Busting Roosted Birds??

[Chris B]

Well as some of you have read this week in the "live from the turkey woods" thread, I found some hot birds Monday. Monday and Tuesday they have roosted in the same place. This morning I decided to try and set up where they are pitching down and heading to, to strut and gobble before getting henned up.... only problem is that instead of roosting below the shelf on this hillside, they roosted just above it. I walked right into them....  Gobbler #1 just packed up and flew away. I was in the worst spot possible so unable to just sit down. I took a few steps and gobbler #2 was right above me but I never saw him either. He putted for about 20 seconds and then flew away as well. Needless to say the rest of the morning was quiet and depressing.

 

What is your guys' experience on this one? Any possible chance for these birds to roost close by tomorrow? and if so, will they be really hawky? I know all birds and scenarios are different, just looking for anyone's past experiences.

[Doewhacker]

I have had this happen this year, the birds I worked would roost anywhere in a 200 yard circle. Most likely they will be very cautious but will return to the area. If it were me I would try to set up where they work off too but not to close to the roost because of what happened today.

[ants]

Its happened to me too. I would bet that they will roost in the same area. Just this year, on opening morning, I busted some out of the trees as I walked in. I had been seeing them in the afternoons, at the opposite end of the field and figured they were roosting there, but I was wrong.

I went out the next morning and set up about 200yds. from where I jumped them. As it got light I could see birds in the same trees. They flew down, but I never got them close enough for a shot.

[whaler]

On the flip side, last season i busted about ten birds off a roost ridge. Early season, no leaf cover, i was late getting in and didnt know the area too well. All my fault.

I have not seen the birds roosted on that ridge again. Closeby, but not that spot again.

Just a warning. With the way the leaves are right now, everything is crunchy, give yourself an extra 50 yards to birds roosts.

[Bowguy 1]

Chris you're going in way too late or w a light. Imo changing those things youd be right in em

[turkeyfeathers]

Chris you're going in way too late or w a light. Imo changing those things youd be right in em

Curious on thoughts of red lens maglight ?

[Bowguy 1]

No lights is how I go or teach others going in. You go real early n when you get close just a step at time like deer. You're slow so you don't need light imo.

I often see birds roosted in dark n some of the cows farms my daughters n I hunt we walk right under even climbing fences. Now that's 3 of us 2 young. It works.

We even sometimes set blinds n we can see birds. All about stealth.

[Bowguy 1]

Think about something guys, there's many ways to do things but why is it folks walking around at almost daylight or w lights bust so many. Imo if what you're doing don't working change tactics. Can't do anything but not work for you. Worth shot.

[Chris B]

Thanks for the input everyone. Just to answer a couple things, I never use a light and this morning it was about 4:45 when I busted them birds. I wanted to be walking in there at 4:30, but it took me longer to walk across the property than I was planning for. It was actually a game-time decision that I walked where I did. I wanted to turn left about 75 yards short of where I busted them to slip down over the bank but there was a lot of branches and stuff so I decided to follow the ATV trail that extra 75 yards to where it curves left down the hill, thought it would've been stealthier. They were right above my head when they flew.

 

I'm going to go back there in the morning but going to stop about 100 yards short of where I busted them and sit. If I hear them gobble on the roost down below the shelf like I expected today, Maybe I'll try to close the distance a little. If they are roosted in the same spot as this morning, I'll be about 100 yards away and not have risked busting them twice

[Chris B]

Also, let me add that this is maybe the 3rd or 4th time I've busted birds on the roost in my 16 years of turkey hunting

[Bowguy 1]

Chris just something to think about. Birds are up or just about up at 4:45. No faulting you but they seem more sensitive to noise n prone to blow up by that time. At 4:45 you can hear the songbirds so in essence the birds are up.

If you've seen them awake they don't instantly gobble or yelp.

It's all just some things to consider.

A few weeks ago I was arriving at my spots around 3.

Maybe excessive but Id rather sleep in the woods after taking time in than start a morning off not the way I wanted.

An option to try if it's close enough for you is roosting them so you know where they are.

Either way best of luck rest of season

Edited May 25, 2016 by Bowguy 1