Scouting approach.....

[growalot]

When you head out on new or even familiar lands to scout what do you look for?

[The_Real_TCIII]

Roosting trees (poop, feathers etc on the ground). Then scratching, overturned leaves and whatnot

[maytom]

This season will try to go to spots that I have taken birds before and try to fine tune my set-up. Meaning to find the right tree and move any clutter around that area and sort of set up a natural bind. I carry in my decoy bag 2 folding blinds. The ones that are 27" x 12 feet long. Like to have one set-up to block the area behind me, and one in front as well. I carry a pair of ratchet pruners and a small folding saw in my vest to cut some limbs off trees that are leafing out and stick them into the ground on the outside of my bind for more cover. I think being familiar with your area helps because you know by previous hunts the routes the birds take. I have toned down my calling of late and try to wait a little longer between calls.

 

[growalot]

I scout food...now on our properties it is every where. That said they have certain early spring preferences that I have learned....My most productive blind ...you would think never to see a turkey or deer for that matter, it is over mature maples and God awful shale...not much soil...They hammer that ridge and roost there as well...what this area produces is bugs and salamanders...Grass hopper hatches and wild flowers and many beetles...Wild turkey have a preference for these early spring goodies.

[The_Real_TCIII]

Oh and also look for trees with the debris cleared away from the bases so you can steal Maytoms spot!

[G-Man]

I don't really start scouting till april, looking in cut cornfields, and listing from a few select spots I can cover 2 to 4 known roosting areas and hear any new or changes.

A week before morning scouting confirming roost areas and narrowing them down, no calling and if possible a few long range observations with bios to check beards , tail fans, and or spurs!!

[Four Season Whitetail's]

This season will try to go to spots that I have taken birds before and try to fine tune my set-up. Meaning to find the right tree and move any clutter around that area and sort of set up a natural bind. I carry in my decoy bag 2 folding blinds. The ones that are 27" x 12 feet long. Like to have one set-up to block the area behind me, and one in front as well. I carry a pair of ratchet pruners and a small folding saw in my vest to cut some limbs off trees that are leafing out and stick them into the ground on the outside of my bind for more cover. I think being familiar with your area helps because you know by previous hunts the routes the birds take. I have toned down my calling of late and try to wait a little longer between calls.

Oh boy we just went thru this on the Wishbone thread. Did you not see where the experts tell us that we are wrong for scouting out birds and watching their behavior and then sneaking in on them to set up without making a sound?  They see this and its game on.

 

Great post and on track of being the best way to put a big Tom on his arse!

[Bowguy 1]

You don't look for anything, you listen for birds. After you locate em you keep tabs on them til you roost em n shoot em.

No need let them know you're coming by walking all over.

[Bowguy 1]

You don't look for anything, you listen for birds. After you locate em you keep tabs on them til you roost em n shoot em.

No need let them know you're coming by walking all over.

[wooly]

When you head out on new or even familiar lands to scout what do you look for?

 

I'm usually looking for antlers when I'm scouting turkey!

[growalot]

Ohhh Wooly I gave up on that some time ago...lol bugs are the best I can do

[Lawdwaz]

Oh boy we just went thru this on the Wishbone thread. Did you not see where the experts tell us that we are wrong for scouting out birds and watching their behavior and then sneaking in on them to set up without making a sound?  They see this and its game on.

 

Great post and on track of being the best way to put a big Tom on his arse!

 

That guys (maytom) methods aren't even close to yours.  Don't flatter yourself..............

 

Oh and by the way, it was the "horseshoe" thread.

Edited February 19, 2016 by Lawdwaz

[DirtTime]

I think the approach depends on the area you hunt. Always look for scat and roosting trees. Not all of hunt Spring ( or Fall ) turkey near fields or food plots we created.

I hunt turkey in wooded areas and look for scat and roosts these days. 

[Four Season Whitetail's]

That guys (maytom) methods aren't even close to yours.  Don't flatter yourself..............

 

Oh and by the way, it was the "horseshoe" thread.

Yeah right,,,He uses a blind and i dont, Same hunt different hunter. Those of us that know how to hunt without a call are many. Calling is a last ditch effort anymore. For some of us anyways!.

[Doewhacker]

I just ride around and call from my truck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

jk

[Doewhacker]

FSW try not to derail this thread ok?

[Uncle Nicky]

Personally, I try to get as much as intel as possible from other hunters before I try a new spot, I've found enough spots over the years that generally hold birds, that I'm not really looking to go in cold and try a new area unless I want a change of scenery. But when I was actively scouting new areas in the past, I would look for leaves scratched up, dusting bowls, footprints, and feathers. I've gone as far as driving back roads, finding birds in a field, and asking the farmer/landowner for permission (you'd be surprised how many will let you, as long as you're not after deer). The best scouting of all is to get into an prospective area way before sunlight, and just listen, the birds will let you know where they are about 1/2 hour before the sun rises. Roosting with an owl call or box call right at sundown sometimes works, and gives you a good idea where to start the next morning.

[growalot]

 

I think being familiar with your area helps because you know by previous hunts the routes the birds take. I have toned down my calling of late and try to wait a little longer between calls.

 

 

The above is exactly why I scout the food, this is not to say others ways are wrong.Just experience on our lands dictate this. I'm not hunting hundreds or thousands of acres,this may look like all the more reason to get them calling then run in and set up. The problem is I am literally surrounded by other turkey hunters.and calling to get them to call back and come in is fun...and exciting as they close that distance then BANG!!! Yep pretty much takes the wind from the ole excited sails. Then you have our home area that most may recall,because I repeat myself   the birds stay quiet...which is sorta great at time because I really am literally surround by other hunters...I know where they are and pretty much where they will fly down to...but I have to know where their favorite morning food spot is or water source is in the spring, which means what has broken ground or hatched out . These are the areas the girls will head to first...and I always see the girls on the ground before the Toms. In this I can use softer calls and have the toms sound off once they are a bit closer. I worry more about educating the guy out there in the woods near by than any of the turkey...I'm usually in the woods before either wake up anyways....

 

 

[Five Seasons]

I love turkey hunting, but to me it's a sport that I do little prep for. For new properties I'll walk them once or twice in early to mid april and look for roosting trees and small openings and fields where I can setup. But what I really enjoy about turkey is getting in early, setting up in the dark and calling for a little during light. Then I can get up and move and try some locators or move to other spots. I'm not a spot and stalk deer guy so I really enjoy "scouting as I hunt" style to turkey.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

FSW try not to derail this thread ok?

Yeah i guess... I am all about this thread. Shows hunter after hunter really hunting turkeys. Scouting, Reading sign,setting up or stalking turkeys.

 

This coming from you has to do with a kettle and a pot.  As was shown with your first useless post...Oh i ride around calling from my truck. Huh,Huh.. Right!!!

[growalot]

just stop

[Four Season Whitetail's]

just stop

Agreed...Kinda goes back to the censor thread but glad everyone can see one of the biggest reason posts to get derailed and the few that do it. Post had nothing to do with the thread and children throwing stones in glass houses.

Glad he showed his colors!

[growalot]

stop

[Five Seasons]

Yeah right,,,He uses a blind and i dont, Same hunt different hunter. Those of us that know how to hunt without a call are many. Calling is a last ditch effort anymore. For some of us anyways!.

 

I've spent a lot of hours on oldgobbler.com and never once have I ever heard someone say calling is a last ditch effort. 3/4 of the fun with turkey is calling. I wish whitetails would answer to calls!

[growalot]

 

I wish whitetails would answer to calls!

I find they do with grunts...I just wish they would come in to them as well as turkeys.