Turkey

[Goosemaster]

Box and pot calls for me. When I first started it was diaphragm mouth calls and I did very well with that. Somewhere along the way I developed a gag reflex and the diaphragm calls make we want to puke.

Run & Gun is best with the diaphragm call because it keeps hand and arm movement to a minimum.

I may scout at dark 30, but rarely do I find myself hunting until about 8 or 9 AM. Will do 2-3 sits between say 8 and 2:30. Occasionally will sit in a blind with a good view the last 2 hours of the day. Mostly to pattern the birds but my son has shot one on the last day of the season 10 minutes before sunset ... in the rain.

I start hunting as soon as I can see. Most of the birds I've gotten, I've gotten before 8:00 a.m..

I hunted first 30 years mouth call almost exclusively. I still use them and make my own. Did you ever try cutting them? A buddy also makes em and uses zero tape. Its the metal frame with reeds. I personally use a longbox for locating if I’m using turkey calls, also for roosting birds.
Last year in NH I had a bunch of birds I’d circled around on. I used a mouth call cause I figured I was somewhat close. Nothing….
I grabbed a longbox, cutt on it LOUD trying to reach out to wherever the birds went. Darn things hammered close, I bet woulda been in sighting distance if the ground wasn’t so broken up. Told the guy with me to sit quick. Within seconds birds were in range.
Just a side note for any box call guys. A longbox does everything a short box does plus more. Its way louder yet if you hold the soundboards (sides) it’ll tone down a bit. Same goes for short boxes just more limited

I can't use a mouth call, never could get the hang of that.I prefer a pot call with a wood scratch thing. I also have different types of camo, woods, and field. I prefer hunting in the woods.

 

[Bob Peters]

I got all the calls. I'd say pot calls are my favorite, slate and glass. We had turkeys come in and hang up last year, 3 of them. My buddy whispered "should I call?" I shook my head no, he uses too much volume. I grabbed my pot, and every time the turkeys put their heads down to peck for food, I'd make the absolute quietest clucks and yelps I could. 60 yards away each time the turkeys would look instantly at the decoys. I did this 3 times, always making sure the turkeys were not looking. They came in on a string.

The early am zero dark thirty obviously can work, but the best time to kill a turkey is between 10 and 2. Usually I jump in the woods about 830 or 9am.

 

[Bowguy]

Lots of guys always like mid day. Roost a bird, you’ll be more often than not, done within 45 mins of daylight. I’ve killed birds mid day but I’m usually done much earlier

 

[Goosemaster]

I was wondering if there are any public land bow hunters on here?

 

[gim]

I use a box call.

I hunt from a portable blind that I set up in advance after I've located the roost. Get in there at 5am and stay until whenever.

Sometimes I'll go back early in the evening for a hunt too. Quite often the turkeys I see in the morning that are too far away will all come back later on towards the roost.

 

[Bowguy]

I use a box call.

I hunt from a portable blind that I set up in advance after I've located the roost. Get in there at 5am and stay until whenever.

Sometimes I'll go back early in the evening for a hunt too. Quite often the turkeys I see in the morning that are too far away will all come back later on towards the roost.

Where I live the easterns I hunt will sometimes use the same roost until the first time theyre shot at near it. Theres also farmers bumpimg them out haying a field at dark, coyotes, bobcats, fox, farm dogs or someone riding a dirt bike through area to change things. Nothing is better than the night before roosting. Its the only current info thats fairly reliable and not doing this is why so many have their best times as mid day.
For instance you set uo you think to roost, the birds are 200 yards away but i saw/heard them fly up. Im 60 yards away from him. By the time you think a hunt is about to start you hear a bang.
Next guy walks in. Hears gobbling out yonder. Has to stay back a bit cause the birds are obviously awake. As hes yelping “just letting them know hes there” I was 60 yards away again. They fly down, bang.
Doesnt always work like this but given a choice where would you sit? Where the birds def flew up last night or where you think they will? The next thing is no way no how I’d ever go in that late. Another scenario. Youre wife walks into the room at 1:00am. Youre sound asleep and dont notice. She comes in 1/2hr before you wake. You hear her. Another thing is how many birds gobble way before daylight? A bunch. Theyre awake and can see/hear below them. In the past if i roosted a bird. Id just go home, get my gear and sleep in the woods near him. Now, honestly, 2:30-3:30 dependent on mooight, tree cover etc is as last as id show up to hunt.
Hope that made sense

 

[gim]

Wild turkeys cannot see in the dark, just a FYI. Their vision is top notch in daylight, but they are borderline line blind at night.

I don't set up my blind right on top of the roost. I set it up a ways out. Obviously I'm trying to avoid having to walk right past the roost to get to my blind.

Also, I only hunt private land. So I don't worry about other hunters.

 

[Bowguy]

Wild turkeys cannot see in the dark, just a FYI. Their vision is top notch in daylight, but they are borderline line blind at night.

I don't set up my blind right on top of the roost. I set it up a ways out. Obviously I'm trying to avoid having to walk right past the roost to get to my blind.

Also, I only hunt private land. So I don't worry about other hunters.

Theyre diurnal and have eyes like us. You can def bust them if theyre awake. Def not borderline blind

 

[Goosemaster]

Where I live the easterns I hunt will sometimes use the same roost until the first time theyre shot at near it. Theres also farmers bumpimg them out haying a field at dark, coyotes, bobcats, fox, farm dogs or someone riding a dirt bike through area to change things. Nothing is better than the night before roosting. Its the only current info thats fairly reliable and not doing this is why so many have their best times as mid day.
For instance you set uo you think to roost, the birds are 200 yards away but i saw/heard them fly up. Im 60 yards away from him. By the time you think a hunt is about to start you hear a bang.
Next guy walks in. Hears gobbling out yonder. Has to stay back a bit cause the birds are obviously awake. As hes yelping “just letting them know hes there” I was 60 yards away again. They fly down, bang.
Doesnt always work like this but given a choice where would you sit? Where the birds def flew up last night or where you think they will? The next thing is no way no how I’d ever go in that late. Another scenario. Youre wife walks into the room at 1:00am. Youre sound asleep and dont notice. She comes in 1/2hr before you wake. You hear her. Another thing is how many birds gobble way before daylight? A bunch. Theyre awake and can see/hear below them. In the past if i roosted a bird. Id just go home, get my gear and sleep in the woods near him. Now, honestly, 2:30-3:30 dependent on mooight, tree cover etc is as last as id show up to hunt.
Hope that made sense

No I'm not going to sleep out there.I dont roost birds.I go out at 5. I like it to be starting to getting late so I don't have to use a flashlight.

 

[Goosemaster]

Theyre diurnal and have eyes like us. You can def bust them if theyre awake. Def not borderline blind

I disagree, they can see really well in low light, and even in the dark they can see, they have amazing eyesight. They can spot a hunter in camo from a half mile away or more.