help with birds

[Mudranger1]

any suggestions to birds not coming to calls...they are gobbling like crazy in this one area and will respond to my first call and seem to be coming in my direction..then if I call more they go the other way, if I call less they go the other way...been having a ball but it is a little frustrating...tried sitting in the blind the other day instead of chasing them all over the mountains...gobbles and yelps all around but nothing came to see me..then the snow hit

 

[Summitthunting]

What time of day are you hunting?

Are you roosting birds the night before you hunt?

Using Decoys?

What types of calls are you using, what kind of locator?

You've got my number if you want to chat.

 

[Mudranger1]

been any time from before dark till 730 at night....they have been gobbling all day...haven't used anything but a box to locate anything...the other day a crow was calling and they were just answering him pretty much every time... I had decoys out when I set in the blind...been using HS Strut mouth calls for the most part besides my box call...I'm kinda new to this stuff so I'm not sure how far off they are...The other day it sounded like they were less than 50 yards up on a ridge above me but never saw them so I don't know...that same day I had a hen come by and hang out behind me calling and I thought I had the perfect set up...the gobblers flew down and were coming then off they went in the other direction....Have yet to see the gobblers just heard them

 

[arffdog875]

Mudranger, I have been having the same problem, talked to a buddy, he thinks it is the weather, with the cold temps. He thinks when the weather gets better they will start coming in again. Good luck!

 

[Wally Dog]

Mud,
They may in fact be traveling with hens and just have not needed to leave them. I'll bet they come back an hour or two after you leave a calling location to check for that "hen" they heard earlier.
Don't get frustrated with not calling them in from the roost, I rarely have sucess in that scenario ( tho I have and did Saturday morning). They'll spend some time witht the girls for an hour or two in the morning then start cruising for some "strange"
If you have established where they tend to hang out and gooble, that may be a great place to set up a blind and wait for him to visit his strut zone. It's usually a flat or bench or ridge top area. Stay with it, you are in the birds. Word of caution tho, if they are so gobbly they may be attracting other hunters so be aware of your surroundings. Patience and you'll whack one!
WD

 

[Summitthunting]

Sounds like you need a crow call. I like to hunt midday if birds are hened up, if the crow call works use it. Get in on the bird as close as you dare, then turn on the sweet talk. Call soft when you think they are close, and when you think its time to get up and move, wait another 20 minutes. And keep at it, no matter how frustrating it gets.

 

[Black Hills]

Agree with Wally Dog, they are still sticking pretty tight with the hens. they will start cruising more soon.....

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

Yep....I have also had success on birds that don't travel miles by going back to roost area and start calling around 10....they may come back to see if they missed sumthin....usually try to sound like a young hen, not an old raspy boss, call infrequently and then do lost hen call.

 

['Ike']

Hunt them later...Even if hens aren't nesting yet, they tend to hold up during the later morning early afternoon...If you know the area. get close and set-up! You'll get Tom's to leave the hens and see what's out there!

 

[snite66]

snow and rain really hurts turkey hunting, but the secrets are soft calling and patience. being able to sit and wait when you think you should move is the best tool you can have when it comes to turkeys.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Sounds to me like you need to blast them out of the roost at first light.

 

[Oak]

Sounds to me like you need to blast them out of the roost at first light.

Some might see that as unsporting. You trying to get another one-liner added to our regs?

 

[noharleyyet]

...try rattling with smaller sheds.

 

[Mudranger1]

...try rattling with smaller sheds.

I thought about trying to find a muley shed or something...still looking

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

tripping and falling down on a hillside may sound like a fly down and they will land on top of you....be ready!