If a subordinate gobbler comes in, and he’s already been beat up by a dominant gobbler, there’s a very good chance that he’s won’t come in and get his head bloodied again. Many times, a turkey won’t come to a decoy, because the hunter has made a mistake in where he’s placed the decoy.
How far away should you put turkey decoys?
15-20 yards
Decoys Are Placed Too Far Away
Solution: Place your decoys 15-20 yards from your location. If a gobbler hangs up at 40, you still have a chance. If this problem persists with the same birds on multiple occasions, stake your decoy behind you where it’s visible to an approaching tom.
Will spooked turkeys come back?
The gobbler wanted to be where you were when you spooked him. So, after he thinks you’re gone, and he hears a hen softly calling, there’s a very good chance he may come back in that direction. Remember — the gobbler has a limited number of days to breed.
Why do gobblers go silent?
In short, the theory goes, we have killed the noisier, more eager toms, leaving the craftier, quieter ones to pass on their genes. That theory sounds good around the campfire, but there is no real evidence or studies to support it, says Ken Duren, wild turkey biologist for the Ohio Division of Wildlife.
What causes turkeys not to gobble?
As the season wears on and breeding winds down, turkeys also tend to gobble less.
When should you not use a turkey decoy?
Don’t Hide your Decoy(s)
Use them in open areas such as field edges, logging roads and sparse timber. If I am working a bird in heavy cover, it’s probably one of the few times I will not put a decoy out. In these situations, the longbeard is searching for my calls and we are in close quarters.
What is the best decoy set up for turkeys?
A single hen is perfect, because it is a nonthreatening setup that doesn’t usually spook less-dominant toms that might otherwise run from a male decoy. In addition, 20-25 yards is well within shotgun range, while still far enough away to avoid drawing undue attention to you.
Should you leave your turkey decoys out?
I wouldn’t leave them out, never know when a trespasser could be mushroom/shed hunting through.. anything that comes in while your gone will be that much more educated..it could burn your spot out and anything could beat on your decoys. Just pack them out, if it’s to much of a bother just use two..
How long should you wait between turkey calls?
Calling every 15 minutes or so and starting off quieter and then getting more aggressive/louder as the day goes on are good rules of thumb. If you hear a hen, try to mimic her exact vocalizations. If she does a soft 4-note yelp, you do the same – if she gets loud, you get loud, too.
What time of day do turkeys dust?
Turkeys also tend to dust around noon to rid themselves of pests, so scout out dusting locations. As female turkeys head back to their nests to care for their young, gobblers quiet down. Many of the noon-time activities carry on into the afternoon. Focus your hunting on turkey loafing areas.
Is it easier to call turkeys uphill or downhill?
…it is generally easier to call a tom uphill or along the same level than it is to call them down hill…but it can be done with the right bird…
Will turkeys come in silent?
Because turkeys are still cruising the woods, even though you’re not hearing gobbles. In my experience, if you don’t kill a tom off the bat it will often come in silent.
How do you call turkeys when they are not gobbling?
Set up your ground blind or hide in natural cover. Make soft hen yelps, and increase the volume until they respond. Once a tom gobbles back, remain quiet or stick to soft, subtle occasional calls. It’s tempting to call back and forth with roosted gobblers, but you’ll usually fare better with silent patience.
Why are turkeys quiet some days?
Even low barometric pressure makes turkeys go quiet; as studies have proven birds gobble more during high-pressure conditions. Often, though, turkey hunters can look in a mirror to see why turkeys go silent.
What time of day are turkeys most active?
General Weather Conditions: As a general rule of thumb, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions including wind and rain. During extremely wet and rainy days, turkeys are neither vocal nor very active.
What time of day do turkeys gobble?
A lot of turkeys, especially old Easterns, will gobble only once or twice in the afternoon, but they’ll come to your calls fast and silently. Afternoon hunting generally peaks from around 2 to 4:30 p.m., but you might as well hunt right up until dark some days. Gobblers love to roost within 50 to 200 yards of hens.
What is the best barometric pressure for turkey hunting?
I have noticed that turkeys seem to gobble best when the barometric pressure is above 30 degrees MB, but keep in mind that they can and will gobble if the pressure is less. The bottomline is that turkeys can be fired up, and killed, in snow, rain, wind, and hurricanes if you are dedicated enough.
How do you make a turkey decoy move?
The basic process involves tying off one end of fishing line to your decoy’s beard or tail and running the line back to your spot. Once you run the line back to your blind, you have the ability to pull on the line to face your decoy in a specific direction or simply add more movement.
How many decoys should I use for turkey hunting?
If I am fall turkey hunting, I will use up to four or five decoys to create a flock, since turkeys are traveling together during that time of the year. How far away from my setup do I place my decoys? I like putting my decoys about 15 to 20 yards away.
Does wind direction affect turkey hunting?
Perhaps the most significant weather condition for turkey hunters, high winds make chasing gobblers a lot more difficult. In the spring, a hunter’s main advantage is the ability to call aggressive gobblers. High winds make this task a lot harder. High winds also make hearing a gobbler’s response difficult.
Does a full moon affect turkey hunting?
They do not, in my experience, howl at the moon, nor turn particularly crazed when it’s full. Barometric pressure seems to affect them much more. On a nice, high-pressure day, they wake up feeling good and gobble more.