Calling All Turkeys!

[BigN]

Turkey season just opened here so I was able to get out this morning bright and early. I got a nice box call and have been practicing with it for several months in anticipation of this season. Apparently it's so effective that instead of turkeys responding, I got coyotes. Coyote after coyote after coyote today came in to that call. I'm an avid coyote hunter here in the winter but the season has ended so I respect the fact that they're having pups now and I'll let them be until this October when it opens again. I had 2 standing broadside at about 50 yards. The third was about 20 feet from my position, just trotting and stopping and smelling, searching for that damn turkey that was making all that noise! It was nice just to sit and watch what they do at such a close range. Had I had my camera, I could have gotten some beautiful photos. I'll take the camera tomorrow when I go again and even though I may not see any turkeys, I'm always thankful to be fortunate enough to observe nature and their calling close up...

 

[jbkebert]

Its cool when yotes come into a turkey call. I started using a Dave Smith decoy and its been rolled three times now by coyotes. I have also had yotes come in to a fawn bleat during deer season.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I've been 4 times.

1st time spooked one walking into the woods (not sure of sex) I heard gobblers far off, but they were across a field.

2nd time...may have heard one a couple of times, but it would have been VERY far off

3rd time called in two gobblers at the same time from different directions. One didn't gobble until he was right on top of me. Never saw him and he must have spooked. Second came in about 5 minutes later never had a clear shot...as I was waiting for him to appear around a log, I glance back in front of me and see 5 or 6 jakes (2 inch beard max,but they were BIG birds) standing 25 yards away from me eying my decoy and eying me. I should have just tried a shot, but they were right on top of each other, didn't want to hit more than 1 or risk 1 being a hen. They never spooked but they slowly walked away.

4th time...that was this morning. Started out with a barred owl call and heard nothing...but I got a couple of barred owls all stirred up. Called in 3 in a group. Two of them were gobbling, they were full grown, I saw them go into full strut several times. They were across a creek closest they got was about 30 yards, but it was too thick. I had plenty of really clear shots, but they were about 60-70 yards by then...too far for my comfort with a shotgun and #4 shot. They never would cross that creek but kept on walking away when I didn't move to them...then the barred owls got stirred up again and I never heard a gobble the rest of the day. I decided to relocate across the creek. Called in a hen, she was really cutting, putting and purring at me. She got to within about 7 yards and circled around me for about half an hour. Stayed within eye sight of me for over an hour.

I use a triple glass call by the way...need to learn diaphragm so I can keep my hands free and keep movement down when the come in