The following tip is from Pete Plasmier of The Outdoorsmen's Voice and Sportsmans Choice Game Calls. Check out both websites for more information about Pete and his products as well as the hunting and fishing forums on the Outdoorsmen's Voice. The links are in this post as well as on the side of the page
SPRING TURKEY TIP OF THE WEEK
Written by Big Game Camera Man on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
March 5th, 2013.
How good are your chances the first hour?
In recent years my best filming with most dramatic footage has been done in mid-week. There is less competition amongst hunters. If you can get out into the field in mid-week, the odds are more in your favor for a successful hunt. I spent countless hours researching and filming turkey behavior. Most of the kills have been filmed shortly after flydown.
You must approach the roosting site quietly in the pre-dawn. How to approach is something you should workout in your pre-season scout. I'll put out decoys in open hard woods or in an open field. Usually about 80-yards from the gobbler's roost site. Keep in mind early in spring turkey season, most mature gobblers will have hens roosting near by. All wild turkeys feel safe and comfortable near their roost sites. They spend a lot of time there before and after flydown.
I don't call to the birds immediately. I prefef to let the gobbler give up his location. After the bird gives up his location, I will call soft but sharp yelps, to let the longbeard know I am interested also.
After all the turkeys come off their roost there is a quiet period where all the gobblers gather up all their hens. This quiet period lasts between 10-20 minutes. Many well positioned turkey hunters make their first mistakeof the morning calling too aggresively in this period. A complete turn-off for the hens. Keep your patience during this period. Relax and listen to the birds and don't move assuming the birds left.
I have filmed plenty of turkey hunts; many of them have ended one hour after flydown.
Share the tradition, take a youngster hunting and fishing.
How good are your chances the first hour?
In recent years my best filming with most dramatic footage has been done in mid-week. There is less competition amongst hunters. If you can get out into the field in mid-week, the odds are more in your favor for a successful hunt. I spent countless hours researching and filming turkey behavior. Most of the kills have been filmed shortly after flydown.
You must approach the roosting site quietly in the pre-dawn. How to approach is something you should workout in your pre-season scout. I'll put out decoys in open hard woods or in an open field. Usually about 80-yards from the gobbler's roost site. Keep in mind early in spring turkey season, most mature gobblers will have hens roosting near by. All wild turkeys feel safe and comfortable near their roost sites. They spend a lot of time there before and after flydown.
I don't call to the birds immediately. I prefef to let the gobbler give up his location. After the bird gives up his location, I will call soft but sharp yelps, to let the longbeard know I am interested also.
After all the turkeys come off their roost there is a quiet period where all the gobblers gather up all their hens. This quiet period lasts between 10-20 minutes. Many well positioned turkey hunters make their first mistakeof the morning calling too aggresively in this period. A complete turn-off for the hens. Keep your patience during this period. Relax and listen to the birds and don't move assuming the birds left.
I have filmed plenty of turkey hunts; many of them have ended one hour after flydown.
Share the tradition, take a youngster hunting and fishing.
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