MarlinSlayer
Well-Known Member
Well yesterday I went to the farm and heard gobbles as soon as I got out of the truck so I abandoned my initial plan and went toward the turkeys. I snuck in and when I thought I got close enough I realized I was no more than 40 yds from the closest roosted gobbler. Maybe 10-15 birds roosted within 50 yds. When they pitched across the creek, of course they moved away because they probably spied me. I only called lightly and on the roost they gobbled their heads off. One bird however, not roosted with the others gobbled a few times and was working his way toward me. He came in fairly quickly closing the last fifty yards in about 5 minutes. He came in from over my left shoulder and I caught a glimpse of his fan in the woods. He was all blown up, wing dragging etc....no longer gobbling, but spitting. As he got 23 yds from me he went behind a tree, so I got my gun up, he popped out slightly different place than what I expected and stared right at me when I adjusted the gun. Before I could pull the trigger, he jumped into the creek and ran off. It was only 7 am. I was still thrilled, called in a woods gobbler and no decoy. Later about 8 am, I worked another gobbler in a different place, but I never saw him. I probably didn't call enough. He lost interest and departed. I've been really trying to lay off the call as I called too much I believe in the last three years I've turkey hunted.
Here is my question. I never heard anything that could sound like drumming, but later in the day, I thought I heard some movement in the woods down a hill. I heard what sounded like a dull bong, like a stick being hit on the inside of a Home Depot bucket about 6-8 times. Is that what drumming sounds like? It was far to close to be someone on adjacent property, and I didn't hear anything to indicate I had trespassers hitting a bucket with a stick. Other times while chasing these dang birds, I've heard a more distinct "bonging" sound. "Bong"....little while later "Bong bong". I've pulled up youtube videos that say you can hear drumming, but I only hear the spit. Anyone have a good link for me to compare?
Also, in the woods on the back of my farm, I detected movement coming my way and watched as a HUGE bobcat made my way. He got real close...mostly brown with no cool discernible bobcat coloring. I am not exaggerating when I say that his body was as big as my big black lab. Obviously the legs were shorter, but his torso was as big around and he was longer...He was super muscular. If it weren't for his stub tail, I would have thought I had seen a cougar (that and slight wisps on the ears). He got abeam of where I was and just for fun I called a little more. He got in a low crouch at 20 yds and tried to get downwind of me. He even looked right where I was and continued the stalk until the wind shifted.....he then strolled off. Very cool. Too bad he was out of season, because I know some will not believe I saw what appeared to be a 60 lb cat. This is in Carrol county....where the "Cougar reports" have been. Maybe they're interbreeding and I saw a Coug-cat.....(Joke). Any help with identifying a drumming sound is appreciated. Also heard the "water-drop" sound when hens were near.....
All in all an awesome day. I did go back to where they were roosted at fly-up and I guess after my intrusion in the morning, they had no desire to go back that night....or do they shift around?
Here is my question. I never heard anything that could sound like drumming, but later in the day, I thought I heard some movement in the woods down a hill. I heard what sounded like a dull bong, like a stick being hit on the inside of a Home Depot bucket about 6-8 times. Is that what drumming sounds like? It was far to close to be someone on adjacent property, and I didn't hear anything to indicate I had trespassers hitting a bucket with a stick. Other times while chasing these dang birds, I've heard a more distinct "bonging" sound. "Bong"....little while later "Bong bong". I've pulled up youtube videos that say you can hear drumming, but I only hear the spit. Anyone have a good link for me to compare?
Also, in the woods on the back of my farm, I detected movement coming my way and watched as a HUGE bobcat made my way. He got real close...mostly brown with no cool discernible bobcat coloring. I am not exaggerating when I say that his body was as big as my big black lab. Obviously the legs were shorter, but his torso was as big around and he was longer...He was super muscular. If it weren't for his stub tail, I would have thought I had seen a cougar (that and slight wisps on the ears). He got abeam of where I was and just for fun I called a little more. He got in a low crouch at 20 yds and tried to get downwind of me. He even looked right where I was and continued the stalk until the wind shifted.....he then strolled off. Very cool. Too bad he was out of season, because I know some will not believe I saw what appeared to be a 60 lb cat. This is in Carrol county....where the "Cougar reports" have been. Maybe they're interbreeding and I saw a Coug-cat.....(Joke). Any help with identifying a drumming sound is appreciated. Also heard the "water-drop" sound when hens were near.....
All in all an awesome day. I did go back to where they were roosted at fly-up and I guess after my intrusion in the morning, they had no desire to go back that night....or do they shift around?
