I believe...

[greenheadgrimreaper]

That they are done, for the most part. At least where I live. I am not saying that is true all over, but as a whole I think this year is a bust.

I camped out last night on some public land with the pup and heard the first whippoorwill (not a chuck will's widow). I always said that when the two start singing the gobbling is about to wind down.

I figure I logged 6+ miles in today and heard 3 gobbles at 4:30 PM. I was walking the windy side of ridges and occasionally peaking over the lee side for a look. At 3:30 I spotted the longest bearded gobbler down a huge ravine from me. I probably could've shot him, but with such a huge beard (spurs are probably unreal) I didn't want to wound him. No other birds in sight and I'm above him. The book says I should call softly and sit tight. The book says I'm in the perfect spot.

Well the damn book was wrong.

I call softly to this bird and he looks up the hill toward me and acts very interested. So when he goes behind the tree, I ease down- the last thing I see is him eating. Few clucks, purrs and moans, my bad I'm thinking goose, and I sit tight. I hear him down there...he's getting closer. 40 minutes go by and nothing, but I still hear him.

A big gust of wind comes through and I ease up. Ill be damned if he ain't got hens strung out to the next county. I see him heading north following the creek bottom, so I flip the bird to the hens and circle around to get in front.

Sweating like a whore in church I'm setup and feeling good. At 4:30 ill be damned if he don't gobble right where I was at. I decided to run at him screaming. But I decided not to; I decided to just go home.

In all seriousness, I am seeing more signs that the hens are spreading out more to find nests. But gobblers are still roosting with each other, not gobbling and not interested. I am worried that it just aint gonna happen this year. I am going to take a ute in the morning to a property where he claims birds have been gobbling all year. So, like I said, it may be spotty, but all this talk of birds beginning to cooperate is just not happening anywhere where I am at. We will see, but it is getting into the final stretch- and I still see little promise of things changing quickly. If it does turn on then it better happen quick, and if it does, it'll be quick- maybe 7 days or so before the season winds up.

Anybody seeing any promising signs? GPS coords?

I was told last week that the area manager of the wma I hunt regularly said that 7 birds have been killed so far on it. That means six other people got one with me. That's sad if it's true. But I'm kind of glad.

I was sure hoping to get my last bird today so I can think about living again. Might even eat something.

[deerhunt1988]

Don't give up yet...Yesterday morning was the best gobbling morning I have had in MS this season..First morning I actually found one 'wanting to play' and advertising himself..And another one was doing this as well. They are as late as I have ever seen them down there. The best part of the season is just getting started..Several gobblers still have hens, even throughout the day. That is crazy only 7 have been checked in...Glad to hear people are giving up though, more assists for me. There are still PLENTY of gobblers out there this season...Right now is historically my best time for killing older birds and successful mid-morn and afternoon hunts..But I think that still may be several days away this season.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Oh I ain't giving up, but I see very little change in behavior other than a bit more gobbling- particularly because there are still so many hens.

We went to private property this morning and had 2 gobble 150 times- roosted right next to each other. Guy says those two have been running all year with each other. Pitched down to their hens and after a very predictable shouting match, they hopped the property line and were gone. One reason why I hunt public- I can run around all day chasing birds and never break the law.

Unless driving women wild is against the law...then I am guilty as charged...not.

[jdbuckshot]

Oh I ain't giving up, but I see very little change in behavior other than a bit more gobbling- particularly because there are still so many hens.

We went to private property this morning and had 2 gobble 150 times- roosted right next to each other. Guy says those two have been running all year with each other. Pitched down to their hens and after a very predictable shouting match, they hopped the property line and were gone. One reason why I hunt public- I can run around all day chasing birds and never break the law.

Unless driving women wild is against the law...then I am guilty as charged...not.

Call up the hens. put the yelper down and pick up the gobble call.

when the birds get pinned down i rely more on scouting and trail cams to pattern to birds and try to get close on the roost. which this year has been very hard with no leaves on the trees.


It ain't over by a long shot.

[Old Swamp Gobbler]

It ain't over by a long shot.

It ain't got started good yet....

[Hambone]

It is by no means over...where I hunt, it is actually just getting good. We heard a huge amount of gobbling this weekend. Don't give up.

[Ster]

But gobblers are still roosting with each other, not gobbling and not interested.

Maybe they all turned Queer. Seriously thought, the Turkey season can't be any worse for me right now. Just not getting any cooperation with the Turkey Birds. It was another frustrating week of silence or at most just a few gobbles on the roost at day break. Not only have I yet to pull the trigger on one, but I haven't even had any real good opportunities to think that I might.

[maverick21]

Try a Haint call with a lisp...will bring those confused birds prancing right in

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I calle up 2 jakes and two hens this morning. Heard 3 gobbles. I'm glad they are getting fired up where y'all are at. They have shown no progress here.

I scout regularly. If I died tomorrow they wouldn't be able to say much about me, but one thing they could say is that dude knew his turkey flock. It will happen sooner or later, whether or not if he wants to put a show on for me will be up to him.

I don't see it "bustin wide open" around my parts. I just don't see it. Not by May 1st.

[JLT]

Have a buddy that hunts every day around Sturgis (public and private) and he has been seeing positive signs for the last week.

[jdbuckshot]

I bow hunted yesterday,

had a hen come in, and strutter follow. He had his hen and was not interested in my decoys, 40yds in the woods with no shot for 1 1/2hr was a brutal sit. He was a good 4 year old bird to.

[greenheadgrimreaper]

I bow hunted yesterday,

had a hen come in, and strutter follow. He had his hen and was not interested in my decoys, 40yds in the woods with no shot for 1 1/2hr was a brutal sit. He was a good 4 year old bird to.

Oh poooor you. Just pooor you. (Insert reference to contest thread here)

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Have a buddy that hunts every day around Sturgis (public and private) and he has been seeing positive signs for the last week.

Your friend also saw UFO's in the 60's...

I'm not saying things aren't getting better- they are. At least hens are starting to disburse some. But I just don't see any indication that a prolonged period of "show stopping" gobbling, strutting, lookin-ta-die activity is going to take place anytime soon. In spots will it happen? Sure. But widespread? I don't think so. Not in the township I hunt.

I am not folding the hand by any means. I feel pretty good about my odds of getting a 3rd bird and wrapping it up. From there maybe I can begin to rebuild relationships with my girlfriend and boss and family and friends and dog. I am the type who looks forward to 10 AM as opposed to 7 AM anyways. The folks who run n gun and who kill one or two loudmouths a year at best because loudmouths are all they know have thrown in the towel. Older fellar I did a little apprenticing under told me once that, "one of the differences between good turkey hunters and ok turkey hunters is that the good hunters put a butt on the ground and learn the art of sittin' still. The ok hunters think that only applies to deer- and they are usually one them deer huntin' types."

With all that said it's only a matter of time before I am in the right spot. With usually only an hour and a half to two hours to work with in the afternoons, I am only able to do one, maybe two setups. He almost died Saturday.

What I am saying is that lightning bugs, whippoorwills (I'm serious and I'm drug free) and that feeling that things just ain't quite "right" coupled with the facts that the season is coming up on the last stretch, lots of jakes, lots of hens, roosting toms, indifferent reactions to calling... things are really not materializing into a banner, gobblin'-his-balls-off end of season. If they don't oh well, but it is fun when they put on a show. To some folks, it's like you dropped Jermaine in a factory and said, "work"- they don't know left from right if nothing gobbles. No skin off my back if they don't act "right", just an observation.

I hope I eat crow on this or, preferably, turkey.