When to start scouting?

[younggun308]

When in March do the birds tend to fall into their spring patterns?

Last year I unexpectedly got repatriated to TN on March 24th (thanks COVID Zoom work), and got to hunt turkey season for the first time in awhile. Obviously at that point turkeys were in breeding mode and very "scout-able," but now that I'm back for good, I want to know when to start trying to pattern the birds themselves. I figure with TN being an "East-West" state, there shouldn't be much variation across the state in when winter flocks break up, pecking orders start getting established, and gobbling activity picks up.

 

[megalomaniac]

In middle TN...

Birds will be on winter habitat in large flocks until the 1st-2nd weeks of March, when they begin to break up into subflocks and disperse.

Those subflocks then break up into individual breeding groups and satellite bachelor groups of toms or jakes around the first week of April.

Hens become receptive and start seeking nesting habitat mid April, which may cause another small shift in populations.

When to start scouting depends on the individual property. I've hunted places that had zero birds until mid April. I've also hunted places that kept birds year round. I usually start listening for roost gobbling 2 weeks before season opens to get a general idea of what is where... but it isn't necessary, I just like listening to them.

 

[Safari Hunt]

Yesterday? I have seen turkeys on the way to the school where I'm an archery coach. Trying to get up the nerve to stop and ask for permission to hunt the farm.

 

[Setterman]

Scouting does more harm than good. show up, listen for them and make a plan.

I guess if your plan is to sit in a tent with a decoy than maybe it helps, but why would anyone hunt that way

 

[TheLBLman]

In middle TN...

Birds will be on winter habitat in large flocks until the 1st-2nd weeks of March, when they begin to break up into subflocks and disperse.

Those subflocks then break up into individual breeding groups and satellite bachelor groups of toms or jakes around the first week of April.

Hens become receptive and start seeking nesting habitat mid April, which may cause another small shift in populations.

When to start scouting depends on the individual property. I've hunted places that had zero birds until mid April. I've also hunted places that kept birds year round. I usually start listening for roost gobbling 2 weeks before season opens to get a general idea of what is where... but it isn't necessary, I just like listening to them.

Great post, my general experience as well.
Would add, some Toms seem to remain "paired" the entire season,
and I've commonly killed a "double" with a hunting partner on all dates of the season.

Also, when hunting with a partner, either together or in close proximity,
if either of you kills a bird, keep still, stay put for at least a half hour (if possible). We have commonly killed a 2nd Tom, coming from the opposite direction, soon or within an hour of the 1st. The gunshot itself typically will not spook a nearby bird, but your standing up or moving will.

 

[TheLBLman]

Scouting does more harm than good. show up, listen for them and make a plan.

I'm in general agreement with that.

As to sitting in a tent, some properties (perhaps most on private land in TN) are so small that your actual hunting does the same harm as the "scouting" you're speaking. On small properties, hunting from a blind can be the least intrusive method for keeping local birds on the property.

Setterman, how do you feel about hunting from a "tent" WITHOUT using any decoys?

I know you and I disagree on the effectiveness of decoys, but IMO, for an accomplished turkey hunter, they are generally more disadvantage than advantage. I've experimented with them, sometimes hunt from a "tent", but generally do not use decoys any more.

I do know we agree on the most enjoyable way to turkey hunt, but "run & gun" over miles of territory is not a way many people can hunt small properties without running off their birds. Perhaps "hunting" a small property is not really turkey hunting, but it's the closest opportunity many have to experience some of what we love about turkey hunting.

 

[younggun308]

I hunt public, so I need to figure out where birds are, away from where the bulk of the pressure is going to come. Don't want to be fumbling in the dark getting flashed by other people wondering if I'm where the birds are or where they ain't. I want to be deep on the property already while the other guys have barely entered it to listen for the first gobbles.

 

[TheLBLman]

I hunt public, so I need to figure out where birds are, away from where the bulk of the pressure is going to come.

Good luck with that.
I'm often finding some of the less pressured spots are closer to highways than a long walk into the woods. There are many, MANY "thinking" just like you, and sometimes, the more remote areas become the "spots" the most hunters are concentrated.

Outside the Cherokee National Forest, there are very few public places where any "spot" you seek is over a mile from a place you can park a truck. A mile, or two, is little deterrent to most young turkey hunters

 

[timberjack86]

I hunt public, so I need to figure out where birds are, away from where the bulk of the pressure is going to come. Don't want to be fumbling in the dark getting flashed by other people wondering if I'm where the birds are or where they ain't. I want to be deep on the property already while the other guys have barely entered it to listen for the first gobbles.

I'm guessing you hunt South Cherokee. Forest service rds are your friend.

 

[younggun308]

I'm guessing you hunt South Cherokee. Forest service rds are your friend.

I hope they've fixed them from last spring's gulleywasher. Had driven half an hour to get to a spot and were only several more miles away, only to find all the dirt around a culvert had washed away. Too far to walk.

 

[Setterman]

I'm in general agreement with that.

As to sitting in a tent, some properties (perhaps most on private land in TN) are so small that your actual hunting does the same harm as the "scouting" you're speaking. On small properties, hunting from a blind can be the least intrusive method for keeping local birds on the property.

Setterman, how do you feel about hunting from a "tent" WITHOUT using any decoys?

I know you and I disagree on the effectiveness of decoys, but IMO, for an accomplished turkey hunter, they are generally more disadvantage than advantage. I've experimented with them, sometimes hunt from a "tent", but generally do not use decoys any more.

I do know we agree on the most enjoyable way to turkey hunt, but "run & gun" over miles of territory is not a way many people can hunt small properties without running off their birds. Perhaps "hunting" a small property is not really turkey hunting, but it's the closest opportunity many have to experience some of what we love about turkey hunting.

Tents iMO should be removed. Even if hunting small tracts. It just makes hiding too easy, you can do jumping jacks and birds won't spook. That to me is an unfair advantage

I really don't agree with run and gun, the walking calling looking for a receptive bird really has negative impacts on large or small tracts in my opinion.

I do not think most people realize how many birds they bump, roaming all over the place. So many birds are silent, henned up or whatever and get bumped by the run and gunners.

a far better tactic and one that has served me well, is to hang in areas near where you hear birds on the limb, and wait for them to tip their hand on their location. Not sitting and calling, but just sitting and listening. its amazing how many times a workable bird will crack off allowing you to pinpoint and move into an ideal position.

I have sat for hours waiting for a bird I know is around to free gobble, when he does, I will close and repeat the waiting until I'm in what I consider the best position before making a sound. It takes immense patience, but it flat out works and leaves birds less pressured than the run and gun tactic which I do not like especially if you want vocal birds late season

 

[megalomaniac]

I hope they've fixed them from last spring's gulleywasher. Had driven half an hour to get to a spot and were only several more miles away, only to find all the dirt around a culvert had washed away. Too far to walk.

That's exactly where scouting comes into play... not for the birds themselves, but for access points to where birds SHOULD be come season.

 

[timberjack86]

I hope they've fixed them from last spring's gulleywasher. Had driven half an hour to get to a spot and were only several more miles away, only to find all the dirt around a culvert had washed away. Too far to walk.

I know where your talking about I think. It got me deer hunting, we just changed our plans and went somewhere else. I'm talking about gated service rds. The ones over a mile long are nice and I never see anyone that far in. I also use onx maps, love that you can use them without service

 

[TheLBLman]

I do not think most people realize how many birds they bump, roaming all over the place. So many birds are silent, henned up or whatever and get bumped by the run and gunners.

a far better tactic and one that has served me well, is to hang in areas near where you hear birds on the limb, and wait for them to tip their hand on their location. Not sitting and calling, but just sitting and listening. its amazing how many times a workable bird will crack off allowing you to pinpoint and move into an ideal position.

I have sat for hours waiting for a bird I know is around to free gobble, when he does, I will close and repeat the waiting until I'm in what I consider the best position before making a sound. It takes immense patience, but it flat out works and leaves birds less pressured than the run and gun tactic which I do not like especially if you want vocal birds late season

I totally agree with this.
Just saying that many who are using "tents", are doing so mainly during those long waits, just waiting for a bird to free gobble.

 

[philsanchez76]

I totally agree with this.
Just saying that many who are using "tents", are doing so mainly during those long waits, just waiting for a bird to free gobble.

Yes! I was just listening to the Southern Outdoorsman podcast yesterday and they has a guy who does GPS studies on turkeys. They also place GPS trackers on volunteer hunters so they can track the interactions. Data showed that hunters were within 50 yards of birds multiple times in their hunts but after interviewed never reported seeing or hearing any birds! So yeah, I think we bump them a lot without ever even knowing it. Really interesting stuff.

 

[Granddaddy]

I hunt public, so I need to figure out where birds are, away from where the bulk of the pressure is going to come. Don't want to be fumbling in the dark getting flashed by other people wondering if I'm where the birds are or where they ain't. I want to be deep on the property already while the other guys have barely entered it to listen for the first gobbles.

Yes if you are planning to hunt natl forest or other large public tracts with limited access, it is key to your success to scout prior to your planned hunt to confirm access & also within a couple of weeks to locate gobbling birds to narrow down where you intend to hunt. Even so it is not surprising sometimes to have the forest service close some accesses without notice so I like to roost birds if possible the evening before I hunt.

 

[catman529]

Birds are still flocked up, so right now I'm just learning some new ground and looking for any kind of sign. It won't tell me where the birds will be come April, but it tells me the lay of the land and if there are birds in the area. I walked 9.7 miles yesterday and found some birds and covered some great hill country. Now I will have to see what the hunting pressure is like. It's hard to say how bad it will be until opening day. But I always enjoy a change of scenery.

Give it about 3 weeks and I'll start doing some listening for roost gobbles.

 

[catman529]

Yes! I was just listening to the Southern Outdoorsman podcast yesterday and they has a guy who does GPS studies on turkeys. They also place GPS trackers on volunteer hunters so they can track the interactions. Data showed that hunters were within 50 yards of birds multiple times in their hunts but after interviewed never reported seeing or hearing any birds! So yeah, I think we bump them a lot without ever even knowing it. Really interesting stuff.

Alabama turkeys are the worst during the later part of the season. I was in multiple gobblers the last 2 weekends of season and they wouldn't talk or show face but once in a while. One of them stayed in the hollow right behind my truck, and I bumped him a few times while walking the logging road. I hate deer hunting turkeys, but that may have been the only way I would have killed one.

 

[philsanchez76]

Alabama turkeys are the worst during the later part of the season. I was in multiple gobblers the last 2 weekends of season and they wouldn't talk or show face but once in a while. One of them stayed in the hollow right behind my truck, and I bumped him a few times while walking the logging road. I hate deer hunting turkeys, but that may have been the only way I would have killed one.

Thats exactly what I felt like I was doing all season last year. I am going to try to turkey hunt turkeys this year instead of deer hunting them.

 

[Layne]

I agree I hate to deer hunt turkeys so that's why I continue to bump them... I'm sure I bump far more than I see but it's how I enjoy hunting them. I do believe that there are a lot more silent birds than vocal ones, I've watch birds many times never make a sound as they worked towards me even when called to.