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Turkey hunting is tough! #7258557
05/05/21 10:04 PM
05/05/21 10:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline OP
trapper
Law Dog  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Bad year Central MO was a bust numbers were way down out of 5 of us my buddies wife got a Jake the other day and that guys a caller. On my 4th trip to the Black Hills now it has snowed/rained about every day I’ve been here just stopped raining again. The MO hens were on the nests but here the hens are still roosting with the gobblers. The only shots I could of taken were ditch birds in WY and it’s not legal and not fun for me.

Seen100s of birds in the Hills this last 4 weeks no shortage there some gobbling but the flocks are sticking together, lots of jakes just hope the next winter stays mild. Lots of hunters not seeing much either ran into TX, WI, MN, MS, FL, GA that I can remember. Put on 222 miles the other day seen 2 jakes, walked ridge road that had 2 flocks on it a week ago not a track a week later.

1 prairie tag to fill when I get home but that looks like rain the first 1/2 of the week. Worked some birds today at sunup had a sandy colored predator going through the junipers not sure if it was a yote or a cat but it moved along, I moved spots to let it know I was there. Seen large groups of elk everyday so far this trip.

WY road bird seen 3 groups like that last week during a snow storm.

[Linked Image]


Last edited by Law Dog; 05/05/21 10:08 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258558
05/05/21 10:06 PM
05/05/21 10:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,536
fayette,al.
G
grisseldog Offline
trapper
grisseldog  Offline
trapper
G

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,536
fayette,al.
Hang in there like a rusty fish hook

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258563
05/05/21 10:10 PM
05/05/21 10:10 PM
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 825
SD
B
Bison88 Offline
trapper
Bison88  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 825
SD
You are sure getting to enjoy a lot of nice scenery!

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Bison88] #7258606
05/05/21 10:52 PM
05/05/21 10:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline OP
trapper
Law Dog  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Bison88
You are sure getting to enjoy a lot of nice scenery!



Getting a little old to be hiking these mountains. LOL


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258636
05/05/21 11:44 PM
05/05/21 11:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,179
Priest River, Idaho USA
S
SundanceMtnMan Offline
trapper
SundanceMtnMan  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,179
Priest River, Idaho USA
Hit one with a rock two nights ago and I'm not that good of a shot. It took about ten rocks to finally hit it and run it off. I m out of spring tags or it would have gone in the freezer. You are hunting the wrong states. grin


"They Say Nothing is Impossible,
But, I Do Nothing Every Day."
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258651
05/06/21 12:28 AM
05/06/21 12:28 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
D
DWC Offline
trapper
DWC  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
Headin to Nebraska on Friday and cannot wait. All private stuff and last I talked to the guy ( my buddy and i take turns getting ahold of him so its been a couple years) we were the only ones allowed to go. If i have an early opportunity im gonna see if my buddy will shoot first or screw it up in purpose. I dont want it over too soon.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258679
05/06/21 05:26 AM
05/06/21 05:26 AM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
In the airport now heading towards NM. Stop off in Atlanta then to El Paso to get a car to drive up to the Lincoln National Forest.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7258782
05/06/21 09:34 AM
05/06/21 09:34 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 673
Southern Wisconsin
F
Fishdog One Offline
trapper
Fishdog One  Offline
trapper
F

Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 673
Southern Wisconsin
I applied for an antelope tag west of Newcastle, what was the late storms like as far as winter kill on pronghorns.


Born twice, die once
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Fishdog One] #7258989
05/06/21 05:41 PM
05/06/21 05:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline OP
trapper
Law Dog  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Fishdog One
I applied for an antelope tag west of Newcastle, what was the late storms like as far as winter kill on pronghorns.



Nothing crazy in fact they said they lacked snow for the snowmobiles but then got plenty in April I was pushing 14 inches a few weeks ago but it did not last with the warm days and rain. Seen a few antelope on a trip over to Newcastle just last month they should be fine.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259009
05/06/21 06:06 PM
05/06/21 06:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline OP
trapper
Law Dog  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
No shortage of birds in the Hills and not all that many hunters but your seeing more on the weekends now, seen my first side by side today on the WY side and the local camp guys showed up on the SD side with a couple military guys I scout for, but plenty of room out there. Most guys scouting rather then out calling, first you locate then work the next AM.

The biggest issue here is the birds had a screwy winter they are way off cycle they are all grouped up now hens, gobblers and jakes still hanging together and have yet to disperse across the countryside. So scouting is tough as they have no reason to travel they have everything they need as a flock. Hens still in the trees at fly down they should be on the nests weeks ago.

I have a tag for a county south of me to fill that’s a place if you go to in April and the birds are still in the thick hillsides then in May they are all over the open fields after dispersal.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259080
05/06/21 07:58 PM
05/06/21 07:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
M
Moosetrot Offline
trapper
Moosetrot  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,142
Wisconsin
Law Dog-Had a really slow day here in western Wisconsin today. Heard one gobble about 9 a.m., way off in the distance and that is all I heard all day. No shots heard at all.

Moosetrot

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Moosetrot] #7259087
05/06/21 08:10 PM
05/06/21 08:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline OP
trapper
Law Dog  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Moosetrot
Law Dog-Had a really slow day here in western Wisconsin today. Heard one gobble about 9 a.m., way off in the distance and that is all I heard all day. No shots heard at all.

Moosetrot



Been a lot of that this year I’ve been to the Hills 4X heard very few shots everyplace I’ve been to.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259109
05/06/21 08:40 PM
05/06/21 08:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,102
7mtns of CENTRAL PA
GROUSEWIT Offline
trapper
GROUSEWIT  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,102
7mtns of CENTRAL PA
Buddy finally closed the deal on this eastern this morning! Bird won Tues and Wed but lost this morning!!

IMG_0406.jpg

NRALIFER,PRPA LIFER,HUNTER,FURTAKER
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259136
05/06/21 09:19 PM
05/06/21 09:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 154
West Virginia
C
Choo Offline
trapper
Choo  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 154
West Virginia
Been a terrible season here as well, about to head to krogers so I can put a bird in the freezer.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259137
05/06/21 09:19 PM
05/06/21 09:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,213
central Missouri
B
Bigfoot Offline
trapper
Bigfoot  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,213
central Missouri
Monday I gave permission to a friend on my farm . I hunted with him until 8:am then showed him the property boundaries and went to work . When i got home I had turkey breast in my refrigerator . That gentleman sure knows how to show appreciation.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7259890
05/08/21 02:00 AM
05/08/21 02:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
D
DWC Offline
trapper
DWC  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
Had our first encounter today 1/2 hr in (about noon) with three toms came in silent. My buddy whiffed a 37 yard shot. Got around on them (i think was same birds) about 2 hours later and they were gobblin their heads off. One came in to 52 or so yards, didnt feel comfortable. Full strut for a while starin us down then walked off with another tom and they met up with two hens. Headin back to the pickup we hear some gobblin across the road and spotted two struttin on the hillside 600 yards away. My absolute favorite thing to do turkey hunting is call them in from a loooong ways while watching them. More fun than hearin them gobble 60 yards away but cant see them. Ive pulled two birds 1/2 mile plus to 15 yards. Its a rush. These particular toms were pretty fired up seemed like anything i did made them sound off. Finally i raised the turkey fan i carry inside my folding seat and that did it. They dropped out of strut and were comin steady. Im fully convinced they were gonna come right into our laps when the farmer showed up to plant the field right below us, and in between us and the birds. That turned them. Pretty good action. Back at it sunday.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7260552
05/08/21 11:02 PM
05/08/21 11:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 328
Province of Ontario, Canada
H
Hunter 1 Offline
trapper
Hunter 1  Offline
trapper
H

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 328
Province of Ontario, Canada
We have a very healty population here in Ontario and very little hunting pressure. I tagged my second gobbler today and was fortunate enough to pick the birds I wanted to bag. Will be guiding my son until the end of season and hopefully he can fill his first tag.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7260556
05/08/21 11:28 PM
05/08/21 11:28 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 551
Maine
A
andrews1958 Offline
trapper
andrews1958  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 551
Maine
I have only been once. The first day of the season, I woke up early in the morning and walked and sat on the edge of a field. When walking in I heard a turkey gobble in the woods. I sat quite for a few minutes and turned on my FoxPro caller. The turkey came right in and I shot him at 10 yards. The whole hunt took about 15 minutes.

Maybe it would have been a bit more of a challenging hunt if I had used a hand call?

Last edited by andrews1958; 05/08/21 11:31 PM.
Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7260571
05/09/21 12:01 AM
05/09/21 12:01 AM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
D
DWC Offline
trapper
DWC  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
Birds are either in the mood to come in when called to or they arent. Theyre either in the mood to gobble or theyre not. I dont think any turkey is unable to be called. Maybe your window of opportunity is smaller on the old birds having dumb moments. After hearing several live hens call, i think most “pro” callers sound better to our ears than the real thing. Now off to bed so i can fill my tag tomorrow.

Re: Turkey hunting is tough! [Re: Law Dog] #7260607
05/09/21 05:24 AM
05/09/21 05:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,172
Wyoming County Pa.
Hornady Reloader Offline
trapper
Hornady Reloader  Offline
trapper

Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 3,172
Wyoming County Pa.
Our birds are few and far between.

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