Turkey story

[steve m]

All this cold weather might slow up the breeding schedule this season.
Today I found 4 large groups of birds,the smallest numbed around 20.
The hens where feeding and the boys brought up the rear , there are lots of birds !
With only a week and a few days to open season.We may end up with a lot of hened up birds.
If you are new to turkey hunting or even guys with a few years under their belt ,don't get to impatient.
You may call and get answers and yet he seems to go the other way,You start to doubt your ability
and may get frustrated . This season the hunters with the most Patience will harvest their birds.

There will always be a few lucky hunters who will shoot their bird in the first 20 min.
For the rest of us ,well it may take some time.
I think it was about 5 years ago we had a similar start .
After hunting my favorite spot for 3 days in a row, I called a friend to help.
I told him we were going to hunt them like deer , there are two trails from the roost ,You sit on one and I will be on the other.
No calling today ! every time I have called they go the other way, so we will keep it quiet OK!
We got set up in lots of time I could see my partner about 150 yards away on top of the hill, this was going to work.
Tommy sounded the crack of dawn,I just grind "You are Gina buyer today buddy".
He gobbled again -and again he did not stop every 10 seconds you tell he was pacing back and forth on his roost .
I could deal with this no more,He was daring me to play a card ,He wanted to die today .
3 yelp cut into the morning air "no answer" I leaned my head back against the tree in disgust , how could I be so stupid .
We had a plan,it was a good pla-----A twig popped interrupting my anguish,I held my breath and listened,he was close,to close
I opened my eyes and rolled them as far to the left as they would go, they would not focus,they did not have to his big white head
right there 5 feet off my shoulder.He stood looking out into the field,it did not take long for my eyes to pain, I rolled them back to my partner.
He had seen the bird and was watching, "Hay" I need some help here!
I looked back and he was gone.

Later that day over coffee I asked "did you not not think a little yelp may have helped" he looked at me and said"the plan was NO calling"
I hung my head , and we both laughed.
Have Patience and learn the to read each situation
No two days in the woods will be the same.

[labman]

But the real question is? Would you have called if reversed??? lol

These bigger groups of birds can work to your favour too.

In previous years I have started birds off the roost and they leave with the hens, but if the hens are ready and the boys start to fight, they're will be a loser, and he may remember where he heard another hen at first light (you), and when he comes back he will be all yours.

This has worked for me before and can work for anybody, but patience will be the deciding factor, just as steve noted.
Don't get discouraged if the birds head off at first, they may circle back to that high spot you set up on.

[Broosmose]

Time to step on some heads
April 6-11 Kansas
April 18-19 Ohio Youth
April 24-26 Ky
Finish rest of the season in OH Trying to fill my tags and take out some friends who have never been turkey hunting.