Advice anyone?

[woodsman2230]

Ok. Here is the situation. I know for a fact that there are 3 lonbeards and a couple jakes that live behind my house and also across the road. There is about 100 acres behind my house, and another 100+ across the road. I know the birds frequent both sides because I see them cross from time to time. I know they are there somewhere back there but they hardly gobble on the roost, they NEVER gobble at night when I try to roost them and they NEVER gobble once on the ground. I somtimes can get close to them while on the roost but after they fly down I never see or hear from them again. Its extremely frustrating. Its as if they dont care about mating at all. I have not heard one turkey gobble on the ground back there for about 4 years. Actually, the last time they gobbled on the ground I killed my first turkey! (23# 10.5" beard 1" spurs) They used to gobble their heads off back there but in the past couple years they went totally silent. I have a couple questions for you guys.

1.) Why dont they gobble on the ground and hardly on the roost?

2.) How should I hunt these birds?

3.) Any special tips to help me roost them at night?

[woodsman2230]

I think the birds might be transient because they dont use the same roosting areas everynight or even close to it. They dont act like regular turkeys, you go anywhere else and you have turkeys acting right. These birds dont do anything turkey-like. Its annoying LOL! Just wondering if anyone else has come across birds like this.

[Squirrelhunter91]

Here's my .02..

1) They might be roosted with hens all the time or they could possibly be pressured.

2) I think you should observe their flydown patterns and set up somewhere along their morning path. Set up a couple of hen dekes and use soft calls only. If they are pressured they won't respond to aggressive calling. They'll most likely come in silent to the soft calling so be on your toes.

3) I've never had much luck roosting birds, although I have watched birds fly up, it was never intentional.

[ccwhitey]

They may not roost in the same spot every night like it was stated before, but my guess is that they are quite because of recent pressure during the past few years. The best way I know how to kill pressured birds or bird that will be pressured before you hunt them it to just do some soft purring and then imitate a fly down with a wing or your hat. If he answers your at anytime, including the fly down, just sit tight and he will be there eventually. Just have your decoys set out, if you can, and wait. I have killed two birds this way; the first came in within 15min and the other later 2.5 hrs.

[Bachflock]

I thought that post looked familiar! LOL I'm still learning but from what I've learned turkeys will more frequently roost in a general area night over night versus the same tree. A lot of factors will influence where they move into to roost - you'd have to consider all of those and try to anticipate where they'll be headed. Another thing I've learned is silent birds don't mean disinterested birds. Its easier to stay encouraged and enthusiastic when you hear them going off but if you now for a fact they are there I'd work them. Stay on the conservative side of calling until the woods dictates something different - say, a vocal hen gets them fired up. Then just imitate her. As far as roosting - get in early in the general vicinity you think they'll come through and listen. Listen for the wing beats, etc. If you're moving around a lot while they try to go to roost you'll bump them into a different area for the night futher worsening your frustration. For what its worth!

[Leo]

IMO, they are acting exactly like turkeys that have been hunted hard on the roost. You may not think they are pressured but that is how they are acting. So act accordingly. The game is up on the roost. Odds of you getting one that way now are extremely low.

Find out where they are frequenting (feeding or strutting) during the day and concentrate your efforts there instead. Stop scouting with your ears and look for sign (scratching/strut marks). On pressured birds 9 out of 10 will come in silent. They will also not be attracted to aggressive calling. Clucks and purrs only. Don't yelp, cut or cackle. High pressure birds depend more on their eyes than their ears or voices. You can't find them with shock gobbles or calling. So a run and gun technique is particularly futile. They will see you first 99% of the time. Good decoys are crucial.

Good luck.

[woodsman2230]

Thanks guys! I will definately use your advice!

[MichiganHunter]

I had the EXACT SAME PROB THIS YEAR the birds were killin it in the trees and one or two gobbles on the ground...i found where they would go in the morning the birds are prob hened up and if they are the hens in my area fallowed the same rute almost every day if not every day or two (they would hit the same cut corn field scratchin and peckin) i shot mine settin up on the field with two hen decoys but NO callin they seamed to be really call shy. and i had a tom walk right over to check them out....BANG