Save me from giving up

[chucky52]

After a number of years of conversing with turkeys, hearing gobbles in several directions, seeing hens and having never, ever had a gobbler in shotgun range, I need help of just give up. I used to shoot with 80 gr. 243 and took several. I have taken them with 22 Mag (a bit light). My two sons and I all have the same issue, they will not come within shotgun range. We are maximizing our efforts... Camo and everything we know to do. Did I say we've been trying for several years? The only thing I can think of is to let the early season go and hope the end of the season results in dumber gobblers. Surely all that sex and fighting wears on them.

I'm thiniking about going to a light rifle i.e. Hornet or 222 (legal in Texas). If that won't work, I'm done. Guidance appreciated.

[Leatherstocking]

Have you tried using decoys? I have found they work very well.

[chucky52]

Might as well try. I never thought they looked that good, any particular type?

[Leatherstocking]

I don't think it matters much. Although turkeys have great eyesight, they are pretty easily fooled. I have an old one - not even sure what kind it is.

[buck460XVR]

You need to be where they want to go. Don't take much of a caller to get Toms to go to places they want to go to or are used to going. Pattern the birds and you may not have to even call to get them within range. But even a champion caller can't call many Toms to someplace they don't want to go. Other than this, you haven't given enough info to discern what may be your problem. Maybe your clucks sound like alarm putts....maybe you're moving too much and being spotted, even with camo Turkeys can spot movement very well. Maybe you aren't calling loud enough....are you sure the birds hear you? Maybe you're calling to much and the birds are hangin' up expecting you to come to them. Many times, once I get a bird to respond, I shut the 'ell up. Have you tried moving away from them and calling to them again?

[SHOOTALL]

call less works sometimes

[tedinwv]

Also trying to put the hunter in front of the caller by about 100 yards or so.  It sounds like the gobblers are hanging up out of shotgun range because they expect the hens to come to them so if you or your son with the call  stays behing the other with the gun then they may hang up about where you are sitting.  Also go out with an experienced hunter that actually harvest's some birds.  He'll be able to give you advice first hand and I don't know one turkey hunter that would turn down that request.  That being said there is no substitue for hunting them hard.  Start before daylight and stay til your State makes you quit and do it for as many days as you can.  I usually put in at least 7 days and may only get one bird in that time.  My wife makes me quit after the first bird so sometimes she doesn't find out about the first one.

[dukkillr]

Do you have a tom decoy?

The biggest key to turkey hunting is to get where they want to be.  That's why I always say that scouting is the most important thing you can do.  You can call like a National Champion and you still wont bring turkeys somewhere they don't want to be.  Firgure out where they want to go, and get there.

[mirage1988]

Be careful using a tom decoy if hunting public land, especially(!) if you hunt in a state that allows rifles. Last thing you want is to get shot by a road hunter. Happened a while back in north dakota goose hunting, a hunter got killed by a poacher shooting at his decoys with a rifle from his vehicle.

[dukkillr]

Be careful using a tom decoy if hunting public land, especially(!) if you hunt in a state that allows rifles. Last thing you want is to get shot by a road hunter. Happened a while back in north dakota goose hunting, a hunter got killed by a poacher shooting at his decoys with a rifle from his vehicle.

The case I believe you are refering to was in Kansas... but good advice...

[mirage1988]

Was it last year in kansas?

[dukkillr]

Yes

http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/12538081.html

[huntswithdogs]

Chuck,
Another thing, on top of the other advice offered, is to learn to regulate your call volume. When I learned to call, nobody bothered telling me about this. If a tom gets inside of 100 yds, screaming at him ain't gonna help! Ya gotta seduce him...call softly. Putts, purrs and soft yelps work best for me...Think back to those little gals in school that kinda ducked their heads and cut those big doe eyes at ya, all the while murmurring under their breath. I don't know about ya'll, but I always had to get closer to hear what she was REALLY saying. Same thing with the gobblers.


PS: The last little gal I listened to, like the above description, I married! Been almost 30 years now. She still mumbles under her breath while cutting her eyes at me. The look and the tone/meaning of the mumbling ain't like they use to be though!




HWD

[JonD.]

PS: The last little gal I listened to, like the above description, I married! Been almost 30 years now. She still mumbles under her breath while cutting her eyes at me. The look and the tone/meaning of the mumbling ain't like they use to be though!
HWD

I know exactly where your coming from here!

[hawkenman]

I'm not the best turkey hunter but I average one per season. What helped me was buying an inflatable hen decoy at WalMart, they look the most realistic to me and the gobblers love them. I place the decoys from 30 to 40 yards out from me (my shotgun will kill at 50 yards +) and once the gobbler answers me I don't call for about 20 minutes, he knows exactly where you're at and is usually coming to you. Patience is your best gift, last week I was calling one and he shutup around 9:30am, at 11:00am I was just fixing to stand up and stretch when I saw him coming to the decoy. He had a 10 inch beard and weighed 19lbs, 7oz. with one inch spurs. And I had one yesterday that I had called to about 100 yrds. from me that would not answer for about 2 hrs.,thinking he had been spooked I got up took about ten steps when he flew right over my head so fast I couldn't get a shot. Good luck and keep trying.

[chucky52]

Thanks, I seemed to be losing out to real hens. Guess I'm giving up to early. I'll change my strategy and pick up a decoy. I'm also hoping they are dumber in late season.

[SHOOTALL]

chucky52 , after considerable thought maybe you should quit ! Unless you don't want the rest of us to have all the fun... I mean pain !
NEVER GIVE UP !