Turkey Hunting After Fly Down
Once gobblers fly down from the roost the real challenge for the hunter begins. Sometimes the hunter is in a good enough position to call the turkey in.
However, there are many times that the hunter will have to go and locate the gobbler as the day progresses.
One approach to hunting after fly down is to slowly move through the woods or around open areas while stopping often to scan the area. A good pair of binoculars is required.
Use the terrain for concealment. Avoid walking in wide open areas. Thoroughly scan the areas before proceeding forward.
Usually its a good idea to move in fifty yards or so increments. This reduces the chances of being busted by the turkeys.
It is also a good idea to be familiar with the terrain and to know the areas in which the turkeys are most likely to be.
Generally agricultural fields or other food source locations are good choices. Also strutting zones and watering holes can be other choices.
Once the turkeys have been located, try to find a good setup area and begin working with a turkey call.
Another approach to finding after fly down gobblers is by using locator calls. An owl hooter or crow call can be effective but there are many other locator calls that may work as well.
Whenever possible, try to move along ridge tops or other high ground areas. This will provide the best positions for the call sounds to carry further and allow for better hearing as well.
Again being familiar with the property will help both with cover as well as being able to pick good setup areas once the gobbler is located.
Again move slowly as not to be detected. Usually moving 100-200 yards at a time, then stopping to call, will be appropriate.
Hit the locator call a few times and listen for a response gobble. If no response occurs after a few minutes of calling, move on.
If the gobbler does respond, slowly move towards him. Get positioned in a good setup location within 100 yards or so.
Once setup, switch to a hen turkey call and begin working the gobbler. This may bring the gobbler in either gobbling or silently so be patient.
Regardless of which approach is used to locate turkeys, there will always be different variables to any turkey hunting situation. Experiment and be patient to see what works best.
Windy Day Turkey Hunting
Spring turkey hunting often comes with a variety of conditions. A windy day is one of those that frequently occurs. The wind can make things a little more challenging.
Windy days create hunting issues for both the turkey and the hunter. The turkeys will have limited hearing abilities. They will also have sight issues due to the steady movement of leaves, limbs, or bushes.
The hunter will also have sound issues. They will not be able to hear clearly as sounds will be muffled by the wind. So hearing any gobbles will be limited if at all.
To combat windy day concerns, hunters can rely on previous turkey scouting knowledge. Being familiar with the terrain and habits of the turkeys will be a plus.
Hunt near areas frequently visited by the turkeys. Also search for open type areas such as fields that are surrounded by trees to help block the wind.
Other places such as low bottom areas that are surrounded by ridges can also be considered. Often the south side of a ridge can be effective.
Sometimes being more patient is the key. Find a good setup area and wait on the turkeys arrival. There will also be times when moving slowly from one area frequented by turkeys to another may be better.
When calling, use high pitched loud calls. A box call or an aluminum striker call can be effective during windy day conditions. Remember that the wind will muffle sounds so the distances will be reduced.
Also stay alert for movement. If by chance a gobble is heard, remember that due to the wind, the sounds will usually be closer than they appear.
Another windy day location could be a turkey strut zone area. Regardless of conditions, at some point during the day, turkeys may show up at such locations.
Although turkey hunting in the wind does create issues, being in the woods regardless of conditions will often be beneficial to the hunter.
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Turkey Hunting Strut Zones
The strut zones can be primary locations for turkey hunting. These areas are used frequently during the spring season. Here are a few tips for strut zone hunting.
What Are Strut Zones
Strut zones are areas that gobblers go in order to locate hens. These areas generally will be located near a primary food source. They may include ridge tops, flat bottom areas, logging trails, or agricultural fields.
Identifying Strut Zones
There are many characteristics of strut zones. There are usually an abundance of hen and gobbler tracks. There may be large amounts of hen and gobbler droppings. There may be dropped feathers. There are usually gobbler strut marks.
Note: A gobbler strut mark usually consist of three lines on both sides of gobbler tracks. They are made when gobblers drag their primary feathers on the ground while strutting.
How To Locate Strut Zones
Strut zones can be located by spending enough time scouting the turkey hunting areas. Look for food source areas and confirm the locations by finding the markings related to strut zones.
Observing fields or other areas with binoculars can also be effective. Making contact with land owners, other hunters, or wildlife officials can also be helpful.
Hunting Strut Zones
Strut zones are high trafficked areas used by hens. Gobblers instinctively know this and generally will keep check on these areas.
Sometimes the gobblers will go to these areas and gobble while waiting for the hens arrival. Other times the gobbler may only strut without ever making a gobble sound.
Under normal conditions, strut zones will be used from year to year. Even if a gobbler is harvested in such areas, another gobbler will generally take his place.
By finding these locations, hunters can setup accordingly and wait for the gobblers arrival. Decoys and calling tactics can be used but are not always necessary.
There may be one or several strut zone areas on any given tract of land. By hunting these areas throughout the season, the odds of seeing gobblers usually improves.
By understanding what strut zones are, identifying and locating them, and hunting these areas, the chances of success are generally better.
Turkey Hunting Decoy Setups
The use of decoys for turkey hunting at times can be beneficial. Decoys provide a visual object for the gobbler to see upon approach. Often decoys can be the deciding factor on whether or not the gobbler comes close enough to a setup area. Here are a few examples of how decoys can be used.
Single Hen
The single hen decoy is often very effective. It is one of the more frequently used decoy setups. Single hen decoys can be used throughout the spring season but work well as the season progresses. They are very good for both mature and young gobblers.
Single Jake
The single jake decoy can also be effective on gobblers of all ages. Young gobblers will come to jake decoys out of curiosity or companionship. Mature gobblers will come in often to rid the intruder from the area.
Single Jake Single Hen
The use of a single jake and hen combination can lead to excitement. A mature gobbler will approach such a setup with the intentions of beating up the jake and leaving with the hen. This is an often used style when hunting aggressively.
Strutting Gobbler With Hens
Decoys of a strutting gobbler with a single or several hens can also be used. The idea is to irritate or challenge a mature gobbler into thinking his hens are being stolen away. This is often a confrontational type setup. Not as effective as other setups but occasionally is ideal under certain situations.
Breeding Gobbler And Hen
The breeding gobbler and hen decoys can sometimes work as well. A mature gobbler will often approach looking for a fight. Probably one of the least used types of setups but in the right situation can be effective.
Several Hens
The use of several hen decoys offers a variety for gobblers. In the simplest form, the more hens there are, the more likely one will be ready to breed. This type of setup can be effective in the spring but also can be used during the fall season.
Decoy Tips
The decoy should be placed in areas with high visibility. It should be about twenty yards away from the hunter. By facing the decoy in the direction of the hunter, gobblers often will come in between the two. Make sure the decoys are secure and do not spin around during wind gust.
Turkey Hunting Tips-When To Move
Turkey hunting often requires a lot of foot work on the part of the hunter. Much time is spent walking in search of a responsive gobbler. Even once the gobbler is located, it still may be necessary to relocate several more times. When to move becomes the question of the day.
Although patience is a key to success more often than not, there will be times when moving is the better approach. This is where hunters can make mistakes. Sometimes gobblers will be headed towards the calling hunter silently. In this instance, by moving the hunter may spook the gobbler.
However, there will also be times when the gobbler only moves in close to the calling hunter but does not come into the set up area. Give the gobbler time, but after being sure that the gobbler is coming no closer, move to another location. This can be anywhere from 30-60 minutes or more depending upon each individual gobbler and each situation.
As long as the gobbler continues to gobble, the hunter will be able to follow his travel. If the gobbler goes silent, it is best to wait. If the gobbler gobbles but heads away from the hunter, then is the time to move. Circle around ahead of the gobbler and set up. Change to a different call and resume calling.
When a gobbler continues to gobble but does not move closer, there may be an obstacle that is preventing the gobbler from coming in. The gobbler may also be with hens and refuses to leave them. This is another reason to relocate. Try to gather a direction of travel and circle ahead.
The key to moving successfully will come with experience. There will be mistakes made but this is part of turkey hunting. Start by being patient but be willing to move if need be.
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Turkey Hunting Tips-Field Gobblers
Gobblers that live near agricultural, grassy, or pasture type fields often will fly down from the morning into such areas. Many times the gobbler will spend most if not the entire day there. These locations provide an abundance of food sources as well as a wide field of view for safety.
Turkey Hunting
There are several approaches to turkey hunting these locations. One requires the hunter to see where the gobbler roosted the day before or is able to use locator calls before sunrise to pin point the gobbler. The hunter can then move in close to the roost before light.
Set up near the field edges just inside the woods. A decoy or two placed nearby in the field can be helpful. Just don’t get busted by the turkeys. Once daybreak occurs, use soft clucks and yelps to let the gobbler know your location. Many times the gobbler will fly down right into the decoys. Or any hens in the area may fly down first followed by the gobbler.
In some situations, the gobbler is already in the field. One approach for the hunter is trying to establish a direction of travel in which the gobbler is headed. Once determined, use available cover to circle around in front of the gobbler. Again set up just off the field edges paying close attention not to be seen or heard. If possible, try to be able to see the gobbler. Use soft yelps and purrs. This can often bring the gobbler into range.
A field gobbler with hens will usually present more of a challenge. In many cases it may be best to wait the hens out. Often the hens will leave the field later in the morning. The gobblers will be more susceptible to calling at that time. Again start out with a soft calling style. If no response, fire the calling up. This may bring him in search of a willing hen.
In some situations, early in the season, the hens do not necessarily leave the field. They are not nesting as of yet. Try using a variety of purrs, clucks, and yelps followed by cutting if need be to try and draw the flock into range.
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Turkey Hunting Tips-Why Gobblers Go Silent
Turkeys are vocal creatures by habit. They use a variety of sounds to communicate. The gobble sound made by the male turkey can bring a natural high to any turkey hunter. But why is it that there are times while turkey hunting that the woods become quiet?
No Gobblers
One simple explanation could be that the area being hunted does not have any gobblers. Just because a certain area may have had turkeys in previous years does not mean it always will. Hunting pressure, predators, or lack of food may have caused the turkeys to relocate.
Weather
In areas that do have turkeys, the weather can always have an impact on whether or not a gobbler will sound off. Cols temperatures often will result in fewer if any gobbling occurring. The same goes for windy or rainy days. Gobblers in general will be less vocal.
Hunting Pressure
In some instances where there is a lot of hunting pressure, the gobblers become call shy and refuse to gobble. They have been programed by too many hunters over calling in a particular area. This is a common occurrence on public hunting land.
Gobblers With Hens
A gobbler sometimes will become silent when meeting up with or traveling with hens. Rather than gobble, they will spend more time strutting and drumming.There is no need to sound off when the object of affection is within sight. This is a frequent occurrence especially after flying down from the roost. Only after the hens leave later in the morning then the gobbler may resume gobbling.
Gobbler Is Headed To Hunter
The best case scenario for a hunter is when a gobbling turkey goes silent after calling to him. In this instance, the gobbler shuts up as he heads towards the calling hunter. This often occurs while turkey hunting. The gobbler sneaks in the last couple hundred yards while searching for the hen. This is why it is always best to give a suddenly silent gobbler enough time to make his way into a set up location.
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Turkey Hunting Tips-Public Land Tactic
Turkey hunting on public land in many ways is similar to hunting private land. The same basic techniques apply. The only real difference is pressure. The hunter may have to travel deeper into the woods but the skills are the same.
Know The Terrain
The hunter is wise to have a good knowledge of how the public land terrain is made up. This will help not only in locating turkeys but also with avoiding other hunters. Most average hunters will want to hunt near the first decent set up area. A smart hunter knows this and branches out further in the area.
Scout
A good public land hunter will also be willing to scout the land prior to the turkey hunting season. This will provide helpful information as to turkey activity. Most average hunters don’t take the time to prepare in advance.
Call Less
When it comes to calling, the average hunter calls too loud and too aggressively. This will only pattern the gobblers into no responses. Over calling can occur just by having a large number of hunters in a certain area. A good hunter will often have better success by using soft infrequent calling techniques. This works especially well on call shy turkeys that have heard too many calls from opening day on.
Stay Later
Staying later in the day, where legal, can also be beneficial. Many hunters will leave public land after the morning hunt. This also applies towards the end of the season. Many hunters don’t hunt late into the season. Also turkey hunting during weekdays usually offers less pressure than weekends. This is a good time to find gobblers.
The key to success is good scouting, finding active turkey signs, locating a good set up spot, soft calling, and lots of patience.
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Turkey Hunting Tips-Rainy Day Turkeys
The forecast of rain on a day planned for turkey hunting can dampen a hunter’s spirits quickly. However, there is still a chance for success. Understanding how turkeys will react to rain and being prepared can improve the chances.
The first thing for the hunter to consider is comfort. A nice rain suit is a must. Make sure to dress for warmth as well if necessary. A good pair of water resistant boots will also be needed.
Rain will generally result in the turkeys staying on the roost for extended periods of time. The gobblers will be less likely to gobble.
Once the gobbler does fly down, he will generally move to an area that offers a wide field of view. The rain can reduce visibility so turkeys will be more secure in open areas.
The hunter can use this information to set up in grassy pastures, woods with large open areas, farm fields, or other locations that offer a lot of visibility. It is often best to sit and wait in such areas as opposed trying to seek them out. It’s alright to call occasionally but don’t expect a vocal response.
There is a good side to turkey hunting in the rain. That is when the rain clears. Often in the spring rain showers don’t last but a few hours. Afterwards the gobblers can get fired up and ready for action.
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Turkey Hunting Tips-Why Gobblers Get Hung Up
Most turkey hunting situations at some time or another will result in a gobbler being hung up. A hung up gobbler is one that suddenly stops heading towards a calling hunter. There can be several different reasons for this occurring. A good hunter will understand these reasons and adjust accordingly.
Mood Of Gobbler
One reason this may happen is that the gobbler is no longer in the mood for a companion. The turkey may be more interested in feeding at the time. A hunter may be able to entice a gobbler back in the mood by relocating, changing calling styles, or changing the type of call being used.
Hens
Another reason gobblers get hung up is that the gobbler already has hens or runs into hens while on the way to the calling hunter. This situation is more challenging. In many cases it is best to try and locate another gobbler without hens. Or wait the gobbler out in hopes that the hens will leave the gobbler alone.
Terrain
The terrain can also provide reasons for gobblers being hung up. There might be some type of obstacle in between the turkey and the hunter that the turkey is not willing to cross. This will require the hunter to relocate around the obstacle for a better set up.
Nature
Some gobblers will only move so close to a calling hen sound. The gobbler may continue to gobble while waiting in a strutting area. The logic here is that in nature, the hens will usually go to the gobbler. In these cases it may be necessary for the hunter to move closer to the strutting area and resume calling.
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