Turkey Question

[VermontHunter]

If you know that there are Turkeys in the area is it necassary to shock-call them into gobbling before you use actual calling....or is it best to just start calling ???

[robk]

if your talking about about taking them to roost then going out and being there when they come down i have waited to call and i have called just after they hit the ground and had them come by for either a shot or just to scout them and see what they will do. nothign wrong with calling as they could come down from one side and change out and go another direction. they are a creature of habit but they like deer andus can change our minds
rob k

[slaw]

I dont think so, the shock gobble is to locate them, if you already know they are there, set up and get ready to call em in your direction as they come off the roost.

[Rhino]

VermontHunter turkeys will naturally gobble on their own on the roost in the morning. Depending on several factors they could litterally gobble like crazy or only gobble a few times. It depends on the bird, the weather, and if he has hens near him or with him or not. They are gobbling on the roost to get hens to respond to and come to them. I rarely try to make a bird gobble on the roost for that reason. I let them get fired up on their own.

I do my preseason scouting and have a pretty good idea where a number of birds on our club property are roosted before the season ever starts. While it's still dark I'll move in to set up close to where I think the bird is roosted setting up in the direction that I think he will go when he leaves the roost. I try NOT to call to a bird until he leaves the roost. Sometimes when you call to a bird on the roost he will stay there trying to gobble that hen he heard to him. As you know from the roost he can see farther and if he heard a hen call on the ground he may stay there until he sees the hen or gives up on her and goes for another one he heard in the distance or where he has located them before or heads for a strutting zone. Your odds are much better if you do not to call until he hits the ground.

Do this before the season starts and leave your calls at home. You don't want to educate a gobbler to your calling until it's time to hunt him. Get to your property before they start gobbling in the morning and just listen for them to get fired up on the roost. Keep your distance and wait till they hit the ground and try to determine from their goobling which way they are going and where until they quit gobbling. By doing that you are developing a pattern. Do that enough and you will have a pretty good idea where you need to be set up on opening day getting between where he is roosted and where he tends to go. You should find some birds that have a preference of where they want to go but they won't go that way all the time

[RyanH]

I never really have had any luck shock calling! Not even early in the morning! I just use my Diaphram and if they are close just get ready!

[beardsNspurs]

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I dont think so, the shock gobble is to locate them, if you already know they are there, set up and get ready to call em in your direction as they come off the roost.

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My thoughts exactly.

If you already know they are in the area, no matter what time of day, I would bypass the shock calling.

[Strut10]

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VermontHunter turkeys will naturally gobble on their own on the roost in the morning.

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I let them get fired up on their own.

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I do my preseason scouting and have a pretty good idea where a number of birds on our club property are roosted before the season ever starts. While it's still dark I'll move in to set up close to where I think the bird is roosted setting up in the direction that I think he will go when he leaves the roost.

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Do this before the season starts and leave your calls at home. You don't want to educate a gobbler to your calling until it's time to hunt him.

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Pretty much "it" in a nutshell.

Thanks, Rhino!!

[VermontHunter]

Thanks for all the good info guys, now all I have to do is put it to some praticle use...and get a Bird..