No, and if you get any closer just pluck one out of the tree before he flies down.

 

If turkey numbers are high or roosting cover limited they might. But if not it's not a given.

Can you get on the side of them that they traveled towards this. Morning ?

 

No they don't always roost in the same tree/trees. Especially easterns they tend to move around. I'd say they toms have hens with them is the reason they are walking away from you.

 

No, and if you get any closer just pluck one out of the tree before he flies down.

no thanks, I like my job.

If turkey numbers are high or roosting cover limited they might. But if not it's not a given.

Can you get on the side of them that they traveled towards this. Morning ?

Thanks. Yeah, they walked east once they flew down. I could come in from that side and wait. But no sure if they walked east because of me calling too much? too loud? Or did they walk east because that's the way they usually go. Monday morning they walked south towards the corn field. So it seems like they are going different directions

 

No they don't always roost in the same tree/trees. Especially easterns they tend to move around. I'd say they toms have hens with them is the reason they are walking away from you.

yes, I noticed the hens with them. I was hoping I could pull one away from the hen at first light but didn't happen. Wishful thinking I guess.

 

If you are calling loud and often while they are still in the roost they are probably gobbling enough to call in hens. Try setting up close and not calling to them on the roost. Wait for them to fly down , make some yelps and then go quiet and see if they will look for ya.

 

A half strut jake decoy worked good for me on Monday that might be worth a shot if you have one but it has its risks as well.

 

Do Turkey's roost in the same tree every night ?


Only if its the only tree within eye sight of the turkey.

 

Thanks guys! Looks like 90% chance of rain all night and all day tomorrow. I may have to wait until Sunday, which will be my last day to go. I appreciate all the advice. Keep it going.

The more research I do it seems as if I'm calling way to much.

 

What ever side you set up, I would not call until they hit the ground. Try scratching in the leafs and soft calls. If that doesn't work you might have to get aggressive to try and fire up a hen. Best bet is to get between them and the field.

 

no thanks, I like my job.

 

I've found that if generally left undisturbed, birds will roost in the same general area on a regular basis. May not be every night, but more nights than not. I'd get between the roost and where they went the two prior times (if different directions, pick one or split the difference) and not call until they hit the ground or right before. If your that close, don't call loud, or maybe not at all.

 

I'm not an expert at all, but walking in and setting up within 40 yards of the tree he's roosting in seems awful close. no matter how stealthy you think you're being.....He can see and hear you by then. Someone else with more experience may come along and tell me I'm wrong though.

 

Put em to bed the night before if you can, so you know where they are.

Don't call much at all, and call softly when you know a bird is close.

 

A couple of points I'll comment on.
It is not illegal to shoot a turkey out of a tree, as long as it is legal shooting hours. I'm not sure what your job is but legally harvesting game shouldn't affect it.
If they are with hens you'll have a hard time calling them away. Trying to get between them and where you think they are going might be your best bet.
As mentioned, a half strut jake might do it but be careful on public ground.
Hunting later, after the hens have been serviced might be more productive.
I have killed a lot of turkeys in the rain. Put on your raingear and settle in for a long sit. They will be out in the fields if it is raining.
Good Luck!

 

I'm not an expert at all, but walking in and setting up within 40 yards of the tree he's roosting in seems awful close. no matter how stealthy you think you're being.....He can see and hear you by then. Someone else with more experience may come along and tell me I'm wrong though.

Given the full moon making you cast a shadow walking in lately, 40 yards is way to close IMO.
I agree with the don't call to them on the roost as well. Call softly, there's no need to yell at a critter with exceptional hearing especially when it's calm and or you know you're close to them. Less is more for calling generally, there are times to get aggressive but in general speak softly & carefully. Practice different calls and cadences, don't just yelp yelp yelp for example. If you have a vocal hen around see if you can get in a argument with her and get her to come find you.
Dekes aren't a must, but if you're in an area with decent visibility, they definitely don't hurt.
If you know a bird answers you, he knows right where you are and may not come looking right away, might gobble his fool head off and come in on a string or come in silent... or if he's with hens, he may not ever show his ugly mug.
There are no absolutes in turk'n & the same birds will do different things on any given day. Learn from your hunts and keep at it.

 

As a general rule, if they are already gobbling by the time you get there, you are showing up too late if you are wanting to get set up.
You can get in really close, but you better be early. This time of year, if I am not sitting down and set up by 5:15, I consider myself to be late. Another thing I have noticed among new hunters in the last few years is that I impress upon them how important it is to go in as early and stealthily as possible, only to have them get set up with me and break out their freakin cell phones and introduce a strobe light into the darkness--Thats a good way to get kicked in the pills if you are hunting with me.

 

don't yelp to em while still roosting try soft clucks instead till they fly down

 

Wow thanks so much for the replies guys! It's illegal to shoot a turkey in a tree before 7am. They were on the ground before 7 so I couldn't shoot one in the tree. Which I know you guys know all that I was just clearing it up to why I didn't shoot one in the tree.

I will give it a shot again tomorrow and Sunday!

 

Wow thanks so much for the replies guys! It's illegal to shoot a turkey in a tree before 7am. They were on the ground before 7 so I couldn't shoot one in the tree. Which I know you guys know all that I was just clearing it up to why I didn't shoot one in the tree.

I will give it a shot again tomorrow and Sunday!

Are you in Missouri? Legal shooting is 30 minutes before sunrise in Missouri. Sunrise at my house was 6:09 today so legal shooting was 5:39am. Doesn't matter if its in a tree, on the ground, or somewhere in between.
If you are in another state the rules might be different though.

 

Its illegal to shoot a bird on the roost in KS and others, not in MO as long as there is legal light.

You wonder how many birds posted here that really gave a show, came storming in to calls, etc were actually shot off the roost.

 

there are places where one can find the birds roosting the same place every night. they are great places to hunt , you can get sit up right where they like to go at fly down. but on my farm there is no such place . with my birds it is hard to figure out where they might be. if i sit up in a known roost area i usually find no bird close that morning. WITH THE NUMBERS CONTINUING TO SPIRAL DOWNWARD ONE OFTEN FINDS FIRST LIGHT WITH NONE TALKING WITHIN A HALF MILE AND THE PLACES WHERE THEY ARE VARYING FROM DAY TO DAY.
I THINK THAT EVERY DAY SOME TOMS WILL CRUSE THRU KNOWN NESTING AREAS LOOKING FOR RECEPTIVE HENS AT SOME POINT BUT THE WAY THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING THE TOMS MAY NOT EVEN ROOST WITHIN A HALF MILE FROM DAY TO DAY. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY THIS SEASON TO FIND TWO DAYS WHEN THE TOMS DID ROOST WHERE I HAD A CHANCE BUT NOT LUCKY ENOUGH SO FAR TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN WHEN THE GRAND KIDS WERE ALONG.

 

Shooting a bird off the roost is just plain dumb.
And it would be your first gobbler?
That misses the whole point, to call em in strutting and gobbling, all fired up.
Only time you can shoot one off the roost is if you swim across a creek first!

 

Shooting a bird off the roost is just plain dumb.
And it would be your first gobbler?
That misses the whole point, to call em in strutting and gobbling, all fired up.
Only time you can shoot one off the roost is if you swim across a creek first!

Dumb to some
Not to all
If it's legal and you feel good about the outcome
Go for it

 

He said he was hunting Illinois where it is illegal to shoot a roosted gobbler out of a tree until 7 am.