Opening Day Turkey - Close but no cigar

[roundball]

Never heard any roost yesterday afternoon so this morning I sat the edge of a tiny 2 acre green field where I often see a flock.

A half hour after first light a heard a tom way off in the distance...then a 8:00am a lone hen stepped out about 50yds away, eyed my decoy 20yds in front of me, then proceeded to just slowly forage around the field in front of me.

About 9:00am I heard a tom a couple hundred yards behind me...every 5-10 minutes he'd gobble again and was getting closer but passing behind me on a line that would take him across the road.

I couldn't get him to turn to the field, and was afraid to get up to try and run / head him off because the darned hen was right there in front of me, and I hoped she might call/decoy him in by herself...he had to be within 50yds of the edge of the field where she was.

But at 9:30 the rain started with T&L and I figured I didn't need to be sitting there holding a steel lighting rod in my hands so I bailed...didn't see a beard but a great morning to be out anyway...congratulations to all those who scored!

 

[Rebel]

Well, at least you got out of the house for a while. Maybe you will have better luck tomorrow. Sounds like you had a good day anyway, even if you didn't see a tom. Good luck the rest of the season.

 

[Halftail]

Man I'd love to be able to hunt wild turkey!!!Are they as good eating as domestic one?If you get one post pictures!

 

[Hoyt]

Well, you know where one hangs out now anyway. My bet is you'll get him before the seasons out.
I called a little jake in yesterday and passed. Only because there's two wks left and heard about 4 gobblers and saw a longbeard in same area day before yesterday.

 

[Bob J]

Man I'd love to be able to hunt wild turkey!!!Are they as good eating as domestic one?If you get one post pictures!

Just as good or better! New job keeps me from getting to the hardwoods this Spring, but enjoy hearing about you-alls' turkey huntin' adventures :thumbsup:

 

[CrackStock]

I had similar experiences. They do not seem to be acting like they normally do though. No flocks moving or roosting together and making less noise than previous years. I see jakes and hens out on thir own and hear little from the gobblers.

I think that the warm winter may have led them into an early mating season.

If so, it will be a hard hunt this year for gobblers.

CS

 

[roundball]

I think that the warm winter may have led them into an early mating season.

I was wondering the same thing...when that lone hen stepped out of the woods into the field, she was in sight of me for almost an hour foraging all around that greenfield but was never joined by any others...ordinarily they're definitely 'flock' birds so I wondered if she might have already been sitting a nest nearby...there were 20 in that field a week ago at that time of the morning

 

[CrackStock]

I hunted hard in the early morning and went back to listen for 5 hours until quite dark. NADA.

I saw a hen playing in a neighboring field in the afternoon.

Looking mighty grim.

I plan to take a break and do something else for a few days.

CS