LuckyPickle123

Wasn't complaining. Just looking for some insight on what everyone else is experiencing right now. I just choose to not go into the thickets and potentially kick out the big dogs before rut. The big ones treat our thickets as their home base so I would much rather keep them content and wait for the rut. Has worked for me a lot of years.

Best of luck to you lol. Let me know how it all works out. Unfortunately you cant stop all the other hunters from hunting your surrounding area the days that you choose not to go out. So, you are not really gaining anything.

You hit the nail on the head there. These deer pattern us 10 times better then we pattern them.

the decline in deer movement happens every year on our property about a week after hunting season, but yes the overall theory of the "October lull" is more than likely a myth. I know if yesterday was opening day, bucks would be moving better because everything is fresh. They would still be on their routine day-to-day patterns where they have not encountered human pressure.

I agree with you. bucks are deep in the thickets right now around our place. I've been hunting from the 1st of October till now. I hunt in multiple stands and never sit a stand 2 times consecutively. Was seeing a lot of bucks the first week, and now not so much at this point in time. Our hunting pressure, warm weather, changing patterns for the upcoming rut has them locked down in our area. I think this cold front moving through the next few days will definitely help though.

roger that captain

10 4. I will sit in a newer spot tonight and see what happens

Okie dokie was just looking for some insight. Didnt want to get lashed for my lack of knowledge

Anybody experiencing it yet this year? It seems to be happening on our property. Day-time movement by deer has gone down dramatically.

What county were you hunting in Reeltime?

Thank God

Just to back this all up, my buddy shot a bearded hen a few years back. It had eggs in it. We called in a bearded hen this year, it was doing that weird gobble posted by WNY bowhunter. It was also cutting and what not. It came up the edge of the field with a bright red head. I was hunting with a bow, and I took the shot because I was 100% sure it was a jake. Well it was a bearded hen, and ill put up the footage later.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Hunting during the week is the only way to go. My buddy and I had two birds on the ground before the weekend, should of been 3 or 4 because we messed up on a double (couldn't get the camera in position). We mainly hunt private land, in multiple locations. Then the weekend comes and guys are sneaking into our spots lol, it's like you gotta be kidding me. We were just going into one spot, just get in the woods, and a shot sounds off about 200 yards from us. We go over the rise and there is some dude walking dragging his feet, he missed the bird. I would suggest getting out during weekday mornings, if you can handle it before work. Come weekend time, everyone and there brother is out squawking on a box call.

I have had to take a few shots before, were not all perfect. I guess I could just let them walk away wounded, sounds like that you make you feel better haha

Absolutley! Over my past hunting experiences, roosting a bird gives me about a 80% to 90% chance of smoking that bird in the morning. I get so pumped up when I roost a bird, because I know its already dead before I go to bed lol. Have had great success roosting birds, Just gets them so wound tight before the next morning. I don't generally slip in that close, never had to. About 100-150 yards seems to work perfect for me. Get them screaming in the roost, do a fly down, and the next gobble out of the bird will be on the ground. A few more calls, then go quiet, and get the bead ready!

That's my goal for the season. There is one nice spot we have in town, where its bow only. Gotta get it on tape to. I don't leave the house without the camera! My dad is really starting to get the hang of it so I have high hopes that he can get it on video.

Nice bird!! second Jake photo I have seen, good signs that it was a good hatch last year!

That is totally awesome! I hope I can be blessed someday to do the exact thing with my kid. Congrats, my hat is off to both of you, definitely not an easy task to complete. May the rest of her hunting years be blessed and exciting.

Yea its crazy!! Birds literally strut right in peoples front yards, right in the middle of roads, in towns, any where you name it. They are like pets out there. PRIMO Hunting if you love turkey hunting!!

Nice medium raspy mouth call in mouth, power crystal (primos slate) in hand. Just yelps on the mouth call, and hard yelps and cuts on the power crystal. Then walk through a nice chunk of woods calling on and off with each call. If that bird is even an inch pumped up, he's already in the fryer. Game over

Was fortunate to hunt out in California this year. My cousin lives out there, and we have been there 3 out of the past 4 years. Seen hundreds of turkeys, and thousands of gobbles. We shot five total, Rio grandes. Wouldn't think California is a great spot for turkey hunting, but I highly recommend it. So many Birds!! As for out here, yea there around, but numbers still seem to be down.

Hotter days at the end of March, or at the end of April? Which tend to pump up the birds more judging by your hunting experiences? For example, last year it was a lot warmer about a few weeks earlier than this. This year it seems to be taking a while to get warm. Last year, every bird we talked to came in screaming, even some old mature birds (3-5 year old range) My buddy and I went out 5 times, everytime we called in a longbeard. We have a few spots, but they are not gold mines by any means. We are great callers, well above average. I believe this is a huge factor (weather / warmth vs cold) when it comes to shooting gobblers. Anyways, first post for me, Cant wait to meet some fellow hunters of NYS. Counting down the days til the next season!!