how do u find em??? if u dont know where they are roosting, how do u figure it out besides walking out in the woods all day??? is there a super loud call u can get em to respond too??? im just trying to figure out how to find these guys so ill be within calling range.

I have never tried it but I have heard that a crow call will get a turkey gobbling. Maybe some more experienced gobbler hunters can chime in.

Getting out in the woods right before season is probably the best method of finding them. However, if you do not want to put in the time for that, many people use an owl call as a locator early in the morning. It drives the birds crazy, and most times they will call back to ya.

I prefer to start on the highest point on or very near the area I plan to hunt and be there before daylight and just listen. This way, I can strategically plan to get closer and view the birds without being seen.

Although it's not always possible, I try to stay out of the woods until I'm ready to hunt.

Gman

Find thick group of trees and look for alot of turkey droppings on the ground.At night or early morning a crow call or owl call will get them gobbleing.

As a locator call I use one of the best kept secrets ever an AIRHORN it causes them to shock gobble, same as a crow call or a hoot owl call but no one ever uses a AIRHORN, it works but I also do all of the following above. Great sugestions from all.

thanks fellas, ill give all those a try.

lol...been using an airhorn for years. It does make them gobble when the others calls don't work

Often they will gobble when coming off the roost so if you are out a daybreak and close to a potential roost you can here them. Was shooting a .22 at turtles and had a gobbler going at every shot. Also slamming a door or honking a horn. Or just a real loud mouth call.

sounds like you can do just about anything to get them to gobble. whats the best way to get them to you?

well, now i know. in a wooded pasture, and no wind, how far do u think i could hear a gobble from?? (flat land)

Farther than u think u can....that gobble carries well!!!

You can also go set out there in the evening...they will gobble some before going to roost. They like to roost along water, like creeks or streams.

so do they kinda hang out by water during the day?

Brandon, once the morning festivities are finished (breeding, feeding, etc), turkeys usually find somewhere to rest and relax for the day. If it's hot..in the shade, if it's cloudy and cool, you can find them in isolated cleared areas. It's possible the area could be near water, but not necessary. It has more to do with safety and comfort than the need for water.

Turkeys do like to roost near or over water though.

Gman

what he said...

thanks.

You can use that call you got from me as a locator call. A crow call would be better, just don't use it as a distress, just pump the air to make it loud.

will do!

i like to locate the birds the evening before so i know where they are roosting. this is achieved by a an owl hooter or crow call right at nightfall. then i know where to setup. i setup about 100 yards from where they are roosting the next morning right at sunrise. you will hear them fly off the roost. soon as you hear it start calling. sometimes i can go out on a new property without knowing where the birds are and just start calling. if i get a response i just sit and wait and pop a gobbler. over calling is not good. just be patient. turkey hunting is pretty easy.

x2 Turkey huntin is easy at times and just when ya think your gettin good they will throw ya a curve and make ya look like a rookie! Of course thats why i love it sooooo much!

x1000

You can walk the area at midnight and make the noise like everyone has said. They will gobble but won't leave the roast unless you get too close. I have done this almost every year because I don't get to the lease until the night b/4 seasopn opens.

I have always just tried to look for sign of birds (dusting or a significant amount of tracks) and start from there. After that I will use a crow call and listen for a gobble. I have actually heard a turkey gobble after slamming a truck door...no bull, so I am sure they will report back to just about anything. After I have located them I find a good concealed sitting area, set-up my decoys and wait about 5-10 minutes for things to calm back down, then start calling. Once they have spotted the decoys do not hand call as they are very movement sensitive. Your best bet is to have a mouth call and just make subtle clucks and purrs to seal the deal. Very rarely do I even call once the tom has a visual. Also, make sure you set the decoy facing the right direction as a lot of time they will try face them for strutting. Some people like decoys that move or spin in the wind but I prefer ones that are fixed. I had a bad experience with the kind that moves around in the wind and it cost me what would have been my biggest Tom.

just my opinion, but I have been very succesful in bagging several big mature birds.

brandon

do you have a lot of turkeys on your place?

we seem to have a bunch. they are already gobbling like crazy, but i have never tried calling them.
i snuck up on 5 or 6 big toms last weekend while walking.
not season yet or i would have had a nice trophy