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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2020 13:28:06 GMT -5
As I described in a different thread, a buddy took me Saturday to a new property that he just got access to, for hunting, and he`s allowing me to hunt this opening morning. When we pulled off the road and headed back towards the treeline that runs along Big Walnut, there were already what looked to be 4 or 5 hens, with 2 BIG gobblers, both strutting, in the field back near the treeline. This was just around 10:00 am, and I`ve been told these birds are seen in this same field absolutely daily.
Here`s what I wonder about how to approach this Wednesday morning, and what any of you would suggest:
Would you set up with a hen decoy out in the field, and pull off some soft tree yelps right at daylight expecting that would pull them back out into that field very first thing upon flydown?
Would you set up with a hen and jake decoy in the field, and just do some routine yelping and soft feeding clucks shortly after daylight?
Would you simply slip in under cover of darkness, set up, no decoys, no calling, and hope these birds follow their typical travel route and end up in front of you?
Or, would you have an approach different from any of these three?
I already know which of these I`m leaning towards and will likely do, but I`m curious how some of you might approach this scenario.
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Post by drfleck on Apr 19, 2020 14:16:36 GMT -5
Sounds like you have a nice spot. I have had success by going in early and setting up dekes and not calling. Gobbler came out to field, saw jake decoy, and came running in to fight. However, I had a time or two last year when I knew he could see decoys from his roost and he flew down the other way. Either he didnt like the calling or didnt like the jake decoy. So I guess I would put a hen out and not call. Im kinda over the jake decoy. Calling to them on the roost I think works better from a distance where they cant see your setup. Just my opinions. Good luck.
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Post by Huntnfreak on Apr 19, 2020 15:01:13 GMT -5
I would slip in and set out a couple hen decoys and just wait until he gobbles on his own. Then give a few SOFT slow yelps and see how he responds (taking his temperature). If he immediately answers your call I would wait about 5-10 minutes and give him another soft yelp and see how he responds to that one. If he answers then he knows you’re there and I would call sparingly after that...maybe just enough to see if he’s heading your way. Just don’t over call and call to loudly unless he’s heading away from you that you can physically see. Good Luck!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2020 18:47:06 GMT -5
I would slip in and set out a couple hen decoys and just wait until he gobbles on his own. Then give a few SOFT slow yelps and see how he responds (taking his temperature). If he immediately answers your call I would wait about 5-10 minutes and give him another soft yelp and see how he responds to that one. If he answers then he knows you’re there and I would call sparingly after that...maybe just enough to see if he’s heading your way. Just don’t over call and call to loudly unless he’s heading away from you that you can physically see. Good Luck!! Originally, I was thinking I`d want to slip in and just set up with no decoys and no calling, since I`ve been told they always show up there anyway. But, now I`m thinking of at least setting out a hen decoy, because they could fly down anywhere along that treeline, and it`s at least a couple thousand yards long. I only have just one hen deke, but at least with that out, if they move into the field out of range one side or the other, with a few soft clucks and yelps, they may move my way when they see the hen decoy. |
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Post by Huntnfreak on Apr 19, 2020 19:11:04 GMT -5
I would slip in and set out a couple hen decoys and just wait until he gobbles on his own. Then give a few SOFT slow yelps and see how he responds (taking his temperature). If he immediately answers your call I would wait about 5-10 minutes and give him another soft yelp and see how he responds to that one. If he answers then he knows you’re there and I would call sparingly after that...maybe just enough to see if he’s heading your way. Just don’t over call and call to loudly unless he’s heading away from you that you can physically see. Good Luck!! Originally, I was thinking I`d want to slip in and just set up with no decots and no calling, since I`ve been told they always show up there anyway. But, now I`m thinking of at least setting out a hen decoy, because they could fly down anywhere along that treeline, and it`s at least a couple thousand yards long. I only have just one hen deke, but at least with that out, if they move into the field out of range one side or the other, with a fe soft clucks and yelps, they may move my way when they see the hen decoy. I would definitely use the decoy to persuade them to come your direction... |
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Post by oldshotty on Apr 19, 2020 20:38:34 GMT -5
I like just a hen decoy and a few light yelps
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Post by elmo on Apr 20, 2020 8:29:40 GMT -5
I’m not using a decoy because I know that they are going to come to the feed lot. I just sit beside it and watch and wait.
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Post by dawnpatrol on Apr 20, 2020 10:33:34 GMT -5
I setup in funnel areas or backs of fingers or corners close to roosting areas! After hearing a gobble when they are on the roost, I give small yelps with my diaphram to get a response! After 1 response on the roost.....I wait until flydown to call again and purr and cluck with a push botton call and maybe throw in some yelps with my Woodhaven diaphram call! When they start to committ to my setup......1 DSD hen does the rest of the work......Best of luck!!!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2020 16:36:30 GMT -5
Ok, so, things have changed:
My buddy texted me this morning and I will not be hunting the area we looked at Saturday morning. As happens sometimes, there was a mixup in communication, and somehow, someone else has granted permission to another hunter to hunt this property Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I was disappointed, but not upset because after all, it was entirely out of the goodness of my buddy`s heart that I was going to have access to this great property anyway.
My buddy said he has another spot that holds turkey`s usually, and I can hunt there, so, tomorrow after work, I`m getting out to Putnam County so I can see where I`m hunting Wednesday morning.
Even with all of this, I am so very grateful, and blessed that my friend is still getting me a place to turkey hunt, and even moreso, that this dude is my friend. Couldn't ask for a better friend.
Everyone be safe opening morning, enjoy what is sure to be a glorious sunrise, and bust a big one!
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Post by ms660 on Apr 21, 2020 0:42:42 GMT -5
Wherever the hens are at, the Toms will be close to them at fly down time in the morning. Hunt the hens if you want to kill Tom at first light. Later in the morning set up decoys in the field and call a couple of times every 20 minutes or so and play the waiting game. Toms will be looking for love after the hens have gone to their nest.
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