bush hog and killed the blackberry brambles (had some that were .25 acre or more). Have food plots and lots of bugs out there now and have planted some trees as well that will help eventually.
I think I have plenty of areas for them to nest but food is one thing that I think I lacked. Hopefully some of the stuff I've done will help and I will have a flock good enough to hunt.
I'm working on fixing that. The property was neglected for several years and way over grown. I've cleaned up a lot with the bush hog and killed the blackberry brambles (had some that were .25 acre or more). Have food plots and lots of bugs out there now and have planted some trees as well that will help eventually.
I think I have plenty of areas for them to nest but food is one thing that I think I lacked. Hopefully some of the stuff I've done will help and I will have a flock good enough to hunt.
Posted on 4/6/23 at 9:34 pm to mtb010
A turkey will make an absolute fool out of you
Posted on 4/7/23 at 4:48 pm to mtb010
Posted on 4/9/23 at 10:10 pm to mtb010
A hen made a fool out of me this afternoon. Lol
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