Gobbling but wont come a running

[TurkeyFunatic]

Last few years I ahve turkey hunted a scouted a few different areas in the southern tier in NY. They were on state land with private land butting up to them. The main one I have always seen and or heard turkey is on a pacel that is butting upto private land but is perfect location because of a pipeline/field that runs about 3 miles with a hilly area on it. Im normally hunting the top part of hill without decoys but this year I am going to use decoys to see if I can get them to come in and get a shot at one. The far side of the pipeline that butts up agains private land is all hard woods with a row of pines then field and the side I choose to hunt on is public land with hardwoods from road in and it has recently been logged with some second growth and its really the perfect area just not sure if its my setup or what but I can seem to get them to come in to me. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[G-Man]

Scout the pipeline from a far.. birds will only go where they are comfortable. It may not be at top but 1/3 up or any other spot up the pipeline. Second problem ipipelines allow easy access. Turkeys may be getting pressured there from others besides you.

[TurkeyFunatic]

Hunting not too far from cuba actually. Most of the guys that do hunt it are pressuring from below the hill or about 3/4 mile down the road and they are coming in closer to 10:30-11 ish. I am assuming its because as soon as they are coming down they are henned up already.

[G-Man]

all the birds i called for my nephew this weekend were with hens. but again they will only come to where they are comfortable. you can pull a whole flock to where you are if its where they want to go. lots of hard mast on ground right now so not feeding in fields, and woods are wide open turkey can see long way to find hen..no need to go into open area if hens are content feeding in woods... their preferences will change as the weeks progress as do their roost areas.

[TurkeyFunatic]

Thanks for the advice gonna try n scout some other areas as a back up for this opening day Thursday. Thanks n happy hunting

[turkeyfeathers]

keep in mind a turkey's like walking uphill more than downhill for your set up

[wooly]

keep in mind a turkey's like walking uphill more than downhill for your set up

 

I'm not sure they like walking uphill,lol

A wise ol' turkey hunter once told me the toms will use the highest point in the area that makes them most visable to the hens while up there strutting their stuff. Whether it's a rolling  knoll in an open field, or an elevated area in the timber.

I've found that to be very true and predictable. Almost to the point of knowing where he will likely "hang up" even to the best of callers, and most convincing decoy set ups imaginable.

A smart set up should always take advantage of the highest point and try to keep it within your effective range.

As always, just my opinion on a topic I don't profess to be an expert on.

[HectorBuckBuster]

I am a big believer in that the birds need to see other birds where the sounds if coming from. I have hunted with all types of decoys but the Avian decoys just draw the bird in. I was looking at my daughters bird she shot yesterday and the colors he had where incredible. I think birds have just gotten smarter over the years with the hunting pressure and if you want to get birds to come in consistent you need to step up your setups.