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Post by firelt72 on Apr 30, 2006 6:43:41 GMT -5
My first question is are there any good turkey areas near Richmond Indiana? I have to go over there Mothers Day weekend? Any help?
Secondly I am 0 for the week. I had 1 bird opening morning gobble less than 100 yds from my spot, just after 7am I heard movement in the brush just to my right, I slowly moved my hand to the to my trigger..... Putt Putt Putt... Busted. So I regroup and set on this ridge and wait, about 9:30 this gobbler starts hard at my left, I call and he is coming, I think OK I get to redeem myself. He gets so close I can fell the gobble, but he won't break the ridge, he stays down below me. He works back and forth going away and coming right back to that edge. Then he moves away and gone. So I decide to eat lunch back at the truck and get some of my heavier clothes off as I come back in the woods I hear a gobble 50 yards from me and I am right in the open, I try to get to a tree for position....busted. I have been out Three days and can't get one any closer than opening morning. I have plenty of gobbles, but I am guessing they are a bit nervous this weekend after gobble gobble gobble boom boom boom, I wouldn't talk much either. Any older turkey hunters tricks for me ;D. Thanks!
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Post by buster on Apr 30, 2006 7:27:46 GMT -5
If that bird was within 50 yardswhen he gobbled, you maybe shoulda say right down where you were, instead of trying to move to a tree. When they are that close, you can't afford to move if you've got no cover. He was almost in range when he sounded off. By the time he would have picked you out, you coulda ended his morning. Above and beyond ANYTHING else, movement will get you busted LONG before bad camo or no background cover, or glare from your gun, etc. Keep after it, you'll connect when this weather breaks!
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Post by Woody Williams on Apr 30, 2006 7:40:31 GMT -5
If that bird was within 50 yardswhen he gobbled, you maybe shoulda say right down where you were, instead of trying to move to a tree. When they are that close, you can't afford to move if you've got no cover. He was almost in range when he sounded off. By the time he would have picked you out, you coulda ended his morning. Above and beyond ANYTHING else, movement will get you busted LONG before bad camo or no background cover, or glare from your gun, etc. Keep after it, you'll connect when this weather breaks! I agree.. This hunting stuff is always live and learn. Sounds like you are close but no cigar yet. You'll get one yet...looking forward to the story and pictures..
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Post by bsutravis on Apr 30, 2006 8:09:27 GMT -5
I killed a bird one season while I was sitting right smack in the middle of a logging road and it was walking up to me. I saw it through some brush and sat right down where I was....luckily it didn't take long for him to come in cause I wouldn't have been able to sit there very long without a back rest!!! I have one of the vests with the built in seats, but I didn' t have time to pull it down...
This rain will run 'em to the fields........don't let a little drizzle keep ya from hunting! Get out there! (Man I wish we could take 2 birds here!!!!) LOL
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Post by firelt72 on Apr 30, 2006 8:44:40 GMT -5
I know I have kicked myself on all three of those birds, but when I do get one, I think I'll just shoot him two or three extra times to make up for the movements LOL!!!!
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Post by hornharvester on Apr 30, 2006 8:56:55 GMT -5
firelt72,
I shot my first bird twice this year just because i watched a nice gobbler fly off two years ago after i shot him at 20 yds. He flopped on one side a couple times and then flopped on the other side a couple times and then was in the air and gone before i could get the gun up. You talk about someone disappointed! But as most will say, "thats hunting". Keep after them and you'll get one. Good luck, h.h.
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Post by huxbux on Apr 30, 2006 11:44:52 GMT -5
Only advice I can give is keep after 'em. As for your getting busted, that's pretty much gonna happen probably half the time regardless of what you do, or don't do , IMO. Most of my blown opportunities have been on "perfect" setups, while some of my successes have come on totally unconventional methods. IMO, luck plays a large part & yours is due to change
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Post by hunter480 on Apr 30, 2006 12:01:09 GMT -5
I am no turkey hunting expert, that`s for sure; but over the past several seasons, I`ve got to spend a lot of QUALITY time afield with my nephew, my hunting buddy, and a buddy who has a preserve in Parke County, and it`s unbelievable how many things have to come together just right to get you in position to pull the trigger. In some ways, you think this bird, that has a brain the size of a walnut can not be that hard to kill. Then the reality hits you, no, SMACKS you in the face, and you understand, oh yeah, it IS that difficult. Just learn from EVERY encounter you are fortunate enough to have with a turkey, always analyze, compare to past experiences, and try to adapt based on past encounters. Don`t be afraid to try something new, different, something that doesn`t even maybe sound possible, because it`s hunting, and anything can happen. Keep a log if you can, and have the patience to document the days hunting, it`ll be a great source of data to analyze, and to use to tailor future hunting situations based on in the field lessons learned.
More than anything-HAVE FUN. It`s only life and death for the turkey.
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Post by firelt72 on Apr 30, 2006 16:06:13 GMT -5
Here is the best thing, if I get a bird or not, I am getting a chance at something that most people never take the time to do, watch the world wake up, hear the birds, see the deer and talk turkey with a turkey he actually thinks is a turkey...How great is this? There is something magical about this.
I mean people miss the little things in Gods creation that makes life so wonderful and such a gift. I am having so much fun. I used to fish a lot of bass tournaments and I loved them so much, but it got to be such a drain on my family, I gave it up. I told my wife the other day, I love this, turkey hunting, even more than that. I do love it and will continue to, my kids are interested and I have a good reason to keep pugging away. I mean how long can it be? 2? 3?4? years or more? I know someone at a hunting shop that has a guy that comes in and for 13 years he has hunted turkey without getting one. There is more to hunting than getting a bird (BUT I WANT ONE!!!!!!!)
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Post by songdog on May 1, 2006 7:36:52 GMT -5
I have been turkey hunting for over 20 years and still struggle with filling my tag sometimes.I just keep making the same lame brain mistakes over and over. Stick with it and some day you can say the same thing. You will score and I bet it is this year ,I,m feeling to much enthusiasm in your posts to see you as not trying to gve it your all. This will be a hard thing to do but try not hammering your calls and just use an occasional cluck or two every 15 or so minutes if you think that the birds in your area are spooked. I also am a firefighter (28 yrs w/IFD ) and about the only thing that gets me more excited than running into a burning building is hearing a bird gobble. If you ever want some company let me know , I promise I won,t bring any calls unless you want me to. I learned this turkey hunting stuff all on my own through trial and error and it does somewhat lengthen the learning curve. Good Luck and God bless.
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Post by camoham on May 1, 2006 8:09:48 GMT -5
fire lt, there are some good areas on the outskirts of richmond. as you already know........all of them unfortuneatly are on PRIVATE land. (no public hunting areas) my last 5 years of experience here tells me that the hunting is just now "comming to" or getting good. up until last year, i had never heard a turkey "shock gobble", much less respond to any type of calling. (i will openly admit some of this could have been due to my lack of experience; however, there are other factors that could be contributors as well). move back in time about 15 +/- years........................turkeys were not abundant at all in this area....................... the DNR dropped off a population...........................in the "abbington" area. sightings were few and far between for me. turkey hunting in the present..........................i have personally seen turkeys north and south of richmond. other reports of pretty good sightings to include more mature gobblers and even a couple "double beards"............... with this said, the birds here seem vary "wary" compared to the "hollywood" turkeys you see on video. my guess is that the high coyote population around here keeps them on their "toes". but then again, what do i know im not a biologist hope this helps some..................feel free to shoot a PM. camoham
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Post by hunter480 on May 1, 2006 17:26:34 GMT -5
I have been turkey hunting for over 20 years and still struggle with filling my tag sometimes.I just keep making the same lame brain mistakes over and over. Stick with it and some day you can say the same thing. You will score and I bet it is this year ,I,m feeling to much enthusiasm in your posts to see you as not trying to gve it your all. This will be a hard thing to do but try not hammering your calls and just use an occasional cluck or two every 15 or so minutes if you think that the birds in your area are spooked. I also am a firefighter (28 yrs w/IFD ) and about the only thing that gets me more excited than running into a burning building is hearing a bird gobble. If you ever want some company let me know , I promise I won,t bring any calls unless you want me to. I learned this turkey hunting stuff all on my own through trial and error and it does somewhat lengthen the learning curve. Good Luck and God bless. songdog-what a great offer to make, that`s such a great gesture. THAT is what makes some hunters such special people, offering to help a guy by offering your hard earned experience. Awfully good of you man.
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Post by danf on May 1, 2006 18:09:05 GMT -5
firelt, don't give up! I got my first bird yesterday after hunting the crazy things off and on for over 10 years! I knew this year was the year, I did more scouting than ever and was READY, other than patterning my gun past 30 yards (patterned at 25 and 30 only). ;D
Isn't it great to watch the world wake up? I always enjoy it during deer season too.
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Post by firelt72 on May 1, 2006 19:36:42 GMT -5
It is great and wtg on the bird, no offense, but I don't want to wait 10 years LOL. I have been scouting and have my gun pattrened. I am ready, but things will fall into place, I know it will occur. It may even be in the morning.... I have already PM songdog and invited his help. What a great member we have there. Like him I am self taught, no one in my family hunts, but I have been told that my calling is good an I have the basics down and good insticts. I agree also that firefighting is more exciting than turkey hunting, but it is a near second place!
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Post by danf on May 2, 2006 5:52:51 GMT -5
Yeah, in a way I miss getting up at all hours of the night to go on a run... I was a volly for 4 1/2 years before we moved, and I just don't have the time right now to join the department here. I'm sure my wife doesn't miss it much! No offense taken on waiting the 10 years! I didn't hunt them every year for those 10, so it may have been more like 5 years of actual seasons that I hunted....
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