Early & Mid Morning Strategies for a gobbler Originally posted 3/06

May 27, 2006

Early Morning Strategies for a gobbler

I look to make my preseason scouting payoff especially the first few days of the turkey season. Prior to the season opening I try to have a good idea where 8-10 gobblers are so I have options to fall back on if pressure or other things happen to keep me from hunting a spot. I’m at my jumping off point, or listening post well before the gobblers wake up hopefully within 200 yards or so of where the gobbler(s) is roosted.

As the gobblers start sounding off I begin trying to pin point where they are and if I’m hearing hens where they are. If possible I will try to close the distance between myself and the gobbler but you have to remember that especially in the early part of the season the lack of foliage increase how far he can see and the likelihood of him busting you. If you hear any hens if possible you want to be between them and the gobbler.

Predicting where that gobbler will go when he pitches off his roost is the $64,000 question. If you’re in the direction he wants to go the turkey gods may be smiling on ya. Calling to a roosted gobbler should be limited, if you call excessive you may actually encourage the gobbler to stay on the roost until that hot hen shows up. This is an easy mistake to make because it is almost intoxicating to have a gobbler respond to your calling. When the gobbler hits the ground now is the time to really try to call him. If you are sitting on his route to his strut zone or the direction the hens are you may get a crack at him. If the hens get to him or he goes out the other direction you maybe needing to figure out another set up. Don’t be to quick to move because sometimes another gobbler may come in looking for some hens. Note all that happened this will be part of your learning curve and you may want to return to this spot latter in the morning to see if the big guy is lonely latter.

Mid Morning
After the initial wake up and gobbling its not unusual for the gobbling to shut off. Looking for gobblers in the strut zones and fields are usually going to be your best bet. . Moving around attempting to get a shock gobble by using a locator call or by cutting with a box call and covering some ground is what lots of folks call “Running and Gunning” If you have a small tract of land this may not be an option for you and taking a stand somewhere maybe more productive. As the morning goes on the more likely the gobblers are going to start losing hens who have gone off to nest. When they get lonely they are more apt to respond to calls. Mid morning is a good time to return to the roost tree and do some calling the gobbler may retrace some of his steps looking for his hens.
A look at decoys next.

Links

http://www.huntingnet.com/staticpages/staticpage_detail.aspx?id=222

http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2003/04/10.htm

http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/1999/04/50.htm

http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/strutzones.htm#top

http://www.bowhunting.net/eMagazine/Articles/2004/ChrisBailey-01.html

http://www.huntingnet.com/staticpages/staticpage_detail.aspx?id=223