[Tony Harris]

Each day of turkey hunting for me brings new lessons of what not to do most often. Since I have only been turkey hunting a few years I thought maybe we could share a few lessons learned on what not to do or even what worked when all else failed.

Heres my first;
Be ready to shoot when you sit down. I had trying to get a bird to come to me all morning but he had a 'spot'. He would come maybe 100 yards in a couple of directions and then go back. About 10am I gave up and headed to the truck which was parked about 3/4 mile away. I had climbed the hill and was about 1/4 from the truck when that rascal yelled at me again. I walked out to a finger ridge and cutt hard at him and he gobbled hard. I easd down towards him cutting the whole time and him gobbling. I turned and ran hard as I could go to where I had been that morning. Called once at the creek, he gobbled about 150 yards away and I crossed the creek and got within what I thought was 100 yards and plopped down. I leaned back and my box call was in a bad spot in my vest between me and the tree so I reached back to move it, looked down to make sure it wasn't gone to get crushed when I leaned on back and looked and he was standing not 60 yards away looking right at me. BUSTED! Man that was a hard one, I about cried all the way to the truck.

 

[spit-n-drum]

To go along with that, there is no telling how many times I have called to a turkey that got quiet and then I sat there for another hour only to jump up to leave and have him fly off. I am not sure what to do other than look, listen and think before you make a move (and this will still happen occasionally).

I think not bumping gobblers is the hardest lesson to learn. Trying to get to that last tree has saved many a birds life. I say pull up 20 steps further back if there is any doubt and you know you are still in the game. Once he is bumped it is game over.

 

[huntbigbucs]

Biggest lesson last year was just because he is not gobbling does not mean he is not coming, so keep calling to them. Bird I got last year never said a word and walked right towards my decoy (which I am a believer in now, i thought it would never work)

If one gobbles at you while walking by, sit your butt down right then and don't try to find a better spot. That will shut them up for good

 

[Arkie_3_fan]

1. Undo your sling from the front of your gun when you sit down. That didn't cost me a turkey but it almost did.

2. Birds are most likely much closer than you think late in the season.

3. Don't waste your time going turkey hunting in Alabama.

 

[possum]

If you get the hiccups, remove your mouth call from your mouth. (had visions of a TK & Mike episode I saw once)

 

[Kee Kee]

sit till you think you can't sit anymore...then sit some more. patience is key.

 

[Buba Garrett]

sit till you think you can't sit anymore...then sit some more. patience is key.

If I have one fault that is it! When you think its over give it another 30 minutes!:smack:

 

[John Stiles]

I learned a long time ago....rain falling at daylight is okay....especially when it ends about midday.....killed many nice gobblers with that secret.:thumb:

 

[flintknapper]

Here's another: always take the shotgun.

Father in law took my 9 year old daughter to sit and see if they could call up a gobbler. He took the kid, the netting, the call, but not the shotgun! He figgured the kid would never hold still enough and he'd never get one to come, but she did and he did. Ashley got to see every part of a successuful turkey hunt, except the success! Now she's got the fever, this is gonna be awful...:biggrin:

 

[Tony Harris]

Another episode from last year.

There had been several guys hunting 4 birds all season in the same place. They would gobble but would not come on in. The guys would leave and the birds would come to where they had been. These guys drive up to this area every day of season, call from the same spot, use the same calls, do everything the same every day with the same results. I roosted the bird the night before the last day of season, two of them in the same general area. I walked 3/4 mile to get there and was there and set up 30 minutes before daylight. They gobbled on their own. At daylight I yelped a tree yelp once and waited. At flydown they headed up the mountain gobbling all the way, I smiled knowing they were headed my way. From higher on the mountain it came my way, fast and thick...fog. They went back down hill and gobbled at me to come down. I thought it would lift and since I hadn't made but one tree call I figured to wait them out. The fog didn't lift and I finally gave up and headed around them to come in from the side. I yelped a few times and they gobbled and headed my way and the fog eased down to me. They shut up and I sat quietly for another hour until the fog lifted and cutt they would gobble but were having none of it. If I had went down the mountain sooner I may have had a better chance at calling them crosshill to me.

Lesson, don't sit in the fog you big dummy, move!

 

[Manybeards]

1) Never give up/be patient

2) Take time to pick a good set-up (this is where I've messed up the most)

3) The number one calling tip I can give you. Is that every turkey is different. Learn to read what mood their in. In most cases I let the turkey gobble then I answer him rather than try to make him answer me.

4) when you know he's coming SHUT-UP

Sorry but I got to keep the rest of my secrets I've got a contest to win :biggrin:

 

[John Stiles]

1) Never give up/be patient

2) Take time to pick a good set-up (this is where I've messed up the most)

3) The number one calling tip I can give you. Is that every turkey is different. Learn to read what mood their in. In most cases I let the turkey gobble then I answer him rather than try to make him answer me.

4) when you know he's coming SHUT-UP

Sorry but I got to keep the rest of my secrets I've got a contest to win :biggrin:

You must be gonna be on my team:fit: :up:

 

[Manybeards]

You must be gonna be on my team:fit: :up:

If not I may have to drop some hound dogs off in Tulip :razz: :lol:

 

[John Stiles]

If not I may have to drop some hound dogs off in Tulip :razz: :lol:

Okay then....I'll shake the bone bag and put a mojo on ya!:thumb:

 

[Manybeards]

Okay then....I'll shake the bone bag and put a mojo on ya!:thumb:

:fit: :hair:

 

[John Stiles]

:bolt: :fit: :up:

 

[huntbigbucs]

Okay then....I'll shake the bone bag and put a mojo on ya!:thumb:

dang this done got serious

 

[soarkrebel]

When you have one gobbling and the real hens start in and answering you. Don't stop ........work the hens not the gobbler. Get the hens mad enough to come see you!

I forgot this last year and my friend that has the #2 turkey in the state said "you dummy why didnt you work the hens!":smack:


Had one that wouldnt come in at all. he would answer but not coming.
start purring and clucking. rack leaves like you don't care and are feeding. He came!

When using fighting purrs make alot of noise. I will hit my hat against my leg trying to sound like wings flapping.Worked once:biggrin:

 

[Manybeards]

Ok, one more tip. Like Soarkrebel said learn to work the hens. By saying that mimic whatever they say. If the hen yelps then yelp yourself, If the hen cuts then you cutt. Just do it a little more aggressive. This really pisses them off and they come looking for you bringing that gobbler with them.

Now I better be quite before ya'll kill em all :glasses:

 

[soarkrebel]

Ok, one more tip. Like Soarkrebel said learn to work the hens. By saying that mimic whatever they say. If the hen yelps then yelp yourself, If the hen cuts then you cutt. Just do it a little more aggressive. This really pisses them off and they come looking for you bringing that gobbler with them.

Now I better be quite before ya'll kill em all :glasses:

Exactly:thumb:

You just gotta be thinkin when your out there