Hunting Hung-up Gobblers
Turkey hunting at times can be super exciting. There are days when you can set-up close to a roosting area, hit a few notes from your favorite turkey call, and have a gobbler come running in. But there are also those times that gobblers seem to get hung-up before making it into a set-up location.
There could be several reasons as to why gobblers don’t make it all the way. There could be some type of barrier that they don’t want to cross. The gobbler may be with hens and not willing to leave them. There is also the more natural reason which is that in nature, hens go to gobblers. A gobbler will move in the direction of hens only to gobble and strut as to lure them to him.
There are different tactics that can be used in an attempt to get close enough to a gobbler for a shot. There is no perfect plan that works every time. However, occasionally we can have a successful hunt. The only thing one can do is experiment.
One idea for hung-up gobblers is to stand up and slowly start walking away from the gobbler. Continue calling and move away 50-100 yards. Then set-up again and see if the gobbler will move a little closer. This will sometimes make the gobbler relocate as well. Although they may not come the entire distance, they may move closer to your original position. If this happens, sneak back obviously without being detected.
Another idea is to stop calling and try to circle around the right side of the gobbler. If possible, try to relocate in an area where the gobbler has already passed. This will give the illusion that the hen is trying to locate him. Many times a gobbler will back track in an area that he has already gone through quicker than an area that he has not. Once you’ve circled around, start calling again.
The next idea is to only cluck and purr. This gives the illusion that the hen is content where she is at. Ruffle a few leaves here and there as a sign of scratching. Use two different types of calls to make it seem like more than one hen. Sometimes this will bring the gobbler on in.
The final idea to try is to stop calling all together. This will then become a patience hunt. For some reason being quiet has been known to work. I can’t explain why this is. But I have had gobblers walk into set-ups after I have stopped calling. This usually results from trying to figure out my next plan of action. Meanwhile the turkey walks in unannounced to my surprise. So if you try this, always be alert.
These turkey hunting tips may give you a few tactics to try on that old wise gobbler the next time he gets hung-up. Be safe and good luck.
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