Calling birds before season.

[HeviShot]

How many of you call a few up and look at them before season?What are the pro and con's.I have not done this but I know people that do.If a turkey has such a short memory how can it bother them?

[arrow32]

I always here the uncles and people talking that theyd never do that because theyd smartin up the birds. So i never have.

[IllinoisArcher]

Its illeagle in illinois to call birds before season but u can use locater calls

[huntn4bucks]

I NEVER call to turkeys prior to season! I really don't see any pros to doing it. I know we all want to hear that thunderous gobble but wait until it's season when it counts! I don't know how short a turkey's memory is but I'm not willing to take that chance. I've called in many turkeys during season that got real nervous before they were within shooting range. I figure the less they're exposed to it the better.

[RyanH]

I will if they are birds im not gonna hunt. Just for fun!


But if they are birds that im gonna hunt! Then I would let them hear a single call from me!

[Nut]

[ QUOTE ]
I will if they are birds im not gonna hunt. Just for fun!

[/ QUOTE ]

I will not even do such a thing especially if I do not hunt the area. I always play in the fact that someone else might be hunting there and I try to do unto others the way I would like them to do to me.

BUt I also do not believe in calling before season anyways....it just feels so wrong to me.

[alex30808]

There are no pros to this subject....one you are going to call in a bird to a location and he's not going to find a hen...If you went to the fridge and there was nothing to drink...are you going to go back in an hour to see if something appeared??? no..you know there's not...so why go...that bird thinks the same way...I do like to go and sit for a while and lesten and see if I hear birds...but you will NEVER hear me or anyone with me call to a bird unless we are huntin.

[Huntin_Cop]

To much callin (IMO) before season will make the Toms call shy. I don't do it. If you're wanting to scout them to get an idea of their size, you could set up on an open field, preferrably a high point, the Toms will come out into the open where hens can get a good look at them and strut their stuff. I've done this season after season. It's fun and you can time them like clockwork.

[Chrud]

It will educate the birds and make them a bit call shy.

[redbeard]

Never do it and I'm not sure if a gobbler will remember it or not, just ain't much sense in doing it especially in Georgia where we can hunt 'em 50 or more days.

I often wonder if sometimes gobbler do get wise to calling even in the season. I mean there are many many times when a tom takes his time getting to the hen and I'm sure more often than not, the hunter has already ventured off for a more cooperative bird.

Do you think he ever wises up? Sorta like, hey I been chasin' you there and here and you ain't never there. If you want me, you come to me.

Don't know if they have that much brain capacity or not.

Studies have been done that prove they have memories. Joe Hutto was raised by turkeys for a year and once they birds were scared by a snake pit. They never ventured near that pit again, always making an effort to avoid it. That spells memory to me.

[vagobbln]

I agree with no calling before the season. No advantage to it at all. Unless you like hunting call-shy birds. Fix you a cup of coffee and ride out to a good, high listening spot. Lean up against the truck, drink your coffee and do just that ... listen.

[drkillemquick]

Never called to turkeys before season. Only callin' I've done is with a locater call the night before the hunt. The rest I just use a good top quality bino and stay as far away as possible. My goal is for them not to know I am watchin' them. I would like to purchase a spotting scope this season, so I can identify the Tom's a little better from farther off.

[RDNKHNTR77]

ill just go out in the mornings and listen to them gobble from the roost and out them to bed at night. sometimes i use an owl hooter or a crow call to find where they r moving during the day but thats about it

[PA_Spike_King]

We never call to them before season,we just scout and use locater calls.

[Born2Hunt]

The only calling I do before the season is in my truck on the way to work.(and for pizza)!LOL