Two years ago, I called from the ridge I was set up on, a gobbler answered above me on the ridge across from me . I would call he would answer coming down the opposite ridge,he continued on down his ridge. Once he was well below me going away gobbling the whole time, I gathered up my gear scrambled (HA-HA) across the hollow on to the ridge he came down. I set up, got my breath switched to a different sounding call, he came back up the ridge. I took him about fourty min. later at twenty seven paces.
Keep em Gobblin!
Struttinbird

When you go to the woods and only hear one gobbler and then kill it. Don't chaulk that place up as having no more gobblers there. Wait a couple of days and go back. Usally there is one there to take its place. Even in small wood lots.

Rules Committee said to remind you fellas that three sentences is not merely a goal.

When using a Decoy on a windy day.....cut 2 small limbs and put them on both sides of your decoy.....prevents the decoy from spinning.....allows small amount of movement also...

Let me say real quick....if this was posted last year im very sorry....i looked but didnt see it......Crows and Turkeys have a love hate relationship......After fly down time if you hear a group of crows raising cane near a field chances are that there are turkeys in the field and the crows are harrassing them....you can take advantage of this and use them as a locater...

situation: gobbler sneaks in quiet on you - well within shotgun range & you/your shotgun are out of position to kill him

tip 1 - swing quick on the gobbler and take him as he leaves...swinging slow on him won't work...gobbler will get a tree between you and him as he leaves

tip 2 - let him leave on his own and call him back with different calls or move a little on him and call him back with different calls

Jeff, I think most of us would baulk at the idea of letting him walk away! I guess sometimes that this is the right thing to do. Better that than taking a chance on wounding a bird and having him perhaps suffer, and or die later. That would be a waste! We also need to be careful to not shoot something we didn't intend to shoot as we try to move quickly to get a chance at a shot! Safety is always a hunters first responsibility. Not causing harm to an animal we can't cleanly take is number two. (at least in my book!) What say you Jeff?

On a morning thats going to be clear and sunny, turkeys will initially travel westward after fly down keeping the sun at their backs.
GS...

Whenever you are Hunting public land or property others may hunt...if you hear a turkey gobble and others are in there but you not sure if there working the bird...do as we say in the Firefighting community......"When in doubt get out"

Get familiar with your turkey vest, know where everything is and how to reach it quickly and quietly, put it on and get comfortable with it well before season......

Most hunter remove the turkey's beard by cutting it out. This leaves tissue on the end of the beard that can smell or must be treated. To remove the beard cleanly, hold the breast feathers and skin down firmly around the beard with one hand. Then with the other hand grab the beard and pull it straight out of the breast firmly. The beard pulls out cleanly with absolutely no tissue attached.

To remove a gobblers beard cleanly, hold the breast feathers and skin down firmly around the beard with one hand. Then with the other hand grab the beard and pull it straight out of the breast firmly. The beard pulls out cleanly with absolutely no tissue attached.

When hunting public land or even a lease, leave the birds close to the road for others. Put your walking shoes on and go after the birds deep. You will have less pressure and the birds wont be quite as spooky.

Watch for caterpillars. Once the nests begin to appear, note the type of tree they choose for your area and go and find concentrations of them - just make sure and tie off your pants legs or you WILL spook birds! Caterpillars are a delicacy for turkeys.

Don't just roost a bird by knowing what tree he is in. If he has flown up for the evening, work him by using soft yelps and some clucks, then shake your hat to sound like a hen has flown up. Slip on out of there like you commited a crime. He will come to you first at fly down the next morning.

This really works well!!