bamaranger
New member
Once again I will relate my season chasing spring gobblers. I spent a lot of time scouting this spring and came to the conclusion that the turkeys around here can read maps! About all the birds I located were "fringe birds", turkeys on property just across boundary lines of property I cannot legally hunt. Alot of this is likely folks baiting turkeys, either so they can hunt themselves, or to hold the birds on their property so they cannot be hunted at all. Hopefully as the large flocks disperse and the hens begin to nest, some of these concentrated birds will drift next door where I can get a crack at them.
Additionally, I lost my favorite area, what I have referred to in my stories as the "Three Ridges" to logging. All those glorious hardwoods and park like woodlands about them are gone. I rode out there while scouting and it near drove me to tears. Last spring I ran up on the timber cruiser running the plot, so the loss was not a surprise, but that did not make it any easier. The loss of Three Ridges really drove my scouting this spring as I needed to find some new territory. The past 4-5 seasons I spent a lot of time on the ridges and took multiple birds and will miss it dearly.
All that said, I have heard a very large number of gobbler,s this spring, even though most not on property I can hunt. But I won't be far off.
Day #1, opening day, 1April
Up extra early to hunt an area I've spoken of before, Big Hollow. I had a close encounter there with a tom scouting and hope to hear him again with a gun in my hands. Big Hollow is part of the same club that Three Ridges was on, and I've taken a few birds out of the Hollow in seasons past, but the past few years I have not heard a lot of birds there. A new house out along the county road at the mouth of the hollow likely doesn't help, and the folks there are hunters to boot.
The Hollow has a moderate finger ridge that protrudes into it about middle way, running N-S, creating a large U-shaped hollow with sides on the E &W. The bird was on that spur preseason and I'll hunt him there today. Rather than wander about in the bare woods with little vegetation, as soon as I leave the pine plantation adjacent, I pick a spot well before daylight at the back of the spur against the pine thicket. I expect the tom to be parading about the length of the spur, and the thicket will guard my back, the tom hopefully to my front.
I never move all morning, staying planted at the base of a white oak watching out the spur. At 10:00 AM a log truck passes along the county road at the mouth of the hollow, and I hear a weak half gobble from somewhere to the west side of the "U". Were one not a turkey hunter, I doubt one would recognize the muted, brief burble. I hammer back loudly on my old slate, hopefully some loud calling this early in the season won't hurt anything, but get no response. I stay an extra hour, but hear no more turkey noise.
That PM I run out to the Mud Club to sit a green field that had a modest amount of droppings and tracks on it. I see or hear no turkeys. Near dusk I bounce the ATV over to the opposite side of the lease and listen in Beech Hollow for roosting turkeys, but again hear nothing as well.
The highlight of the day: I saw TWO whitetail bucks, both still carrying antlers. One a spike with a lone staub, the other a webby looking 6 pt. The antlers were heavily bleached white, there was no mistaking them. As well, I watched thru the 5x setting on the 1.5-5x scope on the Remington.
Day#2, 2 April
Bad weather predicted, I hunt Beech Hollow again as it's closer home. I don't need to get up as early, and I can beat the weather home if needs be. Plus the gusty winds will be less in the deep narrow draw. I settle into the narrow hollow in one of the few places open and wide enough to see and call turkeys, dearly hoping the lone bird I heard gobble one time preseason is home today and vocal. At dawn all is silent. I set up at the base of a giant pine and call periodically all morning, finally leaving as thunder rolled ominously in the west. I stayed a few extra minutes hoping the thunder might provoke a gobble.....and MAY have heard one way over to the west, but cannot be sure.. I run the ATV hard back to the truck ( the old Bronco is ailing) and beat the rain home for some much needed rest.
Additionally, I lost my favorite area, what I have referred to in my stories as the "Three Ridges" to logging. All those glorious hardwoods and park like woodlands about them are gone. I rode out there while scouting and it near drove me to tears. Last spring I ran up on the timber cruiser running the plot, so the loss was not a surprise, but that did not make it any easier. The loss of Three Ridges really drove my scouting this spring as I needed to find some new territory. The past 4-5 seasons I spent a lot of time on the ridges and took multiple birds and will miss it dearly.
All that said, I have heard a very large number of gobbler,s this spring, even though most not on property I can hunt. But I won't be far off.
Day #1, opening day, 1April
Up extra early to hunt an area I've spoken of before, Big Hollow. I had a close encounter there with a tom scouting and hope to hear him again with a gun in my hands. Big Hollow is part of the same club that Three Ridges was on, and I've taken a few birds out of the Hollow in seasons past, but the past few years I have not heard a lot of birds there. A new house out along the county road at the mouth of the hollow likely doesn't help, and the folks there are hunters to boot.
The Hollow has a moderate finger ridge that protrudes into it about middle way, running N-S, creating a large U-shaped hollow with sides on the E &W. The bird was on that spur preseason and I'll hunt him there today. Rather than wander about in the bare woods with little vegetation, as soon as I leave the pine plantation adjacent, I pick a spot well before daylight at the back of the spur against the pine thicket. I expect the tom to be parading about the length of the spur, and the thicket will guard my back, the tom hopefully to my front.
I never move all morning, staying planted at the base of a white oak watching out the spur. At 10:00 AM a log truck passes along the county road at the mouth of the hollow, and I hear a weak half gobble from somewhere to the west side of the "U". Were one not a turkey hunter, I doubt one would recognize the muted, brief burble. I hammer back loudly on my old slate, hopefully some loud calling this early in the season won't hurt anything, but get no response. I stay an extra hour, but hear no more turkey noise.
That PM I run out to the Mud Club to sit a green field that had a modest amount of droppings and tracks on it. I see or hear no turkeys. Near dusk I bounce the ATV over to the opposite side of the lease and listen in Beech Hollow for roosting turkeys, but again hear nothing as well.
The highlight of the day: I saw TWO whitetail bucks, both still carrying antlers. One a spike with a lone staub, the other a webby looking 6 pt. The antlers were heavily bleached white, there was no mistaking them. As well, I watched thru the 5x setting on the 1.5-5x scope on the Remington.
Day#2, 2 April
Bad weather predicted, I hunt Beech Hollow again as it's closer home. I don't need to get up as early, and I can beat the weather home if needs be. Plus the gusty winds will be less in the deep narrow draw. I settle into the narrow hollow in one of the few places open and wide enough to see and call turkeys, dearly hoping the lone bird I heard gobble one time preseason is home today and vocal. At dawn all is silent. I set up at the base of a giant pine and call periodically all morning, finally leaving as thunder rolled ominously in the west. I stayed a few extra minutes hoping the thunder might provoke a gobble.....and MAY have heard one way over to the west, but cannot be sure.. I run the ATV hard back to the truck ( the old Bronco is ailing) and beat the rain home for some much needed rest.