Temperature?

[Robtattoo]

Is turkey behavior affected by temperature?
I'm planning on going for my second hunt this Sunday morning & it looks like the temperature will be dropping 20 or so degrees. Should I expect this to change anything?

 

[poorhunter]

Usually that will increase gobbling on the roost at least, and make it more comfortable to hunt.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

IMO, the "perfect" gobbling morning is 40*, high pressure, and light/no wind early. However, in my experience, when it has been hot/humid and a cold front pushes through, the first morning is often quiet. Seems like the sudden temperature drop shocks their system a little. They acclimate quick, but if I had my pick, I prefer the second cool morning for roost gobbling. But there are no hard-and-fast rules. I've killed hard gobbling turkeys while being pelted by sleet. Don't give up on em if they are quiet on the roost Sunday. Once the sun gets up and they bask in it a little, I bet something will crank up.

 

[REN]

agree with Sportsman. In my experience a huge temp swing in either direction on the first morning can be iffy, and I too prefer the 2nd day. Hot to cold tends to be less impactful then cold to hot and muggy, but again in my experience a huge swing tends to lower gobbling on the first morning especially if the wind is also up.

no such thing as ALWAYS in the turkey woods though so wont know unless you are out there.

 

[Andy S.]

IMO, the "perfect" gobbling morning is 40*, high pressure, and light/no wind early. However, in my experience, when it has been hot/humid and a cold front pushes through, the first morning is often quiet. Seems like the sudden temperature drop shocks their system a little. They acclimate quick, but if I had my pick, I prefer the second cool morning for roost gobbling.

Ditto! With that said, many times, I'll be out there the first morning just to see what they do.

 

[Robtattoo]

Thanks guys.
Sorry for all the dumb questions.

So, if I'm understanding right; the jakes come down off roost first, then the hens, then the Toms. If I'm set up near where they fly down & throw out a couple of clucks, should I just sit tight until the jakes wander off?
Last time I had jakes all over me & shot one pretty much as soon as it got near enough. If that happens again, should I just hold still & will the Toms follow along, or should I try moving?

I'm completely green & I don't have anyone within a few hours to be able to help out 1 on 1!

I know where they're flying down to, but after that, I literally don't have a clue what they do or where they go.

 

[TnKen]

Thanks guys.
Sorry for all the dumb questions.

So, if I'm understanding right; the jakes come down off roost first, then the hens, then the Toms. If I'm set up near where they fly down & throw out a couple of clucks, should I just sit tight until the jakes wander off?
Last time I had jakes all over me & shot one pretty much as soon as it got near enough. If that happens again, should I just hold still & will the Toms follow along, or should I try moving?

I'm completely green & I don't have anyone within a few hours to be able to help out 1 on 1!

I know where they're flying down to, but after that, I literally don't have a clue what they do or where they go.

In my experience, they do whatever they do. Sometimes you can pattern their travel direction, but everyday is different.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

There's obviously a ton of great information here, from some very experienced hunters.

Myself, I'd much prefer the cooler temps- as it's more comfortable.

Good Luck- and Let us know how it goes out there.

 

[megalomaniac]

Turkeys quit being turkeys Mid April. No point in hunting them the last month of the season.

 

[Andy S.]

Turkeys quit being turkeys Mid April.

True for about 19,000 male birds or 60% of the projected season harvest. They were in someone's freezer by the 19th of April.

 

[Jbird22]

I'm hunting every morning with good weather conditions that I possibly can. If they don't gobble then so be it. At the very least, I get to enjoy the sunrise on a pleasant morning!

 

[Kevin Snook]

Thanks guys.
Sorry for all the dumb questions.

So, if I'm understanding right; the jakes come down off roost first, then the hens, then the Toms. If I'm set up near where they fly down & throw out a couple of clucks, should I just sit tight until the jakes wander off?
Last time I had jakes all over me & shot one pretty much as soon as it got near enough. If that happens again, should I just hold still & will the Toms follow along, or should I try moving?

I'm completely green & I don't have anyone within a few hours to be able to help out 1 on 1!

I know where they're flying down to, but after that, I literally don't have a clue what they do or where they go.

If you know where they fly down just set up there and they'll be in your lap-
Seriously tho-are you hearing the big turkeys gobble? Are they answering your calls?
If one answers you then I wouldn't be quite, I'd let him know you're hot and horny.. JMO

 

[Gravey]

When you think they'll gobble they don't and when you have low expectations they do. Only way to know for sure is go.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Turkeys quit being turkeys Mid April. No point in hunting them the last month of the season.

All gobbled out

 

[Robtattoo]

I've had 4 Toms around me, gobbling right off the roost between 5:45 & 6:30.
I did manage to call one towards me, but he lost interest around 6:45ish & well before I saw him.

It's 8:00 now & I can still hear at least 3 gobbles, but they seem like they're a good distance away & sparce. I've moved a few hundred yards in their general direction, to a nice, sunny hillside in the same field that I know 3 birds came to at first light & I've got a hen & Jake decoy out about 35yds in front of me. I'm thinking I should hold tight here, calling, for the rest of the morning & see what's what.

Even if I don't see anything, every time out is a new learning experience for next season!

 

[Robtattoo]

Gotta say, it's really tough being patient in one spot, when I can hear them cracking off in another spot I have access to, less than a half mile away across the valley! The temptation to jog back down to the truck, ditch the decoys & run up the other side is really strong!

 

[Robtattoo]

The yellow line is a logging road through some snarly hardwoods. I'm 100% certain that that exactly where they're gobbling their damn heads off right now! It'll take me 20 minutes to get over there.

Stay put here, or go to them? That's the question!

You can't tell from the pic, but it's almost vertical downhill to the truck, then the same back up to the logging road!

 

[megalomaniac]

Rob, have they answered your call since you repositioned? If so, sit tight. Something wasn't right with your first set up early morn.

If they haven't answered you, cut the distance in half and call again

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Of course everything is dependent on a lot of factors but generally speaking you need to cut the distance as much as you possibly can and get very tight to the point you're worried about spooking them. I kill right at 90% of the birds I set up on, getting in that bubble is key.

 

[Huntaholic]

Im a run and gun type. Id have been gone as soon as I heard them stop and set up in a strut zone. Ditch the decoys, position yourself to where when you can see them you can kill them.

 

[Huntaholic]

If its as steep as you say, getting within range of a roll in the terrain should be easy enough, then call, if they answer you, SHUT UP and get the gun up! Its a LOT easier to over call to a bird than it is to under call. If he hears you once, he knows EXACTLY where you are.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I kill right at 90% of the birds I set up on, getting in that bubble is key.

Yep - getting in that bubble is key

 

[TN Larry]

Personally, I'd have already been over there with them and agree with what Huntaholic said.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

I agree, you have to be as quiet as you can, and it takes a few times before it feels right. As deer hunters, we wanna wait em out, and that's how it has to be done sometimes. Once you gain some experience, you'll be a lot more comfortable moving in on them.
Good Luck!

 

[TnKen]

If they are staying in the same spot gobbling on that logging road I would move to them. I would try and sneak to whichever side of the bend in the logging road opposite of them, assuming you can get there undetected. Once there I would soft call with a some clucks and maybe yelps to get a gobble. Once they know I'm there I would stop calling and wait.

 

[MickThompson]

Ditch the decoys and go. You will learn a whole lot more about turkey hunting

 

[Robtattoo]

Ok. I got up to the logging road & set up about 45 minutes ago (there was a creek crossing which.....ugh. wet balls)

Obviously, they've completely shut up now.

If I'm calling & getting no replies after 30 more minutes or so, should I call it a day?

 

[TnKen]

I would stay and call loud at 30 minute intervals with soft clucks and purrs in between. Be on the lookout for them to come in silent and never gobble. I've killed several birds like that late in the morning.

 

[Robtattoo]

I called it a day at 11:30.

The under brush is as thick as a Warren country special ed class & dripping wet. If something had come in silently, I honestly wouldn't have seen it until it was 20 feet away, at best.

I took the long way round, back to the truck, to avoid another nut drenching. 25 minute hike back & the minute I got my door open, a sodding bird started gobbling up on the ridge

Obviously, I flipped it off.

I'll try again on my next day off! Hell of a fun morning though & very educational!

I can't thank you guys enough for the guidance!

 

[TnKen]

At least you are hearing gobbling and getting to play the game.