Turkey "Memory" or "Habit"

[Zoltan]

Hunting on new private land past few years I've only had success with spring gobblers on one particular spot (out of dozens of acres and what look to be prime habitat).  I've taken three nice birds in the past three years, but only while setting-up my ground blind in the same spot.

 

For the more experienced turkey hunters, if this is a "resident" flock,  do you feel that they have any memory of previous birds being taken in a particular spot in the past?  There are obviously factors (food, fresh water stream) that keep drawing the birds to this spot.  Would you believe that they are just driven by food and mating to this spot and that spring "madness" to mate may override any common sense?

 

Thanks in advance

Zoltan

[jjb4900]

Hunting on new private land past few years I've only had success with spring gobblers on one particular spot (out of dozens of acres and what look to be prime habitat).  I've taken three nice birds in the past three years, but only while setting-up my ground blind in the same spot.

 

For the more experienced turkey hunters, if this is a "resident" flock,  do you feel that they have any memory of previous birds being taken in a particular spot in the past?  There are obviously factors (food, fresh water stream) that keep drawing the birds to this spot.  Would you believe that they are just driven by food and mating to this spot and that spring "madness" to mate may override any common sense?

 

Thanks in advance

Zoltan

I don't think they have common sense.....no different then killing deer from the same tree every year. I honestly don't believe animals can figure out what gunfire is, unless you add some other factor in to messing the area up it's forgotten......what do you think they do during lightening and thunder storms? pretty sure they haven't figured that one out either.

[WNY Bowhunter]

I missed this gobbler last spring and then killed him three days later. He roosted in the same tree and flew down in the same spot both times...

[Zoltan]

Thanks for the responses guys. 

 

Guess I'll continue to sit in the same spot as long as they continue to commit suicide by struttin in front of me.

 

Zoltan

[maytom]

Sounds like you have yourself a "Honey Hole"!!!!

[G-Man]

I have several spots I can and do kill birds out of on a consistent basis. Woodsmanship and dumb. Luck help you find the spot, at that point calling is secondary.. the birds will be there regardless of calling or not

[Bowguy 1]

Gonna tell you right now, an undisturbed bird may act a certain way often. Let the bird know he's being hunted n they get harder to kill, where I live there are some pretty fair turkey nuts. Dumb ones get killed quick so you gotta be sneaky or a trespasser to have a good chance.

[Bowguy 1]

Gonna tell you right now, an undisturbed bird may act a certain way often. Let the bird know he's being hunted n they get harder to kill, where I live there are some pretty fair turkey nuts. Dumb ones get killed quick so you gotta be sneaky or a trespasser to have a good chance. Kill the bird n it won't have any memory.

[Uncle Nicky]

A little off-topic, but if you ever get a chance, watch the documentary "My Life as a Turkey". http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvccpd_my-life-as-a-turkey-hd_shortfilms  It's the story of a human who raised a brood of turkeys from eggs to adults. One of the main concepts I grabbed form this film is that turkeys are born with superior instinct & survival skills.

 

On-topic, I think if you shoot one or two birds on a property a year, they're not going to be particularly spooked. Let 5 or 10 guys walk through the property blowing turkey calls, and you will be hunting a whole different bird.

[Zoltan]

Thanks for the great responses guys!  I really appreciate it.  I did see that documentary BTW, very interesting. Good hunting to you all!

- Zoltan

[EspressoBuzz]

Many magazines and website will usually take this stuff and re-iterate it for the layman hunter but I prefer going to the edu's for hard core studies and blending that with what i see and other hunters experiences.

 

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wild_turkey.htm

 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/wild_turkey/lifehistory

 

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natural_resources/wildlife/publications/fs35_eastern_wild_turkey.html

 

a deeper search will reveal study white papers that are really technical but very interesting.