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Post by turkeyscout on Jan 17, 2008 14:15:21 GMT -5
here a tip on scouting for turkeys earily in february and march, especially if the area you get to hunt is new and you"re not sure where to go .wait for a one to three inch snow , then take a hike and look for tracks and scratchings, you will learn alot....please add your scouting tip, our new hunters will appreciate all the help....thanks....turkey scout
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Post by dbd870 on Jan 17, 2008 14:19:49 GMT -5
Would my obsevations from the fall season be useful in the spring?
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Post by gobblerstopper on Jan 17, 2008 15:51:26 GMT -5
The best tip that I can think of is to learn the land that you are going to be hunting. Learn every thing about it that you can. Every tree down, ditch, creek, fence. Every hill, everywhere that is thick and everywhere that is open. If you know there are birds there, then knowing where they are at more than two weeks or so before season isn't going to help you much. The gobblers are going to be splitting up and so are the hens. Where you hear 5 gobblers three weeks before season, there may only be one on opening day.
When you hear the other four birds start gobbling, knowing the woods, where they are at and how to get them is going to be your best bet.
Other than scouting. Patience is the only other tip. With patience and scouting anyone can kill a turkey.
Your fall observations aren't going to hurt you any, but depending on the woods, you may be surprised at how un-useful they are. I've killed a couple of turkeys in woods that I never saw the first bird in during the fall. Turkeys move according to the food source in the fall and nesting habitate in the spring.
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Post by dbd870 on Jan 17, 2008 16:46:07 GMT -5
I figured that might be the case.
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Post by mullis56 on Jan 18, 2008 15:18:47 GMT -5
Patience and walk, walk, walk, and walk some more before season.....bottom line be patient and be in as good as shape as life will let you be.....March 16th common on, I'll be chasing Osceola's in Florida then, it will be here before we know it!
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Post by gobblerstopper on Jan 18, 2008 15:37:56 GMT -5
March 16th common on, I'll be chasing Osceola's in Florida then... So will I. Actually, I don't think I am hunting until the 17th or 18th. Where are you headed? |
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Post by mullis56 on Jan 18, 2008 15:57:53 GMT -5
Osceola County, and you? I'm leaving the 16th, hunting the 17-19 and got 2 tags to fill!! Good luck!
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Post by bsutravis on Jan 18, 2008 17:08:45 GMT -5
Learn what IS turkey sign.... know how to read scratches, learn what a dusting bowl looks like and how to take advantage of it, learn what trees the gobblers in your area like to roost in. Turkeys are my favorite animal to match wits with...... after filling my tag several seasons in a row I thought I was getting good at it, until I ate tag-soup last season. Just when you think you know what you are doing, you get your butt kicked and all you can get within range are homely looking hens and desperate jakes. Man I'm ready to knock one upside the head with a load of lead!!!!!
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Post by turkeyscout on Jan 18, 2008 17:20:44 GMT -5
The best tip that I can think of is to learn the land that you are going to be hunting. Learn every thing about it that you can. Every tree down, ditch, creek, fence. Every hill, everywhere that is thick and everywhere that is open. If you know there are birds there, then knowing where they are at more than two weeks or so before season isn't going to help you much. The gobblers are going to be splitting up and so are the hens. Where you hear 5 gobblers three weeks before season, there may only be one on opening day. .................................... hey guys, gobblestopper added a lot of excellent tips in just one paragraph, he right on and has been there and done that!!.... i would like to add a tip that has helped me and my grandson on scouting..lets say you know there turkeys in the area you got to hunt:ok ,so where do you begin , i suggest don't worry about where the gobbler going to be, think about where the HEN will be and its mating time ,the gobbler will not be far away. heres' the tip:in the area that you hunting you need to know where the WATER is:either a creek,river,or pond,from my experience in hunting turkeys the hen controls every move the gobbler makes, so knowing that, during mating season the hen is going to nest, usually its going to be in the thickest area around,such as falling trees and thickets,places where the hen can hide from preditors. my point is: while nesting the hen will nest near a water supply in most situations, she has to have water, just by knowing this: can help you pick what section that will be the best!!.........TAKE A YOUNGSTER ON YOUR NEXT OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE.......turkey scout |
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Post by huxbux on Jan 21, 2008 21:17:49 GMT -5
Another tip for beginners on a scouting expedition, NO CALLING! You'll make 'em call shy and your season will only end in frustration.
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Post by turkeyscout on Jan 22, 2008 12:37:30 GMT -5
..........when it get closer to the turkey season and you want to do some calling , use a predator call such as a peacock call, coyote yelp or a eight note call of a barred owl, these are good calls to shock the globbler to gobble,to give off his location with out educating him .like huxbux said do not educate the turkeys with turkey yelps ,clucks and purrs before the season begins. i use this method of shock calling every year!!....turkey scout
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Post by danf on Jan 22, 2008 13:04:57 GMT -5
Shock calling won't work if the turkeys are used to loud, sudden noises either. Never could get a shock gobble from the turkeys in the woods I used to hunt near a steel mill...
Crow calls may work for some turks, but I never have had any luck with them.
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Post by gobblerstopper on Jan 22, 2008 13:25:03 GMT -5
Osceola County, and you? I'm leaving the 16th, hunting the 17-19 and got 2 tags to fill!! Good luck! My buddy told me that we will be hunting in Osceola and Brevard counties. |
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Post by Ahawkeye on Jan 22, 2008 16:16:52 GMT -5
Bsu, please go further into the dusting bowl, I('ve killed one off of a dusting bowl but don't know much about it?  ? |
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Post by hoosierwilk on Jan 22, 2008 19:18:40 GMT -5
All really great advise. I would second to really learn the lay of the land. Know where obstacles are that may hang a bird up before yoy set up. Fences, ditches, mounds, those types of things that may hang up that bird that was coming in on a string until they encountered one of these. It also helps, if you have to move on a bird, to get around on him if your familar with the ground.
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Post by hornharvester on Jan 26, 2008 22:03:22 GMT -5
Osceola County, and you? I'm leaving the 16th, hunting the 17-19 and got 2 tags to fill!! Good luck! My buddy told me that we will be hunting in Osceola and Brevard counties. I havent decided if I will go to Florida yet but if I do it will be from the 5 March to the 12 and hunting in Glades County. In Florida you get two spring turkeys for a license. h.h. |
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