[BugleChaser]

No thread yet?
I will start..

Textbook morning. Tagged out..
They read script. Flew down 75 yds. 2 longbeards. Gobbled like crazy coming in to 25 yds..
Bigger one stopped behind tree.. Lead one picked me out, so I shot him instead..

Post pics in success thread..
Think 1 in spurs, maybe 10 in beard

 

[rmh181]

1 single gobble.....that's it

 

[jmbear12]

Congrats, Bugle! Gotta love a textbook roost hunt.

I have my uncle out on his first spring hunt. The bird we can't get to is gobbling his face off a half mile away... the one we're after gobbled six times on the roost and shut up, but hopefully he's going to pass through where we're at, as he did when I was scouting. We had a hen cross the field about 100 yards out, and we're seeing deer which is keeping him interested. He seems to be having a good time, and he's patient. Hopefully we'll have some luck.

 

[TurkeyMike]

Check the phone 3.1 miles to hear a bird on the opposing hillside that I couldn't get to in time to hunt. Not a soul in the woods either. Still jacked they cancled my morning vacation for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week.

 

[Shed Antler]

Slept in went to work cause my accu weather app said all day yesterday that it was suppose to rain all morning. No rain! I should be done got one Wednesday and missed one Thursday. Oh well I was dog tired from getting up at 410 hunting then going to work for 8 hrs. Back after them tomorrow.

 

[Killin'time]

Found a bird yesterday afternoon in the Michaux SF... Came back in at dark this morning and set up right where he was strutting with a hen. text book 0600 he hammers as he comes off the roost. starts gobbling at everything that makes a sound. Few yelps, cuts me off. i shut up. couple minutes later a hen appears 100 yes away, and i give a few yelps, he hammers back CLOSE. maybe a minute later he's less than 15 yards as he appears from around some bushes. stop him with a yelp and game over. Tagged out at 0615.

9" beard, 1" spurs.

 

[MOA_Chaser]

Bummed, my son didn't have school so I was going to take him to where I saw those 4 hens come out on the ridge in the small field this morning. Was going to pop a a Doghouse blind and wait. We pulled into the spot and there was another hunter walking in towards the field, he beat us by MAYBE 5 minutes. I heard at least 3 gobblers there yesterday, so there's plenty of birds, but my boy doesn't like to hunt much during the week and be tired in school so today was a rare opportunity.

We turned around and drove back home and hunted behind the house. The gobbler that had roosted somewhat close wasn't roosting there this morning, we heard 2 or 3 but they were way too far off for us to chase. Going to our hunting lease tomorrow, so we don't have to put up with a bunch of Saturday hunters.

 

[nomad_archer]

Back from camp in 2F and here is my multi day review:

Saturday Day 1: Nothing happening immediately. My buddy tells me to come in the valley the birds are going nuts. I go into the valley at 7 and setup. Birds show up at 8 and put on a display 70-80 yards out 3 gobblers and a hen in full strut. They never closed the distance and eventually walked the other way. Great way to start the season.

Monday Day 2: Late start due to heavy rain when we drove by the farmers field that abutted the public land we were hunting the birds were in the middle of the field. Called them back and forth in the field. Once the rain finally quit we had 3 gobblers come down into the valley and my buddy got a shot but managed to hit a tree instead. Opps. The other birds stayed withing 80-100 yards after the shot but never came back in. I didnt see any birds this day.

Tuesday Day 3: Birds were hammering on the roost and flew down again into the field and then disappeared. Called a hen into my buddy and saw her eventually fly over. There were lots of hens talking on Tuesday. At 9 I decided to move. I moved 50 yards and made a few yelps and got a gobble that sounded distant. I moved 65-75 yards in that direction to a little opening. I made another yelp when I got the the opening to see where he was located. He gobbled and was really close. I tried to quickly sit down on so I wasnt standing in the middle of the trail. I got made trying to sit down. I saw the bird probably 60 yards give or take as he high tailed it up the hill. A little cussing to myself was deserved. Unlike all the other birds so far that week that came in very very slowly. He closed the distance fast. I got burned being a bit to aggressive. Overall a very slow morning compared to the others but still a good day. I had several other gobbles after getting busted and other hens going but only single or double gobbles but never a second or third response.

Wednesday Day 4: Birds again were going ballistic on the roost. They went to the field again and wouldn't come into the woods. I didn't see any birds but I was getting responses every time I called. Just never had a bird come it. As we left three gobblers in the farmers pasture gave us a full strut send off for our efforts.

This season so far has been lots of fun. I have been on birds everyday and had some close calls. I'm still trying to figure out the piece I am missing as I keep coming up just a little short. How do some of you guys consistently bring them in? Anyways I am back home and back at work. Next Friday will be the next chance I have to get out closer to home in 5B which will be a much different animal compared to hunting the in the mountains where there are far more birds.

 

[fingerz42]

Still haven't heard a bird yet in 3A. Last year was the worst turkey season I've ever had. This year is right on pace to smash that record!

 

[TPlank]

Found a bird yesterday afternoon in the Michaux SF... Came back in at dark this morning and set up right where he was strutting with a hen. text book 0600 he hammers as he comes off the roost. starts gobbling at everything that makes a sound. Few yelps, cuts me off. i shut up. couple minutes later a hen appears 100 yes away, and i give a few yelps, he hammers back CLOSE. maybe a minute later he's less than 15 yards as he appears from around some bushes. stop him with a yelp and game over. Tagged out at 0615.

9" beard, 1" spurs.

Michaux birds are easy............

 

[Octoberjohn]

I went after it again this morning. Finally a nice morning but a little breezy up on the ridge top I was on. Once again nothing from the roost, not a peep. I finally heard a bird way off a little after 6, he may have been still roosted. Once I hard him gobble again I headed that way. I circled up to a logging road and was able to close the distance fast. Then suddenly a bird hammers in the field just below me. I stopped to check things out and it was a big tom just walking across the field. He was at least 300 yards away and I thought I knew where he was heading so I continued my loop on the logging road. The bird in the field continued to gobble but the bird I had originally heard had shut up. I finally got to just about to where I wanted to set up when the first bird gobbled right in front of me. I set up quickly and the second bird gobbled as well. I waited a few minutes then called a little. But then that was it, not a peep after that. I don't know whether I spooked them or what but they didn't want anything to do with my calling. I looped around a little later but I couldn't get a bird to respond at all. I did end up seeing and hearing two other birds(jakes I think) that were probably a half mile away going across a field but that was it.

Overall for the first week I was able to take a good bird on Monday. But other than that bird I was unable to even come close to working any other birds all week. I know they are there but it is very difficult for me to hunt them if they don't gobble at all. I have hunted 5 mornings so far and I have only heard two birds gobble from the roost and neither one was close to where I was. Any other gobbling has been sparse at best. It has been frustrating to say the least since I actually had some time to hunt this week. But that one good hunt made the early morning all worth while! I'll be back after it again in a couple weeks! Good luck to everyone!

 

[mauser06]

Watched 3 gobblers and a hen roost last evening...


Setup this morning...got the decoys set and sat down and they fire up...

A handful of gobbles and that was it...one gobble on the ground so I called a little and waited...and waited...and waited....730ish I called it...I couldn't find them anywhere... Not sure where they went...had to go through the neighbors woods...which I can't hunt...



Went to the farm I hunted yesterday...

Worked my way up the roost hill blowing the crow call with no responses...

Got out to the gasoline and was reaching for my crow call and gobble-obble-obble!!!!! It was "Lucky" ( the bird from yesterday).

A bird that gobbles at footsteps is usually a bird that comes running in my experience..


The gasoline and quad trails all have a very thick edge...

He was close..within 100yds..I'd say within 75yds...


Terrain is tough..I dropped back into the quad trail and let out some soft yelps and he fired off a gobble...I dropped back 50yds and setup and gave him some clucks and purrs...

Gave him a half hour..nothing..thought for sure he'd come strutting across the gasoline and down the quad trail..


I eased up 40yds and stopped 20yds from a grassy field..I clicked and purred a bit...nothing..gave some soft yelps..nothing...

Snuck to a position I could see/shot the field and waited....nothing.



Odd day....not sure what happened with "lucky" today..

 

[JMMBONES]

Found a bird yesterday afternoon in the Michaux SF... Came back in at dark this morning and set up right where he was strutting with a hen. text book 0600 he hammers as he comes off the roost. starts gobbling at everything that makes a sound. Few yelps, cuts me off. i shut up. couple minutes later a hen appears 100 yes away, and i give a few yelps, he hammers back CLOSE. maybe a minute later he's less than 15 yards as he appears from around some bushes. stop him with a yelp and game over. Tagged out at 0615.

9" beard, 1" spurs.

Michaux birds are easy............

Not today they weren't......I walked 4.5 miles back Piney Mnt Road and did not here a single gobble.....same thing happened this past Monday.

 

[Bluemoonfox]

Awesome KillinTime!!! Congratz! I was gonna wait to go back out when it finally got nice out, looks like I won't be turkey hunting the rest of the season! Lol. No they're calling for it to b nice next week so I guess that's when I'll get back out. Good luck to all that brave this rain, and I mean RAIN, to go out!

 

[CBB]

Used half a day vacation. Not a gobble.

I did call one in behind me. I moved a bit to grab another call and heard some putting but couldnt get turned to see what it was.

 

[TPlank]

Not today they weren't......I walked 4.5 miles back Piney Mnt Road and did not here a single gobble.....same thing happened this past Monday.

Use a mountain bike next time. Just cruise along Piney Mtn that way. Could put a strike in the spokes and friction call on the fork and call along the way, like the ole baseball card trick.

 

[Blue Bird]

Haven't hunted since Monday. Planned to go out this morning after work for a short hunt, however it was pouring rain by the time I got home. Went to bed instead. Checked the weather at 9:15, was still raining hard so i gave up on the idea. Hoping to get out tomorrow.

 

[Everyday Hunter]

I called one in late morning in Somerset County, but neither me nor my buddy had a good shot opportunity so we passed him up.

I move the other hunter up about 20 yards and tried again, thinking the gobbler might come back to the spot where he felt safe. Instead two other gobblers came up a trail on the left. They didn't give us a shot either. I had two hen dekes on the trail. When they got close enough to see them, they left.

Back home in Warren County now where I haven't heard a gobble yet. Tomorrow (Monday, week #2) should be different.

Steve.

 

[fingerz42]

Wrong day.