noobie question

[beard]

This is my first year hunting. Ive gone a few times but haven't heard anything but geese. What type of place am I supposed to be set up in? Should I be near water? Fields? Etc? I live in broome county so Whitney point is where ive been going. Any advice would be great.

[josephmrtn]

Im assuming you mean turkey hunting... this year is the worst yr ive ever hunted as far as quiet turkeys... im not sure if I have any real tips for ya... lets see what everybody else says first... lol

[TeeBugg]

Setup near signs of turkeys. Either visually seeing them in fields or where you see tracks,droppings, dusting areas etc....if you are able to figure out where they roost at night and where they go when they flydown...setup in between the two spots. Its been a quiet year, similar to last year. Put enough footwork and scouting into it and hopefully ya flop one!

[Witty]

Here are a few things I've found out in my 5 or so years turkey hunting. Turkeys like to roost near a water source. (creek/streams are best) if you don't hear turkeys it doesn't mean they aren't in the area or very close to you . Find open areas where toms can strut(logging roads, open fields hardwoods with little under growth) our best decoy set up is two hens for open fields or logging road. In the woods we've had success with no decoys. We've had our best luck when we know where the birds want to go. Patterning turkeys has resulted in our best luck. Know where they sleep and where they want to go and get in between.

[TheTruth2]

Best luck ive had is on riverbottoms.. i had a jake fly across the river to my calling last week. Pretty rare around here for that. Often they roost above the water because they feel safe then fly down and stroll the river edges for hens.

[mike rossi]

This is my first year hunting. Ive gone a few times but haven't heard anything but geese. What type of place am I supposed to be set up in? Should I be near water? Fields? Etc? I live in broome county so Whitney point is where ive been going. Any advice would be great.

First: I caution you about using locater calls or turkey calls outside of shooting hours because it may be considered hunting, even without a gun or bow. I know others say otherwise, and maybe they are right, but that is what I was told  by a DEC police officer.

 

I set up in areas that I know from experience that birds use, or, when faced with the challenge of a new hunting location, I choose a starting point that allows me to see and hear a good distance.

 

If I hear or see birds, but cant call them in, I wait until they move on, and then go to the area of activity and look for a strategic position for the next hunt. I will keep adjusting my position until I connect or the birds stop using the area.  If I don't see or hear birds, it is back to square one with a new starting point each time until I locate an active area. If you keep drawing blanks, don't give up because eventually peak incubation will begin and  gobblers will be more active and responsive to calling.