BRUNCH-TIME GOBBLERS
More on Mid-Morning Gobblers
 EDITOR'S
NOTE: You’ll find several tactics and situations
highly productive for mid-morning gobbler hunting. Let’s
look at some.
If You Find A Gobbler with Hens:
If you've called to a gobbler and heard a hen calling
also, even though he may gobble to you every time you
call to him, more than likely you'll find that tom henned-up.
After cutting and cackling and trying to call either
the gobbler or the hen to you, but failing to do so,
then quietly slip out of the area. Before you leave,
use your GPS receiver to mark the spot as a waypoint
to enable you to find your way back. Later in the morning
after you've attempted to take another turkey, come
back to that same site, and start cutting and cackling
with the same call you've used in the morning. Often
by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m.,  especially
late in the season, hens will leave their gobbler. Then
that turkey will come back looking for that aggressive
hen he's heard calling to him earlier in the morning.
When You Chase a Gobbler Too Far:
Often a tom not with a hen will walk away from you as
you call to him. Although you may circle the bird, change
up your calling, and use every trick you know, the bird
still will keep going away from you until he finally
shuts up. With your GPS receiver, mark the spot where
you've last called to the bird. Then leave that section
of the woods, and go hunt another turkey. Later in the
morning, slip back quietly as possible to that last
spot where you've called to the turkey. Sit down, give
some soft yelps, and take a nap if you don't hear the
bird gobbling. Often a mature gobbler that has experienced
plenty of hunter pressure will return to the spot where
he's last heard a hen when he thinks all the hunters
have left the woods. Expect this gobbler to come in
either drumming or totally  silent.
Because this turkey looks for a hunter as well as a
hen, he'll likely come in hush-mouthed if he returns
to you. You'll find patience your biggest ally. In states
that permit the use of decoys, set out a decoy before
you start calling. If a tom turkey can see what he believes
to be a hen in the area where he's heard hens calling,
he'll come to you more willingly.
When Birds Don't Gobble, Continue to Hunt:
Many times turkeys won't go as far or move as much as
you think they will. At about 8:00 or 9:00 a.m., most
gobbling turkeys have quit gobbling. I believe gobbling
must take a lot of energy, just like singing does. Perhaps
turkeys that have gobbled and bred all morning simply
will take a break, be quiet and loaf. Let's face the
fact that breeding's hard work for an ole gobbler. Although
a turkey will remain in the same area where he's gobbled,
he'll stay quiet in the middle of the day. Follow the
same lead: quit calling for 45 minutes to an hour, stay
in place, and take a nap or sit still. About  every
45 minutes, give a few short soft yelps, and go back
to sleep. Usually, the turkey will start gobbling on
his own around 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. When he does, just
continue to give a few short, soft yelps to let the
gobbler know you haven't gone anywhere. If that tom
knows a hen has stayed in his area that hasn't come
to him, he'll often go to her to investigate. Then you'll
have the opportunity to take the shot.
TOMORROW: YOU CAN OUTLAST TOMS
|
