megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
Thread about decoys got me thinking... there may be a lot of folks who haven't gotten the concept of setup on a bird after you strike him. Heck, I could probably learn a few things myself. Tricks/tips for set up after you strike a bird?
For myself (a 'run and gunner' style hunter.... looking to cover as much ground as possible as fast as I can to find a lonely hot bird) I never cast a call unless I'm near cover (large tree, dip in the land providing cover, blow down, etc.) Once I strike a bird, I try to immediately assess the situation (distance to bird, any hens or jakes around). If I think he's alone, I'm looking for my setup before I call the 2nd time. General rules...
I want the high ground... much easier for a bird to hang up above you at 75y looking for a hen downhill than if he is below you walking up looking for you.
I want a little cover in front of me, but a LOT of cover behind me... stuff that makes it hard for him to see into looking for that hen, and stuff that makes it tough for him to walk through so flanking me is near impossible
I want the sun to my back. No brainer, but a lot of folks don't think about this until after their butt is on a tree.
I don't give a crap about 'obstacles' between me and the bird. I've called them over rivers, fences, etc.
Most importantly...I don't want the bird to see my position until he is in gun range. He HAS to give my setup one look before he eases off. That one look needs to be 40y or closer for me. Use the terrain (even if it means you have to back up 100y before you hit him with the second call) to put SOMETHING between the two of you. If he can see your setup 75y away and doesn't see the real thing, he likely won't commit to gun range unless he is desperate or stupid (thank God for the desperate and/or stupid birds... they save my seasons). In MS that setup means the head and beard have to clear the rise. In TN, not as important unless you have already whacked a jake.
Once you've done it right... the hardest thing... PATIENCE. Get to the perfect setup, call the second time and he crushes it. He goes silent. Because he is moving. You can't see him because you have the perfect set up and he won't pop out until he is in gun range. You wonder if he is moving away as he hasn't gobbled in 10 minutes... so you peek up... busted. Keep your ass on that tree, if you need to check him with a cluck, fine... but don't move until you hear him gobble going away.
For myself (a 'run and gunner' style hunter.... looking to cover as much ground as possible as fast as I can to find a lonely hot bird) I never cast a call unless I'm near cover (large tree, dip in the land providing cover, blow down, etc.) Once I strike a bird, I try to immediately assess the situation (distance to bird, any hens or jakes around). If I think he's alone, I'm looking for my setup before I call the 2nd time. General rules...
I want the high ground... much easier for a bird to hang up above you at 75y looking for a hen downhill than if he is below you walking up looking for you.
I want a little cover in front of me, but a LOT of cover behind me... stuff that makes it hard for him to see into looking for that hen, and stuff that makes it tough for him to walk through so flanking me is near impossible
I want the sun to my back. No brainer, but a lot of folks don't think about this until after their butt is on a tree.
I don't give a crap about 'obstacles' between me and the bird. I've called them over rivers, fences, etc.
Most importantly...I don't want the bird to see my position until he is in gun range. He HAS to give my setup one look before he eases off. That one look needs to be 40y or closer for me. Use the terrain (even if it means you have to back up 100y before you hit him with the second call) to put SOMETHING between the two of you. If he can see your setup 75y away and doesn't see the real thing, he likely won't commit to gun range unless he is desperate or stupid (thank God for the desperate and/or stupid birds... they save my seasons). In MS that setup means the head and beard have to clear the rise. In TN, not as important unless you have already whacked a jake.
Once you've done it right... the hardest thing... PATIENCE. Get to the perfect setup, call the second time and he crushes it. He goes silent. Because he is moving. You can't see him because you have the perfect set up and he won't pop out until he is in gun range. You wonder if he is moving away as he hasn't gobbled in 10 minutes... so you peek up... busted. Keep your ass on that tree, if you need to check him with a cluck, fine... but don't move until you hear him gobble going away.