Took Cecilia with me this morning. Got into the first spot and hooted a couple of times with nothing heard. Walked on down a little farther and just listened while the woods woke up with nothing gobbling. Found lots of sign in this area the other day scratching and tracks so I knew birds were using the area. Went ahead and put out decoys and did some soft purring. I gave Cecilia my vest so she could sit on the cushion. After one series on the slate call I put it down. We had only been set up about 20 minutes or so and decided I should get a mouth call out of the vest. Cecilia had my vest on and I was going through a pocket to get it out and had taken my face mask off to put the call in my mouth I got the mask back on and turned my head to pick up my shotbgun and not 20 yards I saw his red and white head through a small opening along the wood line staring at me. In a flash he was gone. For a second I thought it might have been a red bird fluttering around in the bushes because I never actually saw his body. Just that half a second of his red and white head. Didn't putt but heard him run. So close !

Always be ready before you ever make a sound, sounds like your getting close though!

I can say without a doubt turkey hunting its a learning experience. You can get by with a little movement here and there with deer hunting, but your usually up a tree 20 or so feet above them. I've actually had deer move in closer to me trying to get a better look or simple out of curiosity, but these turkeys just don't do that. When the gig is up and they bust ya there is no second chance. Very difficult to say the least. It makes me wonder if silent birds have learned this no gobbling making no sounds as a result of hunting pressure or to avoid predators?

Silent bird is tough. It's gonna happen! If you can figure his roost area go in close, uphill or at least level with him. SOFT tree yelps. Maybe one flydown cackle once u r sure its pass flydown . Then shut up and watch. Occasional leaf rake. Need a really good setup in the shadows with cover. Soft calls which seem soft to us can be heard by turkeys 100 yards or more. Excellent late season call is Lynch Jet Slate, soft continuous clucks for a full minute. Listen for him drumming, he finds a nesting hen that way more often than not if he knows she is there. Knowing where a hen is nesting can be killer info.

Thank you! Sounds like good solid information. Learning lots buts it's more from making mistakes.

Mistakes are ok when it comes to turkey hunting, means you are having encounters to learn from.

Silent birds are what keep me up at night. They are absolutely no fun to hunt and will make you go crazy. A silent bird that uses the center of a huge field is the devils spawn.