Any sugestions

[ftgbowhunter]

Hey. I need a little advice. Im hunting a place in oklahoma on a small wheat field. Right up above the weat field is a pretty good sized hill or / mountian. I know the birds are roosting up on the hill and i can hear them gobbling every morning i go hunt. Here is the deal tho. between the hill and the field there is a creek at the bottom of the hill about prob 10 ft wide and i can get the birds to fly down off the roost and head my way but about the time the birds meet up with the creek they stop gobbling and it seems like they just dont wanna cross the creek. And unless i swim a 10ft wide and prob 6 to 7 foot deep creek there is no way for me to get across to be able to set up on the side of the hill. Does anybody have any suggestions on how i can get the birds to go ahead and fly over the creek and meet up with my field.

[jesse8953]

I got the same problem here in ohio, darn creek season starts in 10 days

[Rhino]

Well my 1st thought is a 16' 2x12. Actually there's a spot on a certain creek bottom on our place where I've watched gobblers walk a log to cross that creek in the past. It was about the same width you're talking about. Obviously they were already accustomed to doing it though.

I can't say there's any sure way to convince a gobbler to fly across any creek. Any obstruction between you and a gobbler is a big problem. I've had them cross creeks before by cutting at them aggressively but I've had a lot that wouldn't cross too. Hens down here will cut aggressively when they fly down off the roost or take flight to cross an obstruction. I know of a couple of instances when some other turkey hunters used cutting in conjuntion with wing flapping to make a gobbler think hens have flown across a creek. That's about the only things I can think of off hand that might work short of the 2x12 that you could use to get to their side too.

[camoman1]

You could try setting out a hen(s) and a jake/tom decoy and maybe hit the jealousy nerve of a real tom. He may be more inclined to cross the creek then. If he can see that shananigans going on from his roost, he may even fly rite over it.

A less favorable option.....If you can call him within range, whack em while hes on the other side (granted the other side is still your property). Then you can "swim" across and get him, and only be wet for the walk back to the truck. Sounds silly i know.

And maybe you have a summer project, building a bridge over that creek for you to walk on.

[jesse8953]

I saw 16 turkeys on my side of the creek today so they are on both sides. Hope they do the same monday morning when season comes in.

[3whunt]

I have quite a bit of luck getting the birds to cross those types of obstructions later in the day. Once all the hens are gone, your odds are greatly increased. Anywhere from 2:00 to 5:00 would be a good time to try and get them to cross.

[jesse8953]

Can only hunt till 12:00 here in Ohio

[GWSmith]

As far as suggestions to get the birds to fly acrossed the creek the advice already given should do the trick.

If thats just not getting it done...trust the Beaver..Beaver is Good, Beaver is Wise

Use a Boat!

[redkneck]

Man, i'd be trying to find a log to get across that creek. Surely within a 1/4 mile up or down, there's something to cross on? Of course great advice from above, and at least you already know the birds are crossing. Should get better later in the season as more hens are peeling away to nest and the toms get a little more mobile, but i'd try to be on the other side of that water if i could, even if you need an inner tube! Birds can be funny about crossing a ditch a just foot wide.