I have been hunting a property all season (about 90 acres in Chilton County) and really have only been in the game one rainy day. On the rainy day I had hens working in the timber and then two other birds out in the field. Other than that day, I hear gobbles way off the property but really no action on it. The birds appear to be gobbling from another patch of timber across a large cow pasture that adjoins the property to the west. Any tips/tricks for the last few weeks of the season to change luck? It seems that they certainly use the property on occasion but it is mostly a pass through property. What is the best approach in this situation?
I am new to turkey hunting but I am really invested in learning and trying to figure these birds out. There's nothing better than being in the woods as they wake up!
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393766 04/19/2108:42 AM04/19/2108:42 AM
Yeah next season I will try to find different land or try to figure out public. This is my first season hunting hard for turkeys and I was lucky enough to gain access to my bosses land. I'm just trying to see if I can make it happen this year with what I have.
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393780 04/19/2108:59 AM04/19/2108:59 AM
Hear gobbling....get as close to it as you are able....call to them and hope they're lonely.
*disclaimer: I've killed 3 birds in 8 seasons of hunting, and the first 2 weren't until the end of S6, so you should probably disregard any advice I post*
Last edited by GomerPyle; 04/19/2109:01 AM.
There are 3 certainties in an uncertain world:
1. All Politicians Are Liars 2. All Gun Laws Are an Infringement 3. Taxation Is Theft
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: GomerPyle]
#3393782 04/19/2109:05 AM04/19/2109:05 AM
The birds appear to be gobbling from another patch of timber across a large cow pasture that adjoins the property to the west.
at this point in the season -- i would setup on your side of the line, right on the edge of this pasture, with a jake decoy in front (visible by anything in the pasture) & a hen behind it & you positioned on the jake ... cutt like hell with a box call as soon as you believe they've hit the ground, and if they gobble to you, cutt like hell again -- if they gobble to your second cutt, cutt like hell to them a third time, and then shut up & be patient ... yelp every now & again w/that same box ... before you begin any of this, recite this prayer word for word - "Lord, thank you for your blessings & grace; pls Lord, just send me a dumb one - you can have all of the smart ones; thank you, Lord!"
are there cows in the pasture?
try to sound like the hen in this video:
Last edited by BamaGuitarDude; 04/19/2110:17 AM.
ALDeer physics: for every opinion, there's an equal & opposite opinion
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: GomerPyle]
#3393833 04/19/2109:50 AM04/19/2109:50 AM
Also - maybe since it is a pass through - it more of a 10 am spot - not as fun as first light but May be best chance
One of my areas are only 80 - want more but that what I got
Next season - u hav a few options - plant some chufla in pasture if u are allowed this June r early July or put out about 100 pounds of cracked corn next February and see if they find it - if they do and it gone quick - put 2 more bags out bout 22 days before season - should be gone 10 days before season if they hit the February bags quick - that may hold them on your place more they like to strut on open areas like the pasture u mention Start listening from the gate before next season - or in a spot they can’t see u and see if u can figure out where they at and where they like to go - don’t bump them r spook them - season starts - get where they want to b and if it in open pasture - hav a decoy - avian x and Dave smith make great looking hen and Jake
Hunt the wind - leave it better than you found it - love your neighbor as you love your self We need prayer for our country now more than ever
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393858 04/19/2110:15 AM04/19/2110:15 AM
TDog thanks for the next season help, I do have pasture but will need approval. The corn is likely not an option since there is a person that deer hunts the property. Do you recommend chufa over clover? Clover seems to be easier/more resilient, but is chufa work the extra work?
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393892 04/19/2110:54 AM04/19/2110:54 AM
Hahaha it is a BIGGGG pasture no way I'm running without being shot by the landowner.
BamaGuitarDude, I really appreciate the advice and yes there are cows in the pasture
alright, well - that's not a deal breaker if they've been in the pasture for a while - maybe they'll be away from the action long enough to allow a bird to come running over to you ... try not to spook the damn cows - if they get to snorting & stomping around & running & acting stupid, it can mess you up ... sometimes when you call aggressively, the crazy things can act all stupid on you ... mama's w/calves are the worse about this - but usually there's one crazy one in the bunch LOL i've had 'em REALLY go all stupid after a shot LOL get your bird & get the hell out of there, if you get lucky enough to kill one
Saturday, i had a bunch of dang doe stomping & blowing & acting all stupid on me -- had to get up & run the stupid things off TWICE & then wait a LONG time for things to settle down ... all manner of things are there to mess up a turkey hunt ... you just gotta be super patient
Last edited by BamaGuitarDude; 04/19/2111:14 AM.
ALDeer physics: for every opinion, there's an equal & opposite opinion
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393915 04/19/2111:23 AM04/19/2111:23 AM
I remember one of my first hunts for Osceolas we had a gobbler on a fence line that was heading our way but a damn cow noticed us and was very clearly agitated. The gobbler noticed the cow and the cows agitation/stare at us and that was enough for him to never come within gun range. The jakes did not care and came in by the bunches but the damn gobbler just sat back in the other field strutting with what felt like a big ole middle finger.
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393921 04/19/2111:32 AM04/19/2111:32 AM
I remember one of my first hunts for Osceolas we had a gobbler on a fence line that was heading our way but a damn cow noticed us and was very clearly agitated. The gobbler noticed the cow and the cows agitation/stare at us and that was enough for him to never come within gun range. The jakes did not care and came in by the bunches but the damn gobbler just sat back in the other field strutting with what felt like a big ole middle finger.
yup! cows can be very aggravating - but there ain't nothin' you can do about that ... this cutt 3 times w/cows around worked for a newb hunter i went with to help him kill his 1st bird many moons ago - the bird we were working (could see in a pine tree across a huge pasture, gobbling) isn't the one that died that day - another one ran to us from behind & got right in front of my buddy's gun LOL ... it was a good lesson - ALL birds are hearing your calling so be on alert
thankfully the cows were away from all of this, so it worked out Ok that day
ALDeer physics: for every opinion, there's an equal & opposite opinion
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Re: Frustrated/Confused Hunter Advice?
[Re: MGHunts]
#3393925 04/19/2111:35 AM04/19/2111:35 AM
If u hav hogs - they will get your chufla - but chufla can work if hogs not there to get it - but I never planet w cows
BGD gives good advice - just put the slip r sneak past cows
Remember not to move if u see gobbler they will b able to see u and if it first lite - be hid before u make any calls
I would want to keep a check on that pasture at different hours in morning without spooking birds to see when they may b using pasture before season - maybe even use a game camera - I Would think they hitting pasture sometime
Throw out bag chops feb 12-16 after deer goes out - see if they find it
Hunt the wind - leave it better than you found it - love your neighbor as you love your self We need prayer for our country now more than ever