Well we are just into the 2010 season and the birds are really starting to get fired up! It seems everywhere I go I'm competing with other hens. If you haven’t been fortunate enough to have already taken a big tom, as the season progresses and the hens start setting your chances will increase.
A few things to remember when you are setup on a big gobbler are one; Know where these hens want to go before they fly down and put yourself in that path.
Two; while the birds are still on the roost, a subtle tree yelp just to let him know your there is all you need to do. If you get too carried away the hens will take him away from you when they hit the ground. Hens are very jealous.
Three; When they do hit the ground increase your calling only if the hens do. Many times they will come in looking for a fight or younger gobblers will run in and try to sneak off with this new hen.
Four; Work the leafs. If you get the birds in fairly close range, mimic the scratching sound of a feeding turkey by raking leafs with your hand.
The rhythm is, one, two two, one. Mix this in with subtle cluck and purrs. If all of this fails and they turn, it's time to try and reposition your setup. Don't try to follow them or chase them because you're wasting your time. When moving on birds be careful to stay out of clearings where they may spot you. Setup ahead of them again, wait and about five minutes, repeat step four. My buddy Darron Rice who is a great caller and hunter took a gobbler in Sumter County. He got right in the middle of step three and pulled the trigger!
All of this strategy sounds great and maybe easy but sometimes you'll still go home wondering, "What did I do wrong this time?" For the past couple of years I have been hunting with a couple of friends of mine, Herman Hudman and Larry Bryant. They have a gobbler at their place they call "Big Boy". Although we came close a couple of times last year, this bird has always made us look like fools. Good luck and stay safe!
Quote from Darron Rice:
"It was a classic hunt. I had hunted these same birds on Thursday morning and slipped in on them from the opposite direction on Friday morning. There were two gobblers together with several hens, I called and they answered from about 100 to 150 yards away. I setup and within 5 min. or less they were within gun range."
